Question 1

What is Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca?

Accepted Answer

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca is a Portuguese cooperative credit institution (Caixa de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo) operating as a mutual agricultural credit bank. Based in Chamusca, Portugal, it is a cooperative of limited responsibility that provides retail banking services primarily to the local communities in the municipalities of Chamusca, Constância, and Golegã. The institution operates as an independent cooperative bank outside the larger Sistema Integrado do Crédito Agrícola Mútuo (SICAM), instead maintaining membership in the Agrimútuo federation alongside a small number of other independent agricultural credit cooperatives.

Question 2

When was Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca founded?

Accepted Answer

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca was founded on February 7, 1929. It was established as a mutual agricultural credit cooperative to provide credit support and banking services to local farmers and the agricultural community in the Chamusca region. The institution was created to facilitate agricultural development by offering accessible financial services to members and the broader community, following the cooperative banking principles established in Portugal's agricultural credit movement.

Question 3

Where is Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The bank is headquartered in Chamusca, Portugal. The main office is located at Rua Direita de S. Pedro, 216, 2140-098 Chamusca, in the Santarém District of central Portugal.

Question 4

Where does Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca operate?

Accepted Answer

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca operates exclusively within three municipalities in central Portugal: Chamusca, Constância, and Golegã. The institution maintains three branches serving these local communities.

Historically, the bank operated additional branches in various parishes within Chamusca (including Carregueira and Parreira), but several of these local branches have been closed in recent years as part of restructuring efforts.

Question 5

What services does Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca offer?

Accepted Answer

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca provides traditional retail banking and financial intermediation services, including:

Deposit Services: Demand deposits (checking accounts) and term deposits for individual and business customers

Credit Services: Loans with or without mortgage guarantees, promissory note financing, and secured current accounts primarily directed at agricultural activities, small businesses, and personal financing

Payment Services: Transfer processing, bank checks, direct debits, and ATM services with machines installed throughout its operating region

Insurance Products: Distribution of insurance products for individuals and businesses as an insurance agent

Digital Banking: NETCONTAS online banking platform accessible via web browser, allowing customers to check balances, review account movements, make transfers (interbank, internal, and SEPA), pay bills, manage direct debits, and request checkbooks

The bank follows the traditional retail banking model, receiving deposits and granting credit to customers, with a focus on serving local families and businesses.

Question 6

What makes Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca unique?

Accepted Answer

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca is one of the few remaining independent agricultural credit cooperatives in Portugal that operates outside the main SICAM system. While most Portuguese agricultural credit banks are integrated into the national SICAM structure led by Caixa Central, this institution has maintained its independence and instead participates in the Agrimútuo federation.

As a cooperative institution, it does not distribute dividends to members but instead dedicates a portion of its results to benefit the local community, reflecting its public utility status. The institution's statutes limit lending to non-members to 35% of total net assets, emphasizing its cooperative nature and commitment to serving members.

The bank's deep roots in the local agricultural economy and its focus on the specific needs of the Chamusca, Constância, and Golegã communities distinguish it from larger national banks, though it has faced operational challenges in recent years.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca?

Accepted Answer

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca is classified as a Caixa de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo (Mutual Agricultural Credit Bank), which is a specific type of credit institution under Portuguese law. It operates as a cooperative credit institution (cooperativa de crédito) with limited liability.

This institutional type is regulated by the Cooperative Code, the Legal Regime of Mutual Agricultural Credit, and the General Regime of Credit Institutions and Financial Companies in Portugal. As a credit institution in cooperative form, it combines the principles of mutual assistance and cooperative banking with full banking authorization from the Banco de Portugal.

The institution is recognized as a legal entity of public utility and maintains deposit guarantee coverage through the Portuguese Deposit Guarantee Fund (Fundo de Garantia de Depósitos - PT_FGD), having been authorized by the Banco de Portugal (Portugal's central bank and competent banking authority).

Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca

in Portugal 🇵🇹

Crypto-Friendliness

All done!

About Caixa Agrícola da Chamusca in Portugal