NCB Announces Top 100 Cooperatives.

Reporting Revenues Total over $140 Billion in 2005

WASHINGTON -- Today, NCB, formerly known as National Cooperative Bank, released the NCB Co-op 100, its annual list of the nation's 100 highest revenue-earning cooperative businesses, totaling approximately $141 billion in 2005. The NCB Co-op 100 debuted in 1991, and is now celebrating its fifteenth anniversary as the only annual report of its kind to track cooperative revenues and the success of these vibrant businesses across the country.

When the first report was released, America's top 100 cooperatives had generated $81.4 billion in revenues and now 15 years later, the revenues have climbed over $140 billion, a significant 40 percent increase since its inception. Although there have been changes to the companies appearing on the list, the growth of cooperative sector has remained constant, indicating of the influential role they play in today's marketplace.

"Overall, in 2005 the nation's top 100 cooperatives increased revenues by almost $10 billion dollars, a nine percent increase from the same period last year and again recording the highest-ever yearly revenue," commented fifteenth Charles E. Snyder, President and Chief Executive Officer of NCB. "Now in its fifteenth year, the NCB Co-op 100 has tracked the success of America's top cooperatives and watched this industry expand by leaps and bounds, $59 billion since the first report. NCB is proud to be an advocate for the cooperative business sector and to continue the NCB Co-op 100 tradition in the years to come."

Demonstrating the cooperative sector's ongoing success and the advancement of many of these organizations, WesCorp FCU, a financial cooperative, increased its revenues substantially during the past year, and moved up in the rankings from number 76 last year, to the forty-eighth position on this year's list. The dramatic change is even more impressive in dollar amounts, with its 2005 revenues reaching $904 million in comparison to $371 million recorded in 2004.

The continued strong performance of this cooperative and others is especially notable with the shifting of the current economic environment; as many sectors absorb the effects of slowing activity. Unlike investor-owned firms, cooperatives are controlled by their members, the individuals who use and benefit from the goods and services provided. As a result, cooperatives are organized to maximize economic returns, with many of these businesses fairing far better in today's marketplace than their investor-backed counterparts.

Although similar to other business models, a cooperative has several unique features. It is owned and controlled by its members who have joined together to use the cooperative's goods, services and facilities. A board of directors, elected by the membership, sets the cooperative's policies and procedures. By pooling resources, members can leverage their shared power to buy, sell, market, or bargain as one group, achieving economies of scale and sharing in any profits generated. In addition, communities benefit both socially and fiscally by the cooperatives' ability to access and deliver goods and services from across the nation.

Cooperative entities exist in a cross-section of sectors, including agriculture, grocery, hardware and lumber, finance, energy and communications, housing and others. Many cooperatives on the NCB Co-op 100 list are household names such as Dunkin Donuts, Sunkist and True Value Hardware.

The entire NCB Co-op 100 report, as well as additional information on cooperatives, is available at www.co-op100.coop. Barry Silver, NCB Managing Director, is available to answer questions regarding cooperatives and the NCB Co-op 100.

NCB means National Consumer Cooperative Bank, its subsidiaries and NCB Capital Impact, an affiliated non-profit corporation. Loans and technical assistance may be provided by NCB, NCB Capital Impact or NCB, FSB, all of which are Equal Housing Lenders. NCB, FSB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NCB. Deposit products and services are provided by NCB, FSB, which is FDIC insured. Independent financial advisory services are offered through NCB Financial Advisors. Housing development services are offered through NCB and NCB Capital Impact's jointly owned subsidiary, NCB Community Works, LLC.

NCB, formerly known as National Cooperative Bank, is dedicated to strengthening communities nationwide through the delivery of banking and financial services, complemented by a special focus on cooperative expansion and economic development. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NCB also has offices in Alaska, California, Connecticut and New York. In addition, NCB has a growing community banking network in southwestern Ohio. To learn more about NCB, visit www.ncb.coop.