This book investigates the main features of the evolution of the co-operative banking model in European countries, using 'country case-study' analysis. Structured in two parts, the first deals with a sample of countries that joined the European Union before 2000; the second part with a sample of newly-admitted European Union member countries.

List of Illustrations Preface About the Authors Introduction; A.Carretta, P.Schwizer &  V.Boscia PART I: CO-OPERATIVE BANKING IN THE WESTERN EU-COUNTRIES The Banking System in Portugal: The Case of Credito Agricola Mutuo Group; V.Stefanelli The Cooperative Banking System in Spain; V.Stefanelli The Cooperative Banking System in France; P.Marchetti &  A.Sabetta The Peculiarity of the UK Case: The Mutual Building Societies; V.Stefanelli Cooperative Banking in the Netherlands: Rabobank Network; M.Cotugno The German Cooperative Banking System: Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken; M.Biasin The Cooperative Credit System in Italy; R.Di Salvo The Credit Cooperative System in Finland; R.Di Salvo, J.S.Lopez &  I.Schraffl PART II: CO-OPERATIVE BANKING IN THE NEW EU-COUNTRIES Cooperative Banking in the Newly European Countries; M.Cotugno Credit Cooperatives in Romania; C.Bussoli The Bulgarian Cooperative Banking; M.Cotugno CONCLUSIONS Concluding Remarks; A.Carretta , P.Schwizer &  V.Boscia Notes References Index