THE HISTORY AND SPECIFICITY OF COOPERATIVE BANKS IN POLAND

Cooperative banks are a specific element operating in the banking system. They base their activities on the following normative acts, namely: Banking Law and related legal acts. In addition, their activity is also based on legal provisions within the scope of Cooperative Law. The particularity of the institutions under consideration lies in the fact that their main goal is not solely oriented towards obtaining the highest profits. The core of their functioning is oriented towards satisfying the needs of their members. The genesis and history of cooperative banking is long. Originally, the purpose of this type of institution, which over time evolved into what we know today as cooperative banks, was to take action to combat usury. Furthermore, the retained objectives of these institutions include the promotion of social development.