Financial services cooperatives put human capital first

QUEBEC CITY, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Financial services cooperatives successfully reconcile competitiveness with their members' needs, pursuing reasonable profits while striving to offer their clients the best products and services. In doing so, they provide stability and financial security to millions of people.

The organizers of the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives taking place in Quebec City this coming October say there is a need to increase awareness of financial services cooperatives and the advantages they offer so they can make an even greater contribution to the economic and social well-being of individuals and communities around the world.

Financial cooperatives are very successful, accounting for 26% of the entire cooperative movement worldwide. In 2008, they generated US$430 billion in gross revenue.

"The financial services cooperative model, which is based on democratic governance, participation, proximity and member satisfaction, works. By focusing primarily on human capital rather than profits at any cost, financial cooperatives have demonstrated their resilience and effectiveness during the financial crisis that began in 2008," said Stéphane Bertrand, the Summit's Executive Director.

The renowned speakers we are announcing today will help raise awareness of financial services cooperatives and their powerful business model.

Jean-Louis Bancel - Crédit Coopératif (France)

Debra Da Costa - United Nations Federal Credit Union (United States)

Fortunatas Dirgincius - Lithuanian Central Credit Union (Lithuania)

Carina Geber-Teir - OP Group (Finland)

Hervé Guider - European Association of Co-operative Banks (France)

Dominique Lefebvre - Fédération Nationale du Crédit agricole (France)

Monique F. Leroux - Desjardins Group (Canada)

Michel Lucas - Crédit Mutuel (France)

Alpha Ouédraogo - Confédération des institutions financières (Burkina Faso)

Tracy Redies - Coast Capital Savings Credit Union (Canada)

Daouda Sawadogo - Réseau des caisses populaires du Burkina (Burkina Faso)

Hugues Sibille - Crédit coopératif (France)

Tamara Vrooman - Vancity (Canada)

Laure Waridel - CÉCOSOL (Canada)

Summit site: http://www.2012intlsummit.coop
Twitter: Summitcoop2012
UN's IYC site: 2012 International Year of Cooperatives  
Pre-Summit Event site: Imagine 2012

For further information:

Nathalie Genest
+1-514-281-7275 / +1-866-866-7000, ext. 7275 (Canada only)
nathalie.genest@2012intlsummit.coop