Cooperativism of Credit - A Recent Yet Effective Reality by Márcio Zwierewicz

Although present in Brazil since 1902, when the Swiss priest Theodor Amstad founded in Nova Petrópolis (RS) the first credit cooperative in Latin America, today Sicredi Pioneira, credit cooperativism gained strength in the country from the end of the last century. Driven by the advances of legislation and the performance of leaders, especially of agribusiness, it has consolidated itself as an important alternative to the traditional banking system.

In 1989, 58 farmers founded Sicredi Campos Gerais to meet the demands of crédito rural from our region. With the advances of legislation, which expanded the activity of cooperatives to all segments of society, and with the professionalization of management without losing its cooperative essence, the institution based in Ponta Grossa has ceased to be one of the smallest of Paraná to become one of the ten largest cooperative financial institutions in Brazil.

Today, we are a solid cooperative and active in the development of the community. At Ponta Grossa, we bring together around 90,000 members and savers who contribute to the construction of a more prosperous society.

This impact goes beyond financial services. In Ponta Grossa, the cooperative generates more than 500 direct jobs, has the largest service network in the city, with nine agencies, and maintains its administrative headquarters here, responsible for the management of operations in Campos Gerais, Grande Curitiba in PR, Vale do Ribeira and Circuito das Águas in SP.

We also invest in the development of people through the Women and Youth Committees, support social projects through the Social Fund and promote education with the Union Makes Life Program, financial education workshops and a school cooperative. In addition, we actively participate in community life, supporting events, traditional church parties, local entities and the Operário Ferroviário, which bears the name of Ponta Grossa throughout Brazil.

The benefits of credit cooperativism, proven by FIPE research, show that municipalities with the presence of cooperative financial institutions register, on average, 6.2% more formal jobs, 15.7% more companies and GDP growth per capita between 5.6% and 8.4%. These indicators highlight the relevance and effectiveness of credit cooperativism as an instrument of economic and social development, a reality that today contributes significantly to the prosperity of Campos Gerais.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqYkuq53FoM

Márcio Zwierewicz's article for the book: "PONTA GROSSA: From the Route of the Tropeiros to the Tracks of Innovation"

Read the other articles here!