“Campesino Bank” of San Antonio, a vision that is bearing fruit

Some of the staff and board of the Campesino Bank pose with WCCN staff members Carlos Arenas, Emily Allred and Francisco Barquero. The author is at the far right. Photo by Ann McSweeny.

In 1994, faced with the disappearance of the state bank and the slim chances of gaining access to loans from private banks, a group of producers met in the shade of a tree in the community of San Antonio, approximately 18 km from Nueva Guinea. In this meeting, the growers talked about the most serious problem in promoting production — timely and adequate financing — and they began to envision a little bank formed by and for campesinos. That’s how they started the efforts to create a Savings and Credit Cooperative, which would become el Banquito Campesino [the Little Campesino Bank], an organization designed by the producers themselves, and which would be able to understand them and accompany them in the development of their production.

Almost fourteen years after the incorporation (on October 17th of 1995) of the “Campesino Bank” Savings and Credit Cooperative of San Antonio R. L. (COOPEBACSA, R.L.), it has proved itself to be solid, inclusive, responsible, efficient, and capable. It also has a spirit of solidarity, a clear sense of service to the community, and a deep commitment to social responsibility and to raising the living conditions of micro, small and medium farmers, ranchers, vendors and businesspeople. This has made us a provider of financial services and of the accompaniment needed for the economic, social, and organizational development of our members in the zone of Nueva Guinea, Muelle de los Bueyes, El Rama, El Coral, El Almendro and El 20 in Rio San Juan, Nicaragua.

What started with a group of 134 members (104 men and 30 women) and an initial contribution of US$5,083, today has become the largest financial services institution in our impact zone. The vision of our founders has borne fruit. As of the 31st of May, 2009, we have 771 members, of which 316 are women (41%), who have provisions of capital totalling US$384,846. Then, we add to that the 2,933 savings members, of which 1,376 are women (47%), with a total savings of US$961,358.

Our support through credit has grown significantly, especially in the last three years. We have a total portfolio of US$3,024,909, benefitting 1,316 people, of which 473 are women (36%). 70% of the credits go to agricultural production. We have five members on the Administrative Council, where decisions are made, which is made up of two women and three men, which I have the privilege and the responsibility of directing.

COOPEBACSA, R.L, has a professional and capable administrative staff of 14 people (six women and eight men). Our community knows the “little campesino bank” as a safe place, where they can save, be supported to empower their economic activities, and above all, where they are direct actors as owners and decision-makers.

Our relationship with WCCN

WCCN has been one of the principal companions and providers of the socioeconomic development of our members. In 2004, the relationship began between WCCN and COOPEBACSA, R.L., which has been more than financial, since the staff that makes up this organization has an open and accessible environment, and has exchanged information, knowledge and experience with us. This has made a significant mark on our work and the impact we have. We also feel very pleased and motivated by the visits delegations make to our cooperative and members.

One of WCCN’s characteristics is that it trusts in the organizations and local actors as people who are capable of forging their own destiny. I say this because, in contrast to other institutions dedicated to credit financing that ask us for a lot of conditions and guarantees, WCCN trusts in the evaluation they themselves do, and the guarantee of payment is the stability, performance and responsibility that we have demonstrated. WCCN has been placing timely resources in our hands, with agile processes get them to our producers.

There’s no doubt that raising the living conditions of our members is no easy task. However, we believe that with a clear mission and vision, with capable, committed, loyal people, with strategic allies and friends, we will be able to continue building a competitive cooperative business that has human values, a strong sense of social responsibility, and above all, a commitment to the neediest sectors.

By Hilsser Moisés Obando López
President of the Administrative Council of COOPEBACSA

(Translation by Steve Herrick)