Improving the Social Utility Evaluation of Brazilian Community Banks: A Study on Banco dos Cocais

Purpose: The aim of this article is to improve the model for evaluating the social utility of Brazilian Community Development Banks (CDB), based on the perceptions of managers and users-clients-beneficiaries. Theoretical Framework: The CDBs are solidarity finance initiatives, inserted in the social and solidarity economy in Brazil, whose purposes are carried out based on their social utility in terms of the results achieved with their model of action for the human, political, economic and social development of the territories. Method: This is an exploratory and descriptive research using a qualitative approach. Data was collected through a documentary survey, field observation and semi-structured interviews at the CDB Banco dos Cocais dos based on the categories of social utility (socio-environmental, socio-political, socio-cultural, socio-economic and socio-institutional). The data was analyzed using content analysis.. Results and Conclusions: Of the 35 subcategories of social utility analyzed, 29 were covered by CDB Banco dos Cocais. The socio-economic, socio-cultural, socio-institutional and socio-environmental categories showed the greatest impact on the social utility of Banco dos Cocais, while the socio-political category showed the least impact, signaling the need to strengthen the political empowerment of the population in the territory. Research Implications: This research's theoretical contribution includes the reconfiguration of the DECID matrix for social utility evaluation. From the perspective of practical implications, the study aims to contribute to improving the management and evaluation of the CDBs' actions in their territories. Originality/Value: The research seeks to show that the actions of the CDBs have a strong social utility integrated into the development and strengthening of the territories, which is greater than their solely economic results.