Performance of credit cooperatives in the financial inclusionprocess in Brazil

Abstract

BrazilABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of credit cooperatives in the process of financial inclusion in Brazil, highlighting their importance as implementing actors. The study is characte-rized as qualitative, being used to collect primary data semi-structured interviews with actors considered important in the process of financial inclusion, and for secondary data collection do-cumentary research on credit cooperativism in digital publications and financial inclusion reports from the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB). The interviews were analyzed through content analysis, aiming at a better systematization and organization of information by analysis categories. The research has shown that the high capillarity of credit cooperativism, their ability to hold capital in the locality, the equalization of interest rates they promote, the democratization of decisions and the financial education they provide are some of the main points by which the companies. Credit cooperatives are considered to be important implementers of financial inclusion, thus contributing to the development of a particular locality.