2012 - International Year of Cooperatives!

All around the world, in the year 2012, people will celebrate a business model that puts people first, innovates to meet member need and provides local service while being part of a global network.

Cooperative enterprises build a better world—and US co-ops, including Credit Unions, are coming together to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives.

Credit Unions are Financial Cooperatives and Consumer-Owned

As cooperatively owned and democratically controlled financial institutions, credit unions worldwide contribute to socio-economic development, promote membership and encourage the adoption of policies and legislation that promote long-term growth and stability.

Five Types of Cooperatives

Cooperatives can be formed for individuals, businesses or communities:

    Consumer
    Producer
    Worker
    Purchasing/Shared Services
    Hybrid

Consumer-Owned Cooperatives

Consumer cooperatives are owned by the people who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative. Consumer co-ops include Credit Unions, child care cooperatives, electric and telecommunications cooperatives, food co-ops, health care co-ops, housing cooperatives, and many more.

It is the most common form of co-op and is organized by individuals who seek to purchase goods and services. By organizing a cooperative, consumers are able to achieve prices and quality not available from for-profit businesses.

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