Question 1

What is Sicoob Crediserra?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra is a free-admission credit cooperative (cooperativa de crédito de livre admissão) headquartered in Urupema, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The cooperative serves the Planalto Serrano (Highland Plateau) region, providing comprehensive financial services to over 10,000 active members across multiple municipalities. Operating as part of the Sicoob System, Brazil's largest credit cooperative network, Sicoob Crediserra has built a 25-year history of serving mountain communities.

The cooperative maintains 7 physical service points plus one fully digital branch, serving communities in Lages, Urupema, São Joaquim, Bom Jardim da Serra, Painel, Capão Alto, and Palmeira.

Question 2

When was Sicoob Crediserra founded?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra was founded on November 15, 1996, following extensive meetings with farmers and visits to other credit cooperatives in Santa Catarina. The founding general assembly elected the first board of directors, who developed the constitution project and viability study for submission to the Brazilian Central Bank.

On December 27, 1996, the Central Bank granted authorization for the cooperative to operate under the name Cooperativa de Crédito Rural de Urupema (Crediserra). The cooperative was established primarily by local agricultural producers, supported by technicians from Epagri (agricultural extension service) and the Urupema municipal government, to address the lack of accessible agricultural credit in the region.

Question 3

Where is Sicoob Crediserra headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra is headquartered in Urupema, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The cooperative's administrative headquarters and main branch are located at Avenida Manoel Pereira de Medeiros, 289, Centro, Urupema.

In 2005, the cooperative inaugurated its own administrative headquarters and main branch building in Urupema, marking a significant milestone in the institution's development and independence.

Question 4

Where does Sicoob Crediserra operate?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra operates across the Planalto Serrano region of Santa Catarina, serving seven municipalities: Urupema (headquarters), São Joaquim, Bom Jardim da Serra, Painel, Capão Alto, Palmeira, and Lages (with multiple locations).

The cooperative's service area covers the highland plateau region of southern Santa Catarina, known for its mountainous terrain and distinct climate. The geographic expansion occurred gradually: Painel received a branch in 1999, Bom Jardim da Serra in 2001, and São Joaquim in 2005, ultimately achieving 100% coverage of the cooperative's designated service area.

Question 5

What services does Sicoob Crediserra offer?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra offers comprehensive banking services including checking and savings accounts, personal and business credit, agricultural financing, investment products, insurance, payment cards, and digital banking services.

The cooperative transformed into a free-admission institution in 2010, expanding beyond agricultural producers to serve individuals and businesses from all economic sectors. Since then, the cooperative has offered the complete product portfolio available at traditional banks while maintaining cooperative principles.

A unique offering is the Death Settlement Fund (Fundo de Quitação por Morte), approved in 2015, which guarantees credit operations up to regulated limits in case of borrower death—an innovative protection for member families and the cooperative itself. Digital services are available through mobile apps and online platforms alongside physical branches for personalized service.

Question 6

What makes Sicoob Crediserra unique?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra was born from community necessity. In the 1990s, Urupema's financial system lacked sufficient resources to serve small farmers, and the distance to São Joaquim—where federal agricultural credit was available—created significant barriers. Local farmers, with support from agricultural extension agents and municipal government, created their own solution through cooperative credit.

The cooperative's Death Settlement Fund, approved in 2015, represents an innovative member protection program rarely found even in large cooperatives. This fund provides security for member families and protects the cooperative's financial health.

The institution operates under a robust governance structure with a two-member Executive Board reporting to an eight-member Board of Directors (plus three alternates), and oversight by a three-member Fiscal Council (plus three alternates). The cooperative receives annual audits from Sicoob Central SC/RS and supervision from the Brazilian Central Bank, ensuring the same regulatory standards applied to all financial institutions.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Sicoob Crediserra?

Accepted Answer

Sicoob Crediserra is a Cooperativa de Crédito de Livre Admissão (free-admission credit cooperative), which is a member-owned financial institution regulated by the Brazilian Central Bank and subject to the same rules governing all financial institutions in Brazil.

The cooperative operated initially as a rural credit cooperative from 1996 to 2010, serving only agricultural producers. In 2010, after Central Bank approval, it transformed into a free-admission cooperative, opening membership to all individuals and businesses regardless of economic sector. This classification allows the cooperative to offer comprehensive banking services while maintaining cooperative principles including democratic member control, economic participation, and community concern. Members are simultaneously owners and users, participating in governance decisions and receiving profit distributions proportional to their usage of cooperative services.

Sicoob Crediserra

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About Sicoob Crediserra in Brazil