COOPEDUC

What COOPEDUC does

COOPEDUC (Cooperativa de Ahorro y Cr\u00e9dito El Educador, R.L.) is a Panamanian savings and credit cooperative founded on August 9, 1958 by 30 educators to combat usurious lending against public-sector workers. Headquartered in Panama City with 15+ branch locations spanning every province of the country (including remote regions such as Bocas del Toro, Dari\u00e9n, Guna Yala, and Veraguas), the cooperative serves 31,000+ members with 120 employees and a portfolio of more than 100 financial products and services. The institution is regulated by IPACOOP under Panama's Law 17 cooperative framework, externally audited by Deloitte, and supervised for anti-money laundering compliance by the UAF under Law 42, with ISO 9001 quality-management alignment.

Name

COOPEDUC

Legal name

COOPEDUC, R.L.

Website

https://coopeduc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

COOPEDUC is a Panamanian savings and credit cooperative founded in 1958, serving 31,000+ educators and public-sector workers nationwide with deposits, loans, cards, digital banking, and welfare benefits across 15+ branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Panamá

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: COOPEDUC's primary revenue stream is interest charged on loan products including Préstamos Corrientes, Mejora Habitacional, Rápida Tramitación, Especial Escolar, Crédito Garantizado, COOPECASH (mortgage-backed), Superación Profesional, and Automático loans. Interest rates are described as competitive and reasonable, targeting creditworthy public-sector employees.
2. Savings Account Maintenance and Interest Expense: Members deposit savings into various accounts (Corriente, Emprende+, Arco Iris, Dos Pinos, Meta Fija, Juvenil, Escolar, Navidad, Plazo Fijo) generating a large deposit base that COOPEDUC deploys in its lending activities. Interest paid on savings accounts ranges from 2.80% to 3.50% annual.
3. Credit Card Fees and Interest (Coopecrédito, Clave): Revenue from the Coopecrédito revolving credit line accessed via the Clave debit card, including membership fees, transaction fees, and interest on outstanding balances.
4. ACH and Payment Processing Fees: COOPEDUC offers ACH interbancaria transfers, Multipagos, Punto Pago, and Western Union services, generating processing fee income. The Cash Back program (4% return on payments at payment centers) also incentivizes high transaction volume.
5. Fondo de Solidaridad Insurance Premiums: COOPEDUC charges monthly premiums for the Fondo de Solidaridad benefit plan (B/.8.50 for associates, B/.12.30 for family, B/.16.00 for special members), providing death, hospitalization, education, and cancer treatment benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

COOPEDUC is a savings and credit cooperative that provides personal banking and lending services—including savings accounts, personal loans, debit/credit cards, and benefit programs—to its 31,000+ members who are primarily Panamanian educators and public sector workers. Members access services through 15+ physical branches nationwide and the proprietary COOPEDUC ONLINE digital banking platform, which supports online account opening, ACH interbank transfers, and secure authentication via the Softoken XtremeAuth mobile app.

Product overview

COOPEDUC is a savings and credit cooperative offering a comprehensive portfolio of financial products and services. The product suite includes 10 loan products (Préstamos Corrientes, Mejora Habitacional, Rápida Tramitación, Especial Escolar, Crédito Garantizado, Computadora/SmartPhone/Tablet, Urgencia Comprobada, COOPECASH, Superación Profesional, and Automático), 9 savings account types (Ahorro Emprende+, Corriente, Arco Iris, Dos Pinos, Depósito a Plazo Fijo, Meta Fija, Navidad, Escolar, and Juvenil), and 3 card products (Tarjeta Clave debit card, Coopecrédito credit line, and Tarjeta Fucer access card). Digital services include COOPEDUC Online banking platform and Softoken XtremeAuth mobile authentication. The cooperative also provides benefit programs such as the Fondo de Solidaridad and educational podcast Conexión Cooperativa, serving educators and public sector workers in Panama with over 100 products and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COOPEDUC ONLINE: Digital banking platform for online account access, transfers, and financial services
• Tarjeta Clave
• Coopecrédito
• Tarjeta FUCER
• Softoken XtremeAuth
• Fondo de Solidaridad
• Conexión Cooperativa

