In Oliver Wyman’s report, Outlook for Co-operative Banking in Europe 2012, we examine the role and contribution of Co-operative Banks to the financial sector and wider economy. 2012 is the UN ‘Year of the Co-operative’ and falls at a time when confidence in the financial system, and in particular banks, is at a low point.
As such, it is timely to consider the strengths and challenges associated with a different banking model. We last examined the sector in detail in the 2008 report, “Co-operative Bank: Customer Champion.” The world has changed and many of the concerns and recommendations raised prior to the crisis are no longer relevant. However, some topics (e.g. governance) remain key areas for Co-operative Bank development and will be examined further in this report.