Over 1,000 owner-customers elected to the Representative Assembly of OP cooperative banks

In November, 30 of OP Pohjola's cooperative banks held the election of their Representative Assemblies where owner-customers elected from among them the Representative Assembly for their own bank for four years.

In the November election, over 1,000 members from among over 4,300 candidates were elected to the Representative Assemblies of OP cooperative banks.

“We are glad that 150,000 owner-customers gave their votes in this election. Those elected included a diverse range of people, such as students, employees, executives, entrepreneurs and pensioners. A good Representative Assembly reflects the versatile owner-customer community of the OP cooperative bank," says Pasi Sorri, Director, OP Cooperative Banks' Customer Relationships service area.

Around three quarters of the votes were given via the electronic voting service and around a quarter by postal voting.

At OP cooperative banks, the Representative Assembly exercises the highest decision-making power in matters falling within its remit. It is elected by owner-customers from among its members. An OP cooperative bank's Representative Assembly performs tasks such as approving the bank's financial statements and making key decisions about the bank's activities.

In addition, the Representative Assembly serves as an important link between customers and the bank. The wishes of owner-customers pass to the bank through the Representative Assembly and, on the other hand, the Representative Assembly provides members with the most recent information, for example, on the bank's services.

The results of the Representative Assembly election are available locally at the OP cooperative banks and on the op.fi service.

The biggest electronic voting in Finland

Representative Assembly elections were held at the same time in 30 OP cooperative banks around Finland. Candidates numbered over 4,300 and over 1,000 members were elected to the Representative Assemblies. Owner-customers eligible to vote numbered around 1.7 million, with more than 1.4 million of them able to vote electronically.

Not all OP Pohjola cooperative banks held the Representative Election this autumn. Some banks hold the election at another time and some banks have a Cooperative Meeting that corresponds to the Representative Assembly.

Media enquiries:

OP Pohjola Communications, tel. +358 10 252 8719, viestinta@op.fi 

OP Pohjola is Finland’s largest financial services group, with more than two million owner-customers and over 14,000 employees. We provide a comprehensive range of banking and insurance services for personal and corporate customers. OP Pohjola consists of OP cooperative banks, its central cooperative OP Cooperative, and the latter's subsidiaries and affiliates. Our mission is to promote the sustainable prosperity, security and wellbeing of our owner-customers and operating region. Together with our owner-customers, we have been building Finnish society and a sustainable future for 120 years now. www.op.fi