Who owns Farm Credit lending cooperatives?
Farm Credit co-ops are owned by their borrowers, who also are co-op stockholders. The stockholders elect the board of directors who set policy and oversee management of the association. This ownership structure assures that a Farm Credit institution is accountable to its customer-stockholders, and decisions are made in the best interest of the customers. Is Farm Credit regulated? Yes, Farm Credit is regulated by the Farm Credit Administration, an independent federal agency, whose board members are appointed by the President of the United States. For more information, visit www.fca.gov. What makes Farm Credit different from other lenders? A major difference between Farm Credit and other lenders is that Farm Credit can return its profits to its borrowers, and it often does. Patronage refunds reduce the effective cost of borrowing for Farm Credit customers. Are Farm Credit interest rates competitive? Yes, Farm Credit�s rates are competitive with other lenders. And, when they share their
