Question 1

What is Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L.?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. is an open savings and credit cooperative (Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Abierta) operating in Bolivia. It is a non-profit financial institution owned and democratically controlled by its members. As an "abierta" (open) cooperative, it is authorized to provide savings and credit services to the general public, not just its members.

The cooperative operates as a specialized financial intermediation entity regulated by the Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero (ASFI), Bolivia's financial system supervisory authority, holding an official operating license that allows it to conduct financial intermediation operations throughout Bolivia.

Question 2

When was Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. founded?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. was founded in 1962, making it one of the pioneering financial cooperatives in Bolivia with over 60 years of service. The cooperative emerged during a significant period in Bolivian cooperative history, when the cooperative movement was expanding rapidly across the country.

Like many Bolivian cooperatives of that era, it was likely established to address financial exclusion and provide accessible savings and credit services to communities underserved by traditional commercial banks, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas of the Santa Cruz department.

Question 3

Where is Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The cooperative is headquartered in Vallegrande, a historic town in the Vallegrande Province of the Santa Cruz Department in Bolivia. The main office is located at Calle Florida 111, Vallegrande, where it maintains operating hours Monday through Friday (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM) and Saturday mornings (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM).

Vallegrande is a culturally significant town in the central Andes region of Bolivia, known for its agricultural economy and historical importance.

Question 4

Where does Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. operate?

Accepted Answer

According to ASFI records, Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. operates within the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Beyond its headquarters in Vallegrande, the cooperative maintains branch offices in strategic locations including:
• Santa Cruz de la Sierra: The cooperative has presence in Bolivia's largest city and economic hub, with a location near Doble Via la Guardia, 3er Anillo
• Mairana: An agency in the Florida Province, serving rural communities in the region

This geographic coverage allows the cooperative to serve both rural populations in the Vallegrande region and urban markets in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, extending financial services to areas where traditional banking presence may be limited.

Question 5

What services does Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. offer?

Accepted Answer

As a licensed open savings and credit cooperative, Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. provides a range of financial products and services including:

Credit Products:
• Consumer loans for purchasing household goods and services
• Mortgage loans for housing acquisition
• Microfinance loans for small businesses and entrepreneurial activities
• Credit for persons with disabilities

Savings Products:
• Savings accounts with interest-bearing deposits
• Fixed-term deposits (Depósitos a Plazo Fijo)

Insurance Products:
• Comprehensive life insurance (Seguro Vida Integral) covering serious illness or death

The cooperative follows ASFI regulations for financial cooperatives, which means it operates under standards similar to banks regarding capitalization, governance, and consumer protection.

Question 6

What makes Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. unique?

Accepted Answer

Several characteristics distinguish Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. within Bolivia's financial landscape:

Democratic Governance: As a cooperative, it operates on the principle of "one member, one vote," regardless of the amount of capital contributed. This democratic structure contrasts sharply with commercial banks where voting power is proportional to shareholding.

Community Focus: With over 60 years serving the Vallegrande region and Santa Cruz Department, the cooperative maintains deep roots in local communities, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where banking access is traditionally limited.

Profit Distribution: Unlike commercial banks that distribute profits to shareholders, the cooperative reinvests earnings into improved services, financial education programs, social development initiatives, or returns them to members as dividends.

ASFI Supervision: As a licensed "abierta" cooperative, it operates under full ASFI supervision, providing members and customers with regulatory protections similar to those offered by traditional banks, including participation in financial safety mechanisms.

Historical Significance: As one of the cooperatives founded during the 1960s cooperative movement boom in Bolivia, it represents the institutional legacy of financial inclusion and mutual aid principles that emerged from both indigenous communal traditions (like ayni) and modern cooperative doctrine.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L.?

Accepted Answer

Cooperativa Abierta San Mateo R.L. is classified as a Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Abierta (Open Savings and Credit Cooperative), which in the Bolivian financial system is a type of non-bank financial intermediation entity.

Under Bolivian Law 3892 (2008) and subsequent ASFI regulations, open cooperatives are financial institutions that hold operating licenses from ASFI and are subject to prudential supervision similar to banks. They are authorized to perform financial intermediation operations with the general public, not exclusively with their members.

This distinguishes them from "cooperativas societarias" (closed cooperatives) which can only serve their members. Open cooperatives like San Mateo must comply with capital adequacy requirements, risk management standards, governance protocols, and consumer protection regulations established in the Law of Banks and Financial Entities. They participate in the national payments system and are subject to legal reserve requirements at the Central Bank of Bolivia, providing depositors with institutional safeguards comparable to those in the formal banking sector.

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