The European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) is a European interest group representing cooperative banks in the European Union (EU) and five non-European countries. Established in 1970, the non-profit association "represents, promotes and defends" the common interests of its 26 member institutions and 2.700 cooperative banks regarding banking as well as cooperative legislation.  

Based in Brussels, the EACB is recognised as a key spokesperson for cooperative banks by regulators and supervisors at EU and international levels. As the representative of the world's largest cooperative banking cluster, it works together with more than 200 experts from its member organisations to substantiate the key role that cooperative banks play in the financial and economic system, and its impact value for its members, the economy as a whole and society at large.

The EACB supports the code of conduct on lobbying of the European Commission and is registered in the EU transparency register book (Transparency Book Register 4172526951-19).

Cooperative banking in the EU

Key characteristics of cooperative banking 
Cooperative banks are a major pillar of diversity in the European banking sector. They are banks "owned and controlled by people who are also clients of the bank". As such, they are geared toward maximising member value on the long-run. More specifically, they are characterised by their member ownership model; member benefits/surplus through long-term relationship; 'One person - One vote' governance with a bottom-up approach; limited participation in profit; commitment to social values and ESG; and proximity to customers' regional presence in terms of decision-making and financing. 

The cooperative model finds its origins in the cooperative movement first conceived by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen and Schulze-Delitzsch in the first half of the nineteenth century. The movement was grounded on the principles of self-help and equality to secure financial access to less privileged groups of society, especially from rural areas.

Cooperative banks today deliver value across the four categories as regards their specific business model, the diversity and balance they bring to financial markets, long-term relationship and trust with members and customers, and their wider social impact. They contribute widely to stability thanks to their anti-cyclical behaviour, and are drivers of local and social growth for consumers, SMEs and communities.

Facts & figures 
 Cooperative banks provide services to 227 million customers, mainly consumers, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and communities.
 Cooperative banks are mutual and private banks, owned by their 89 million members.
 Cooperative banks share common values and foster local growth and entrepreneurship through their 2.700 regional and local banks and 40.000 branches.
Cooperative banks employ 720.000 people across Europe.
Cooperative banks manage more than €9.4 trillion in banking assets.
Cooperative banks safeguard €5 trillion in deposits.
The information above is the latest data available compiled by EACB and Tilburg University for the year 2021. The EACB offers a comprehensive set of policy resources for cooperative banking worldwide. These resources as well as key figures and data on the cooperative banking sector are available on the EACB website (www.eacb.coop).

About the EACB

History 
Following an initiative launched by Johannes Teichert to create a representative body for credit cooperatives of 6 EU-member states, a first meeting with the European Commission was held in December 1969.  The gathering led shortly after to the foundation of the Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Institutions of the E.E.C on 1 October 1970. The first statues of the Association were signed at the end of 1971 by the founding members:

 Caisse Centrale des Associations Agricoles Luxembourgeoises
 Centrale Raiffeisenkas, Leuven Belgium
 Confédération Nationale du Crédit Mutuel, Paris
 Coöperatieve Centrale Boerenleenbank, Eindhoven
 Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Bank, Utrecht
 Deutsche Genossenschaftskasse, Frankfurt
 Deutscher Raiffeisenverband, Bonn
 Ente Nazionale Delle Casse Rurale Agrari ed Ente Ausiliari, Rome
 Fédération Centrale du Crédit Agricole Mutuel, Paris
 Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole, Paris
 Federazione Italiana dei Consorzi Agrari, Rome
 Union du Crédit Coopératif, Paris

Structure 
The European non-profit association is headed by a President and regulated by the Board and the Executive Committee. The Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Nina Schindler, leads the Secretariat based in Brussels.

The Executive Committee is composed of 39 Appointed Members, who endorse recommendations put forward by the Working Groups. They meet three times a year. 

The activities of the EACB are articulated around Working Groups and Taskforces, covering topics from digital euro to customer policy, sustainable finance and anti-money laundering.

Activities of the Working Groups 
The EACB currently has set up 14 Working Groups to advocate on a wide range of policy issues in the EU regulatory discussion. These include:

 Accounting & Audit 
 Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Sanctions 
 Banking Regulation 
 Cooperative ID Forum 
 Consumer Policy 
 Corporate Governance and Company Law 
 Digital euro 
 Digitalisation and Use of Data 
 Financial Markets 
 Green and Sustainable Finance 
 Payment Systems 
 Recovery, Resolution and Deposit Protection 
 Sustainability Reporting and Audit 
 Taxation

Presidents 
1970 – 1977: President Van Campen, Centrale Coöperatieve Boerenleenbank 

1977 – 1981: President Braun, Crédit Mutuel 

1982 – 1986: President Lardinois, Rabobank Nederland 

1986 – 1989: President Schramm, BVR, Germany 

1989 – 1995: President Barsalou, Crédit Agricole, Paris 

1995 – 1999: President Grüger, BVR Germany 

1999 – 2002: President Meijer, Rabobank Nederland 

2002 – 2006: President Pflimlin, Crédit Mutuel Paris 

2006 – 2008: President Pleister, BVR, Germany 

2008 – 2012: President Moerland, Rabobank Nederland 

2012 – 2016: President Talgorn, Crédit Agricole S.A. 

2016 – 2020: President Hofmann, BVR Germany 

Since 2020: President Marttin[11], Rabobank Nederland

Managing Directors 
1970 – 1982: Johannes Teichert 

1982 – 1996: Guido Ravoet 

1996 – 2001: Johann von Süsskind 

2001 – 2021: Hervé Guider 

Since 2021: Nina Schindler

Members

See also 
European Central Bank
European Securities and Market Authorities
European Banking Authority
International Monetary Fund
World Bank Group
EBIC (European Banking Industry Committee)
EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group)
EPC (European Payments Council)

References

Bankers associations
Cooperative banking in Europe
European trade associations
1970 establishments in Europe
Organizations established in 1970
Banking organizations