Financial services cooperatives put human capital first

Quebec City (ots/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 [https://twitter.com/#!/SummitCoop2012 ]
UN's IYC site: 2012 International Year of Cooperatives
[http://www.un.org/en/events/coopsyear ]
Pre-Summit Event site: Imagine 2012 [http://www.imagine2012.coop ]

For further information:

Nathalie Genest
+1-514-281-7275 / +1-866-866-7000, ext. 7275 (Canada only)
nathalie.genest@2012intlsummit.coop [http://www.imagine2012.coop ]

ots Originaltext: 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de