Question 1

What is Cooperativa San Antonio?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa San Antonio (officially Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito San Antonio R.L., also known as CACSA) is a savings and credit cooperative headquartered in Cochabamba, Bolivia. As an "open" cooperative (cooperativa abierta), it provides financial intermediation services to both members and the general public. The institution is supervised by Bolivia's ASFI (Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero), which regulates all licensed cooperatives, banks, and financial entities in the country.

The cooperative serves the Cochabamba region with a focus on providing accessible savings and credit solutions to individuals and families who historically faced limited banking options.

Question 2

When was Cooperativa San Antonio founded?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa San Antonio was founded in 1962 by 10 visionaries from the Christian Family Movement (Movimiento Familiar Cristiano) who were parishioners of San Antonio Parish in Cochabamba. The cooperative emerged during a period of economic hardship in Bolivia, when usurious lenders charged interest rates as high as 10% monthly and traditional commercial banks maintained discriminatory policies that excluded middle-class workers, teachers, and residents of marginal neighborhoods.

The founding of CACSA was part of a broader cooperative movement that began in Bolivia in the late 1950s, inspired by successful cooperative models in Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Peru. The first savings and credit cooperative in Cochabamba, Cooperativa Santa Ana de Cala Cala Ltda., was organized in February 1960 by Reverend David McLellan of the Maryknoll Order.

Question 3

Where is Cooperativa San Antonio headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The cooperative's central office is located at Calle Tarata No. 352, in the San Antonio Market area of Cochabamba, Bolivia. The office operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, and Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

The headquarters can be reached by phone at (591-4) 4258019 or via email at satonio@supernet.com.bo.

Question 4

Where does Cooperativa San Antonio operate?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa San Antonio primarily operates throughout the Department of Cochabamba, with multiple branches and agencies serving the region. The cooperative has established a network of locations including:
• Cochabamba city: Multiple agencies including Loreto (on Avenida Panamericana), Libertador (on Avenida América), 6 de Agosto (on Avenida Barrientos), and Ayacucho (on Avenida Ayacucho)
• Quillacollo: Agency on Calle Ballivián
• Sacaba: Agency on Avenida Monseñor Alcocer
• Villa Tunari: Agency on Avenida Integración
• Santa Cruz de la Sierra: Recently expanded with an agency on Calle Paititi (Pasaje de las Flores)

According to ASFI records, the cooperative has operations in both the Cochabamba and Santa Cruz departments.

Question 5

What services does Cooperativa San Antonio offer?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa San Antonio provides a comprehensive range of financial services including:

Savings Products:
• Savings accounts (Caja de Ahorro)
• Fixed-term deposits (Depósitos a Plazo Fijo - DPF)
• Account statements and balance inquiries

Credit Products:
• Personal loans (Créditos)
• Credit simulations and calculators
• Flexible repayment options

Digital Services:
• Mobile banking application (CACSA RL app available on Google Play)
• Online banking platform
• Interbank transfers
• Credit payment processing
• Digital transaction history

Additional Services:
• Debit cards (Tarjeta de Débito)
• ATM network access
• Currency exchange services
• Electronic transfer orders (OETF)

The cooperative publishes transparent fee schedules (tarifarios) for all savings and credit products on its website.

Question 6

What makes Cooperativa San Antonio unique?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa San Antonio distinguishes itself through several key characteristics:

Cooperative Values: Unlike commercial banks, CACSA operates under the principle that people come before profit, maintaining its founding mission of serving individuals historically excluded from traditional banking.

ASFI Supervision: As a licensed "open" cooperative, CACSA is subject to the same rigorous regulatory oversight as banks. This includes mandatory legal reserve requirements (24.9% encaje legal) deposited with the Central Bank of Bolivia, providing depositor protection.

Community Engagement: The cooperative maintains strong commitments to social responsibility and financial education. It publishes annual Corporate Social Responsibility reports and offers comprehensive financial education programs covering consumer rights, complaint mechanisms, and responsible financial practices.

Financial Transparency: CACSA regularly publishes audited financial statements (most recently for June 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024) demonstrating its commitment to transparency and accountability to members.

Historical Significance: As one of the early cooperatives in Bolivia's cooperative movement, established in 1962, CACSA has over 60 years of experience serving the Cochabamba community.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Cooperativa San Antonio?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa San Antonio is classified as a Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Abierta (Open Savings and Credit Cooperative) under Bolivian law. This designation distinguishes it from both traditional commercial banks and closed ("societaria") cooperatives.

In Bolivia's financial system, "open" cooperatives are licensed entities authorized to perform financial intermediation operations and provide financial services to the general public, not just to members. They are regulated by ASFI under the Financial Services Law (Law No. 393) and must comply with banking-equivalent standards including capital adequacy requirements, legal reserves, and participation in the Financial Restructuring Fund (a deposit insurance mechanism).

This cooperative structure combines the member-owned, democratic governance principles of the cooperative movement with the regulatory safeguards and professional standards of the formal banking sector. Members participate in governance through elected boards of directors, while the institution serves both members and non-members in the broader community.

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About Cooperativa San Antonio in Bolivia