Credit Cooperatives Drive Small Business Financing and Inclusion in Espírito Santo

Credit cooperatives in Espírito Santo have become pivotal in supporting small businesses by expanding financial access and leading key financing initiatives. According to Sistema OCB/ES data, these cooperatives gathered 969,800 members and handled R$ 9.7 billion in transactions in 2025, showcasing their growing economic influence.

A cornerstone of their impact is their dominant role in the Fundo de Aval às Micro e Pequenas Empresas (Fampe), a fund by Sebrae designed to facilitate credit access for small businesses by providing complementary guarantees. From January to August 2026, the Fampe fund facilitated R$ 34.3 million in financing to 523 enterprises, with cooperatives funding 80.72% of these operations. Leading institutions include Sicredi, which granted R$ 18 million, Sicoob ES with R$ 8.4 million, and Cresol contributing R$ 813,000.

Carlos André Santos de Oliveira, executive director of Sistema OCB/ES, highlighted how cooperatives are key agents of financial inclusion, helping small enterprises overcome credit barriers. Beyond urban business financing, these cooperatives excel in rural credit provision, notably through the Fundo de Defesa da Economia Cafeeira (Funcafé) and the Pronaf program.

The Fampe's supplementary guarantees support small businesses lacking conventional collateral, although credit decisions remain with financial institutions. This approach aligns with Sebrae’s Programa Conexão Financeira, which promotes guided financial inclusion by monitoring credit use.

Additionally, initiatives like the IMPULSO event in Ponta Grossa further assist small business owners by providing direct access to multiple financial institutions, demonstrating a nationwide commitment to improving credit accessibility for entrepreneurs.