We heart co-ops!
We heart co-ops!
We heart co-ops!
CoBank is celebrating the unique value that cooperative businesses bring to their members and communities. We invite you to explore the inspiring stories of innovation, impact and resilience from our cooperative customers.
CoBank is also a cooperative and a proud member of the Farm Credit System, and we are dedicated to supporting our fellow cooperatives across all industries.
Together, we are committed to building a brighter future for our communities.
In 2025, CoBank is excited to join the United Nation's as it celebrates the International Year of Cooperatives.
This year-long celebration is themed Cooperatives Build a Better World and highlights the significant role co-ops play in fostering sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities across the globe. Throughout the year, CoBank will be highlighting our commitment to our cooperative customers through success stories, customer insights, and educational articles on the importance of cooperatives in rural America.
The 7 Cooperative Principles
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The co-op rule is one vote per member.
Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members in proportion to the transactions with the cooperative rather than the capital invested.
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintain the cooperative autonomy.
Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
While focusing on member needs, Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies accepted by their members.
