CoBank
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CoBank is a national cooperative bank within the U.S. Farm Credit System (FCS), formed in 1989 through the merger of 11 of the 13 original Banks for Cooperatives established under the Farm Credit Act of 1933, with its headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colorado. As an agricultural credit bank (ACB), CoBank provides loans, leases, export financing, and other services to agribusinesses, rural power, water, and communications providers across all 50 states, managing $174 billion in assets (2023) and employing around 1,100 staff, while remaining owned by its customer-members, including 68 FCS associations and over 4,000 cooperatives.
CoBank, part of the US Farm Credit System, provides loans and financial services to cooperatives, agribusinesses, rural public utilities and other farm credit associations, who collectively own CoBank. It is also an agricultural export credit agency, exclusive among banks of the Farm Credit System. This makes it an agricultural credit bank, a combination of a farm credit bank and a bank for cooperatives. It is based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, outside Denver.
In 1989, the National Bank for Cooperatives was created under the voluntary options of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987[1] by a merger of eleven of thirteen bank for cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives) created with the Farm Credit Act of 1933. The remaining two banks joined in 1995 when it changed its name to CoBank and merged with the Springfield Bank for Cooperatives and the Farm Credit Bank of Springfield, and in 1999 with the merger of St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives. In 2012, CoBank merged with US AgBank, FCB. In 2014, they announced the construction of a new headquarters next to Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, which opened in December 2015.[2][3]
Mission
CoBank’s mission is to strengthen rural economies by offering tailored financial solutions—loans, leases, and treasury services—to cooperatives, agribusinesses, and rural infrastructure sectors, ensuring sustainable growth and resilience. It balances its cooperative heritage with modern financial innovation, supporting agriculture and rural communities through competitive credit and corporate social responsibility initiatives focused on rural vitality.
Parent organization
CoBank operates under the regulatory oversight of the Farm Credit Administration, an independent federal agency managing the Farm Credit System’s cooperative lending network.
Legislation
CoBank traces its roots to the Farm Credit Act of 1933, which created the Banks for Cooperatives, with its modern form enabled by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, authorizing mergers like CoBank’s formation in 1989.
Partners
CoBank collaborates with:
- 68 Farm Credit associations for wholesale lending
- Over 4,000 rural cooperatives and agribusinesses
- Rural utilities (power, water, telecom) nationwide
Number of employees
CoBank employs approximately 1,100 staff across its Greenwood Village headquarters and regional offices, supporting its lending and operational needs.
Organization structure
CoBank is structured as a cooperative bank:
- Banking Divisions manage loans across agribusiness, rural infrastructure, and FCS associations.
- Leasing Division oversees Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation.
- Regional Offices (e.g., Minneapolis, Atlanta) support local operations.
Leader
CoBank is headed by a Chief Executive Officer, currently Thomas E. Halverson, appointed in 2017.
Divisions
The divisions include:
- Agribusiness Banking for cooperatives and farm businesses.
- Rural Infrastructure Banking for power, water, and telecom.
- Farm Credit Banking for FCS association loans.
List of programs
CoBank oversees:
- CoBank Rural Infrastructure Loans - https://www.cobank.com/rural-infrastructure
- Farm Credit Leasing Services
- Export Financing Program
- Sharing Success Charitable Program
Last total enacted budget
CoBank’s budget isn’t publicly enacted as a cooperative; it reported $174 billion in assets and $1.6 billion in net income for 2023, funded via FCS securities and customer revenues.
Staff
CoBank’s ~1,100 staff include loan officers, financial analysts, and support personnel across its national office and regional hubs, with 15% in operations roles.
Funding
CoBank is funded through FCS securities sales in national and international markets, customer repayments, and retained earnings, transitioning from $1.9 billion in federal seed money (repaid 1968) to a borrower-owned model.
Services provided
CoBank provides loans for agriculture and rural utilities, leases via Farm Credit Leasing, export financing for cooperatives, and treasury services like cash management, supporting rural economic stability.
Regulations overseen
CoBank operates under FCA regulations but does not oversee them, per Farm Credit Acts of 1933 and 1987.
Headquarters address
The headquarters address, as listed on Google Maps, is 6340 S Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, USA.
History
Originating from the FCS’s 1916 founding, CoBank formed in 1989 by merging 11 Banks for Cooperatives with $12 billion in assets (Farm Credit Act of 1933), integrating Springfield (1995) and St. Paul (1999) banks, and merging with U.S. AgBank in 2012, growing to $174 billion in assets by 2023 while expanding rural infrastructure financing.
Related
- Director of Revenue of Missouri v. CoBank ACB
- Northwest Farm Credit Services, ACA
- Farm Credit of New Mexico, ACA
External links
- Official Website
- wikipedia:CoBank
- Farm Credit System
- Farm Credit Administration in the Federal Register
References
- ↑ Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, §413 (12 U.S.C. § 2121 note.)
- ↑ "CoBank breaks ground on new international banking center". April 10, 2014. http://www.villagerpublishing.com/76636/news/business-cobank-celebrates-new-greenwood-village-hq/.
- ↑ "CoBank celebrates new Greenwood Village HQ". January 6, 2016. http://www.villagerpublishing.com/76636/news/business-cobank-celebrates-new-greenwood-village-hq/.
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