Products and services

• Préstamos Corrientes General-purpose personal loan offered to members for any expense including debt consolidation, travel, and studies, sized based on the borrower's debt capacity.
• Mejora Habitacional Home improvement loan for repairs, renovations, down payments, or mortgage settlements on residential properties.
• Rápida Tramitación Quick-processing loan for obtaining fast cash to cover small or urgent expenses.
• Especial Escolar School-expense loan for covering costs at the start of or during the school year for members' children.
• Crédito Garantizado Secured credit using active savings accounts and term deposits as collateral, calculating up to 90% of the guaranteeing savings.
• Préstamo Computadora, SmartPhone o Tablet Loan product for purchasing computers, tablets, or smartphones for members.
• Urgencia Comprobada Emergency loan for covering unforeseen expenses such as medical, hospitalization, and funeral costs.
• Préstamo COOPECASH Personal loan secured by mortgage on real estate property.
• Superación Profesional Professional development loan for financing doctorates, master's degrees, undergraduate studies, thesis work, courses, seminars, and other diploma programs.
• Préstamo Automático Automatic loan calculated at 90% of free or uncommitted contributions in the member's account.
• Ahorro Emprende + Savings account designed for entrepreneurs, independent workers, and the general public with minimal requirements, 3.00% annual interest, minimum opening B/.5.00, and maximum balance B/.5,000.00.
• Ahorro Corriente Standard savings account allowing free deposits and withdrawals at headquarters and branches, with 3.00% annual interest and minimum opening B/.5.00.
• Ahorro Dos Pinos Premium savings account with minimum opening of B/.5,000.00, 3.50% annual interest, flexible deposits and withdrawals above minimum, and accepted as loan collateral.
• Depósito a Plazo Fijo Long-term fixed-term deposit with competitive market interest rates, with a minimum opening amount of B/.5,000.00 and terms available monthly, quarterly, annually, or at maturity.
• Ahorro Meta Fija Goal-based savings account with defined timeline and objectives set by the member, 2.80% annual interest, and minimum opening B/.20.00.
• Ahorro Juvenil Savings account for children and young adults up to age 25 to promote savings habits, with 3.05% annual interest and minimum opening B/.5.00.
• Ahorro Navidad Holiday savings account for year-end expenses with monthly deposits of B/.10.00 minimum and fixed biweekly deposits via direct discount or voluntary payments.
• Ahorro Escolar School savings account exclusive to school communities, with incentives for top savers, most consistent savers, and top academic performers.
• Ahorro Arco Iris Premium savings account with minimum opening of B/.3,000.00, 3.15% annual interest rate, and serves as collateral for guaranteed credits.
• Tarjeta Clave Debit card providing 24-hour access to savings accounts for ATM withdrawals nationwide and purchases at commercial establishments.
• Coopecrédito Revolving credit line accessed through the Tarjeta Clave debit card for purchases and ATM withdrawals nationwide and internationally.
• Tarjeta FUCER Access card for members and up to three guests to the FUCER recreation center located in Cerro Azul, with B/.30.00 annual membership.
• COOPEDUC Online Digital banking platform for online account management, fund transfers via ACH, loan applications and calculations, and transactions available 24 hours.
• Softoken XtremeAuth Mobile authentication application generating time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) for secure access to the COOPEDUC Online platform, enabling transactions, payments, and account queries.
• Fondo de Solidaridad Social welfare/insurance program providing economic support to members in cases of death, hospitalization, dismissal, medical expenses, and cancer treatment, available in three plans (COOPEDUC, FAMILIAR, ESPECIAL) ranging from B/.8.50 to B/.16.00 monthly.
• Conexión Cooperativa Podcast Educational podcast series featuring episodes on COOPEDUC services, membership, benefits, and cooperative movement topics, distributed via YouTube and social media.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31,000+ members served across Panama
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Banco GeneralminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025Executives from Banco General (Lic. José Manuel Grimaldo, VP of Commercial Banking, and Licda. Lexly Cheng, Commercial Banking Deputy Manager) visited COOPEDUC headquarters to explore new business opportunities and strengthen inter-institutional cooperation between the bank and the cooperative.
• FUCER (Fundación Centro Educativo y Recreativo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUCER is a recreational and educational foundation operated by COOPEDUC members, providing facilities in Cerro Azul including event halls, swimming pools, and sports areas. COOPEDUC offers the Tarjeta FUCER (B/.30.00 annual membership) enabling member access to FUCER with up to three guests. COOPEDUC also collaborates with FUCER to host member events such as the Homenaje al Educador.
• UCACEP (Unión de Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito de Educadores de Panamá)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCACEP is the national union of educator savings and credit cooperatives in Panama. COOPEDUC participates in the UCACEP network, which provides a platform for inter-cooperative collaboration, shared resources, and referral pathways among educator cooperatives.
• ADAVIÓN (Asociación de Damas Amigas y Voluntarias del Instituto Oncológico Nacional)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCOOPEDUC partnered with ADAVIÓN for the Campaña de las Cintas Rosada y Celeste (Breast and Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign), making a donation of B/.1,612.00 to support cancer patients and their families at the National Oncology Institute.
