Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch

Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch was a German economist and social reformer who founded the cooperative movement in the 19th century. He believed that small community-based banks, called credit unions, could help working-class people access affordable credit and improve their economic well-being. Schulze-Delitzsch promoted the idea that cooperation among workers and small entrepreneurs could foster economic stability and social progress. His ideas influenced the development of modern credit unions and cooperative banking worldwide, emphasizing the importance of mutual aid, democratic governance, and financial inclusion for local communities.