Question 1

What is Cooperativa Comarapa?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa is an open savings and credit cooperative operating in Bolivia. The institution provides competitive financial services to members across the departments of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. As a regulated financial entity, it operates under the supervision of the Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero (ASFI), Bolivia's financial regulatory authority.

The cooperative specializes in serving rural and semi-urban communities with a focus on agricultural and small business financing. It maintains a strong commitment to cooperative principles of solidarity, equality, and democratic governance.

Question 2

When was Cooperativa Comarapa founded?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa was founded on July 29, 1965, in the city of Comarapa, Santa Cruz department. The institution was established by 95 founding members (36 single and 59 married individuals) who came together to create an economic and social cooperative. The founders created an initial social fund of Bs. 3,075,000 through membership certificates valued at Bs. 25,000 each.

On April 11, 1966, the National Directorate of Cooperatives granted Resolution No. 476, officially registering the cooperative in the National Registry of Cooperatives under No. 453. The cooperative has evolved significantly over six decades, transitioning from a basic savings and credit entity to a fully regulated multi-activity financial institution in 1976, which allowed it to offer loans for agriculture and livestock operations.

Question 3

Where is Cooperativa Comarapa headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa is headquartered in Comarapa, a city located in the Manuel María Caballero Province of the Santa Cruz department. The main office is situated at Plaza 11 de Junio, the central square of Comarapa. The cooperative has maintained its headquarters in this location since its founding, with significant building renovations and expansions completed in 1999.

Question 4

Where does Cooperativa Comarapa operate?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa operates primarily in two Bolivian departments: Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Within these regions, the cooperative maintains several branches and service points. In Santa Cruz, the cooperative operates in Comarapa (central office), Saipina, San Isidro, and the city of Santa Cruz. The institution also has external cash points in Omereque and Pasorapa.

In Cochabamba, the cooperative expanded its presence in 2012 with an agency in Cercado, the capital district. This strategic expansion allows the cooperative to serve agricultural communities, small businesses, and individual members across multiple municipalities in these two departments.

Question 5

What services does Cooperativa Comarapa offer?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa offers a comprehensive range of savings and credit services to its members. Savings products include various account types and certificates, with the cooperative providing competitive returns on deposits. The institution specializes in credit products tailored for agriculture, livestock, and small business development, reflecting its historical mission to serve rural producers.

The cooperative has modernized its service delivery with digital banking capabilities. Members can access a mobile banking application for Android devices, allowing them to manage accounts and conduct transactions remotely. The institution has also implemented debit card services in partnership with PROFIN, benefiting students and members who need access to funds across different locations in Bolivia.

Additional services include money transfers and remittances through agreements with other cooperatives such as Jesús Nazareno (Santa Cruz) and Loyola (Cochabamba), as well as payment services for Renta Dignidad (Bolivia's social pension program) for elderly members.

Question 6

What makes Cooperativa Comarapa unique?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa stands out for its six decades of continuous service to rural and semi-urban communities in Bolivia, celebrating its Golden Anniversary (50 years) in 2015. The institution has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptation, successfully transitioning through multiple regulatory regimes and obtaining formal ASFI supervision in 2000 with Resolution SB/005/2000.

The cooperative's deep commitment to agricultural financing sets it apart, as evidenced by specialized funding agreements such as the FONDESIF contract for US$400,000 exclusively dedicated to the agricultural sector under Supreme Decree 25849. Its expansion strategy has been measured and community-focused, prioritizing service to underserved rural areas rather than rapid urban growth.

The institution's implementation of social services, particularly the Renta Dignidad payment service for elderly members in remote municipalities, demonstrates its commitment to social solidarity beyond pure financial services. This alignment with cooperative principles of community welfare has earned the institution recognition from various organizations throughout its history.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Cooperativa Comarapa?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Comarapa is classified as a Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Abierta (Open Savings and Credit Cooperative) under Bolivian financial regulation. This designation means the institution can serve the general public, not just a closed membership group defined by employment or other affiliation.

As an ASFI-regulated cooperative, it operates within Bolivia's formal financial system alongside banks, mutual societies, and other financial intermediaries. Open cooperatives in Bolivia are member-owned institutions that combine the principles of cooperative democracy with professional financial intermediation. Members are simultaneously owners and clients, participating in governance through democratic assemblies while accessing savings and credit services. This structure differs from traditional banks, which are shareholder-owned, and from societarias (closed cooperatives), which serve only specific affiliated groups.

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