In the aftermath of the financial crisis, the foundations of modern and innovative financial systems developed over decades have suffered serious damage. This has triggered massive state interventions and has led authorities to revamp the regulatory structures and frameworks. While many voices...

There have been lively political debates about savings banks as long as this type of financial institutions has existed. The focus of these debates have been two of the characteristic features of savings banks: They have always pursued financial as well as non-financial objectives, and until a...

This book investigates the merits of a diverse banking system with a special focus on the performance and role of cooperative banks in seven European countries where they are prominent (Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain). The theoretical and empirical arguments...