Brussels, December 13 – As part of the proceedings of its 51th General Assembly, the European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB), welcomed the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) and its CEO Melina Morrison from Australia as new associate member. The membership of BCCM strengthens the EACB's presence in the Asia-Pacific area and its role as global hub for regulatory and supervisory discussions affecting cooperative and mutual lenders.
The BCCM is the apex body for cooperatives and mutuals in Australia. It unites member-owned businesses operating in all industries to increase awareness and recognition of co-ops and mutuals and the important contribution they make to the economy and community. Among its members, the BCCM counts 21 cooperative lenders (credit unions, mutual banks, building societies), including Great Sothern Bank, Heritage and People’s Choice, Bank Australia and Beyond Bank to name only a few. Cooperative banks represent 70% of Australian banks.
Berry Marttin, EACB President stated: “We are proud to count BCCM among our members. BCCM’s membership follows KFCC from Korea, the Norinchukin from Japan and Desjardins from Canada, as a testimony of the EACB reputation as a leading representative body for the cooperative banking movement. The clear focus of the EACB on regulatory advocacy for the recognition of the cooperative banking model in the legislative, supervisory and standard-setting processes is the key asset for such widespread recognition”.
Melina Morrison, BCCM CEO, highlighted: “BCCM is delighted to announce its associate membership to the EACB. This is a great opportunity for us and gives new impetus to the cooperative movement in Australia, connecting it with cooperative thought leadership across the globe”.
“This is a strategic development for the EACB to pursue our mission to represent and defend cooperative banks’ interests. With a member from yet another Basel Committee jurisdiction, the EACB is uniquely positioned to address the cooperative perspective in discussions affecting the international regulatory and supervisory landscape. We are enthusiastically looking forward to working together with the BCCM” concluded Nina Schindler, EACB CEO.
The expanding global footprint of the Association increases its clout as the voice of cooperative and mutual lenders. The international dimension becomes increasingly important as supervisory practices converge at an increasingly fast pace. This also reaffirms the dedication of the EACB to cooperative identity across the board.