BRUSSELS, 20/01/23: The European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB), in collaboration with Tilburg University, is launching the latest Key Statistics for the Association’s members (EU and non-EU) and is announcing the publication of the research paper “European cooperative banks in 2021: a concise assessment".
For almost twenty years now, the EACB Key Statistics table has been a unique source of data and presents a concise overview of the main financial metrics of the cooperative banking sector. This important exercise allows academics and policy makers to assess the performance of these cooperative banking groups over a number of years.
“I would like to particularly thank our members, who have once again contributed with their data to establishing this significant statistics. This shall not only serve as a useful tool for researchers and academics, but offer policymakers a quantitative insight into the cooperative banking sector. This publication certainly manifests that cooperatives banks are decisive players in the European economy!” commented Nina Schindler, EACB CEO.
At the same time, a new publication entitled European cooperative banks in 2021: a concise assessment by Tilburg University was released. This research paper reviews developments in the overall performance of eighteen cooperative banking groups in thirteen European countries. The average performance is compared to that of the entire banking sector in same countries in 2021. Using the 2021 data as a reference point, the paper briefly looks ahead to the likely implications of current economic realities for the 2022 data.
"Cooperative banks posted sound business results in 2021. For the countries included in the study, the membership base continued to grow, welcoming more than 1 million new members!” Declared the author, Professor Hans Groeneveld, from Tilburg University. “Cooperative banks strengthened their market position in the domestic retail banking sphere as a result of higher growth rates of both loans and deposits in comparison to all other banks. They accommodated strong credit demand by expanding their loan portfolio by 6.7%. This marks the highest credit growth since 2011. Cooperative banks also significantly improved their Tier 1 ratio, which hit a record level in 2021. The figures demonstrate the divergent business focus of cooperative banks as well as their importance for the real economy in Europe.”
Both publications are now available on the EACB website.
EACB Contact:
CEO: Nina Schindler
Nina.Schindler@eacb.coop
Lead Communications: Luce Jacqmin
Luce.jacqmin@eacb.coop
About the EACB:
The European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) is the voice of the cooperative banks in Europe. It represents, promotes and defends the common interests of its 27 member institutions and of cooperative banks in general. Cooperative banks form decentralised networks which are subject to banking as well as cooperative legislation. Democracy, transparency and proximity are the three key characteristics of the cooperative banks’ business model. With 2,700 locally operating banks and 40,000 outlets cooperative banks are widely represented throughout the enlarged European Union, playing a major role in the financial and economic system. They have a long tradition in serving 227 million customers, mainly consumers, retailers and communities. The cooperative banks in Europe represent 89 million members and 718,000 employees and have a total average market share of about 20%.