The highest decision-making power at OP cooperative banks is exercised by the Representative Assembly elected by owner-customers from among its members. Members of the Representative Assembly in OP cooperative banks are elected in the election of the Representative Assembly held every four years, for which owner-customers can stand. Every owner-customer has one vote that gives them the chance to have influence on the composition of their own bank’s Representative Assembly.
The Representative Assembly of each OP cooperative bank holds its regular meeting once a year. In addition, its members can participate in various training courses. The Representative Assembly adopts, for example, the OP cooperative bank’s financial statements and makes the most significant decisions related to the bank. In the Representative Assembly, you can also create new networks and follow the development of your home region’s economy.
Any reputable owner-customer with all legal rights can stand as a candidate in the Representative Assembly election, who has become an owner-customer by the time determined by the election rules governing OP cooperative banks and has come of age during the candidate acquisition, at the latest. No employee or members of the board of directors and supervisory council of an OP cooperative bank may not stand as a candidate for the election.
In banks with no Representative Assembly, the highest decision-making powers are exercised by the cooperative meeting which all owner-customers can attend. In OP cooperative banks, the cooperative meeting exercises the same decision-making powers and duties as the Representative Assembly.