INCIDENCIA DE LAS CAJAS DE AHORRO Y CRÉDITO DE LAS ASOCIACIONES COMUNITARIAS EN LA POBLACIÓN URBANO-MARGINAL Y RURAL DEL CANTÓN LOJA

Abstract

Savings banks have been operating for a long time regardless of changes in legislation, banking regulations or categorization of credit (or micro-credit) activities. Communal or workers associations have found in these an accessible and swiftly solution to saving and getting loans at convenient interest rates lower than market ones. This study aims to determine whether the functioning of saving banks is related to trust level and group's cohesion; and if the need to access credit prevails over saving concerns. In order to so, - 2 - members of 15 Savings Banks were surveyed in the city of Loja, Ecuador. It was found that credits are not mainly intended for entrepreneurial activities; however these associations still have a strong social component and serve for savings and emergency loans.