Is Value Creation for Cooperative Members a Reality?

Mutual and cooperative finance is based on a specific status that is out of step with the traditional shareholder structure. However, this differentiation has so far not been based on indicators themselves specific measure of value creation. The characterization of the expectations of customers of co-operative bank shows their diversity of behavior and expectations. Different types of performance are expected: financial, commercial, territorial and community. The analysis of annual reports of central bodies of cooperative banking groups and their regional entities confirms this diversity but fails to provide generalizable and repeatable indicators for measuring value creation for members. The cooperative financial sector cannot durably overcome this imperative at the risk of becoming financial institutions like others.