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| CoBank |
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Overview:
CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture and the nation's rural economy. In addition to serving its direct retail borrowers, the bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving approximately 75,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore. |
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History:
As "Rural America's Cooperative Bank," CoBank is part of the Farm Credit System, which Congress formed in 1916 to fill a need for long-term agricultural credit. The System is a national network of lending institutions that provides production agriculture with more than 30 percent of its credit and financial needs. CoBank was created in 1989 through the merger of 11 Banks for Cooperatives. The bank began operations with $12 billion in assets, $9 billion in loans outstanding and $807 million in capital. On Jan. 1, 2012, CoBank merged with U.S. AgBank.
Here are some highlights of CoBank's history:
1916
The first banks in the Farm Credit System are created by Congress to fill a need for long-term agricultural credit. Twelve Federal Land Banks are established and later Federal Land Bank Associations operate in small towns nationwide.
1923
Congress creates 12 Federal Intermediate Credit Banks to provide short- and intermediate-term agricultural financing.
1933
The Farm Credit Act of 1933 allows for local Production Credit Associations (PCAs) to expand short- and intermediate-term agricultural credit availability. The act also creates 13 Banks for Cooperatives (BCs). While 12 BCs serve district territories, the 13th bank, called the Central Bank for Cooperatives, serves large accounts and those that cross district lines.
1947
Federal Land Banks pay off the last of the government seed money provided to them in 1916.
1955
The Central Bank for Cooperatives reorganizes as a bank of participation serving district BCs.
1966
The BCs make their first utility loan to an electric distribution cooperative under farmer-owned cooperative eligibility rules.
1968
The last of the government seed money used to capitalize the PCAs and BCs is repaid. All Farm Credit Banks are now completely owned by their borrowing stockholders.
1971
The Farm Credit Act of 1971 broadens the scope of Farm Credit services to include rural home mortgages and leasing and BC financing of rural electric and telephone cooperatives.
1980
The 1980 Farm Credit Act authorizes the Central Bank for Cooperatives to finance agricultural exports.
1985
Noncooperative rural electric and telephone systems become eligible for BC financing.
1987
The Farm Credit Act of 1987 gives the System greater flexibility to change its structure. Two results: long- and short-term loan services may be consolidated under one roof as Agricultural Credit Associations (ACAs); and Farm Credit Banks and BCs may merge to form Agricultural Credit Banks. BCs begin financing subsidiaries of eligible borrowers and, on a limited basis, joint ventures and partnerships involving an eligible borrower.
1989
Eleven of the 13 Banks for Cooperatives merge to form CoBank, which begins operations with $12 billion in assets, $9 billion in loans outstanding and $807 million in capital. The other two BCs, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and St. Paul, Minnesota, continue operating as separate entities.
1990
Through the 1990 Farm Bill, Congress authorizes the BCs to finance water and waste disposal systems serving rural areas and communities. Farm Credit associations are authorized to make marketing and processing loans.
1994
The 1994 Farm Credit Agricultural Export and Risk Management Act expands CoBank's international banking authorities to serve agricultural cooperative customers involved in joint ventures and partnerships with noncooperatives in U.S. and international markets and to finance the export of any U.S. agricultural product, regardless of its source. The law also expands the bank's authority to buy and sell loan participations and syndications.
1995
CoBank merges with Farm Credit Bank of Springfield (Mass.) and the Springfield Bank for Cooperatives to form CoBank ACB. The transaction marks the first-ever consolidation of a Farm Credit Bank and a Bank for Cooperatives. As a result, CoBank begins providing funding for Agricultural Credit Associations in New England, New York and New Jersey.
1999
CoBank completes the merger with St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives and its acquisition of majority interest in Farm Credit Leasing Services Corp.
2001
For the first time, CoBank issues preferred stock. The $300 million sale of preferred stock to outside investors is approved by more than 97 percent of voting stockholders.
2002
Stockholders of CoBank and AgAmerica FCB vote to authorize the re-affiliation of Northwest Farm Credit Services (NWFCS) with CoBank. The addition of NWFCS, a Farm Credit association serving farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Alaska, significantly expands CoBank's wholesale lending portfolio.
2003
CoBank stockholders approve the sale of $300 million in additional preferred stock, strengthening the bank's overall capital position.
2004
CoBank increases its ownership stake in Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation (FCL) from 82 percent to 100 percent. FCL provides leasing services to a variety of customers, including agricultural cooperatives, Farm Credit associations, rural communications, energy and water systems, and agricultural producers nationwide, many of which are customers of Farm Credit associations. In addition, CoBank stockholders approve a board-restructuring proposal to further strengthen the bank’s governance process. The bylaw changes include reducing the size of the board, combining existing board districts into three regions, and extending director terms from three to four years. The new structure will be implemented over a three-year transition period.
2006
The Farm Credit System celebrates its 90th year of providing financial services to U.S. agriculture and rural America. To commemorate the event, receptions were held in Washington, D.C. with members of Congress and at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Virginia. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Farm Credit Loan Act of 1916, creating the System. With $108 billion in loans to 455,000 customer-owners, the System is the largest and oldest U.S. financial cooperative dedicated exclusively to serving rural America.
2009
CoBank adopts a new logo and a new corporate tagline: "Cooperative. Connected. Committed."
2010
CoBank signs a letter of intent to merge with U.S. AgBank. Based in Wichita, Kansas, U.S. AgBank provides wholesale financing to 26 Farm Credit associations.
2011
The proposed merger of CoBank and U.S. AgBank is approved by the banks' stockholders as well as the Farm Credit Administration, the regulator of the Farm Credit System.
2012
CoBank and U.S. AgBank formally merge on January 1, 2012. The combined bank serves customers, including rural infrastructure providers and agribusiness cooperatives, all over the country along with 29 Farm Credit associations in 23 states.
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