Towards a new business model of cooperative banks

The purpose of this work is to characterise the cooperative bank sector’s strengths, weaknesses, chances and threats identified by its representatives in Poland, as well as to determine desirable changes in the organisation and functioning of cooperative banks. In analytical terms, the assessments and conclusions were based on presentations and panel discussions of participants of the Forum of Cooperative Bank Leaders, which was held in Warsaw on 17–18 September 2019. It was concluded on the basis of the analysis that although cooperative banks are aware of their weaknesses and strengths as well as they see chances and threats for their operations, they clearly lack consensus on the shape and joint actions in the scope of the development of a new business model. The greatest expectations of these banks are connected with the development of electronic economy and digitisation, which requires considerable financial outlays and organisational effort. The key problem is the insufficient level of integration and cooperation within associations functioning and among them, as well as lack of willingness – even reluctance – of many banks to change the existing model. Greater integration of all entities in the cooperative bank sector is the necessary condition for the improvement of banks’ operations and their further development.