As a cooperative, AgSouth is owned by our members. One of the most important financial benefits is sharing in the profits of the Association through our Patronage program. Patronage reduces the cost of borrowing by returning a portion of our net income to our borrowers based on the proportion of interest paid on their loan and total interest earned by the Association.
Do you have questions about patronage distributions? Get answers to the most commonly asked questions here:
A patronage distribution is one of the great benefits of doing business with a cooperative. As customers and stockholders, members share in the Association’s profits. A customer’s distribution is based on the proportion of interest earned on his or her loan to the total interest earned by the Association. A patronage distribution may be paid in cash, stock or any combination of these methods.
Patronage distributions benefit customers by reducing their costs of borrowing. The more business a member does with AgSouth Farm Credit, the larger the member's potential patronage distribution.
Unlike corporations, where profits are taxed twice — once when earned by the corporation, and again when distributed to owners as dividends — a cooperative’s profits are taxed only once, when they are distributed as patronage.
The patronage distribution program is one of the great benefits of doing business with AgSouth Farm Credit. The next time you sit down to write a check to another lending institution, ask yourself, “How much of this interest payment will this bank be returning to me?” If your answer is, “None,” then you should consider doing more of your business where you are a stockholder, like you are with AgSouth Farm Credit. Remember, when you own the bank, you share in the profits.
Patronage distributions help AgSouth Farm Credit manage its tax expense and maintain a strong capital position. A strong capital position helps all customers because it enables the Association to offer competitive interest rates while ensuring a constant supply of available credit.
Your patronage distribution may be issued to you by check, direct deposit, or recorded on the Association’s books in a special account called patronage payable. The board sets a minimum check amount as a way of controlling expenses. Cash distributions below the minimum are set up in the patronage payable account.
Members may request the monies in their patronage payable account in the form of a check, have the funds applied to their loans or leave these amounts on account with the Association.
What is patronage and how is it determined at AgSouth?
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