• Universidad Metropolitana de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología (UMECIT)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 15% discount on individual technical and undergraduate programs, and 10% on postgraduate and master's programs for COOPEDUC members and their families.
• Universidad Americana (UAM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 25% discount on technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs for COOPEDUC members.
• Universidad Latina de Panamá (ULAT)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 20% discount on technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs for COOPEDUC members.
• Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua (USMA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 10% discount on technical and undergraduate programs, and 20% on postgraduate and master's programs for COOPEDUC members. Additional 15% for children of members and 5% for timely payment during enrollment.
• Universidad Panamericana (UPAM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering tiered discounts: 10% for groups of 1–3 students, 15% for 4–5 students, 20% for 6–9 students, and 25% for groups of 10+ students on technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs.
• Universidad Abierta y a Distancia de Panamá (UNADP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 15%–25% discounts across technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs for any number of COOPEDUC member students.
• Universidad Latinoamericana de Comercio Exterior (ULACEX)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 5% discount for groups of 1–5 students, 10% for 6–10 students, and 15% for groups of more than 11 students on technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs.
• Columbus UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement on undergraduate, postgraduate, master's, and doctoral programs for COOPEDUC members (specific discount percentages not publicly listed).
• ISAE UniversidadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 15% for groups of 1–14 students and 25% for groups of more than 15 students on undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs.
• Universidad del Istmo (UDI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement on technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master's programs for COOPEDUC members (specific discount percentages not publicly listed).
• Universidad de Ciencia y Tecnología (UCYT)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement offering 10% individual discount on undergraduate programs, 15% for groups of 5–14, and 20% for groups of more than 15 students; and 15% individual discount on master's programs for COOPEDUC members.
• Universidad de Panamá (UP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount agreement on master's programs for COOPEDUC members (specific discount percentages not publicly listed).
• FUMOLIJUP (Fundación Movimiento de Liderazgo Juvenil Panameño)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUMOLIJUP is listed as an interest link on COOPEDUC's website, indicating a partnership for youth leadership development among Panamanian youth members.
• Deloitte (External Financial Auditor)coreOthersDeloitte provides independent external financial audits of COOPEDUC's financial statements as required by Law 17, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance before the Delegate Assembly.
• IPACOOP (Instituto Panameño Autónomo Cooperativo)coreOthersIPACOOP is the Panamanian government authority responsible for formulating, directing, and supervising cooperative operations. COOPEDUC is subject to IPACOOP's regulatory oversight and submits to periodic external audits conducted under this framework.
• UAF (Unidad de Análisis Financiero)coreOthersThe Financial Analysis Unit (UAF) is the Panamanian government body responsible for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. COOPEDUC complies with Law 42 and its internal compliance regulations as supervised by the UAF.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Coomeva Cooperativa: Colombian cooperative offering financial services to professionals and their families. Shares COOPEDUC's member-owned model, LatAm regulatory environment, and focus on serving a specific occupational community.
• Desjardins Group: Canadian cooperative financial group built on member-ownership with a nationwide branch network and full suite of personal financial services. Closely comparable to COOPEDUC's cooperative governance model and community banking orientation.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: Largest credit union in California serving school employees and their families. Closely mirrors COOPEDUC's educator-focused cooperative model, member-owned governance, and concentration on a defined occupational segment.
• BECU: Member-owned US credit union with over 1 million members offering savings, lending, and digital banking. Comparable to COOPEDUC in its cooperative governance, comprehensive product suite, and emphasis on member returns.
• Suncoast Credit Union: US credit union serving a defined membership with full savings, lending, and digital services. Comparable to COOPEDUC in scale, product breadth, and member-owned cooperative structure.

Regional players

• Caja de Ahorros de Panamá: Panamanian state-owned savings institution offering deposit and loan products within the same domestic market. Direct regional competitor to COOPEDUC for retail deposits and personal lending in Panama.

Broad incumbents

• Banco General: Largest bank in Panama offering commercial, retail, and corporate financial services. Competes with COOPEDUC for deposits and consumer lending in the same Panamanian market, with a much broader product portfolio.
• Banistmo: Major Panamanian commercial bank with consumer and corporate banking products. Competes with COOPEDUC in the Panamanian retail banking market as a broader incumbent with greater capital and product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Coopeduc1958/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/coopeduc
• Instagraminstagram.com/Coopeducpty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coopeduc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COOPEDUC