At a time when Maharashtra’s Kopargaon-based Samata Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha’s image came under strain following the astrologer Ashok Kharat episode, the society received a strong vote of confidence from its members during the 41st Annual General Meeting held at the Late Yashwantrao Chavan Samata Sahakar Hall in Kopargaon.
In a significant show of unity and trust, all resolutions presented before the members were passed unanimously, with members raising their hands in approval and reaffirming their faith in the Society’s leadership, transparency and technology-driven banking model.
Addressing the AGM, Chairman Kaka Koyte asserted that all deposits in the society are “100 percent safe” and said Samata’s steady growth over the last four decades has been built entirely on the trust of its members.
“The confidence of members is our biggest capital. Samata will continue to provide secure, transparent and member-centric services in the years ahead,” Koyte said, while appealing to members not to believe misleading narratives surrounding the institution.
According to the financial report presented at the meeting, Samata has crossed Rs 1,128 crore in deposits, while total loan disbursement has reached Rs 824 crore.
The Society’s safe investments stand at Rs 316 crore, while gold loans, considered among the safest lending portfolios, have touched an impressive Rs 585 crore. The Society also posted a gross profit of Rs 13 crore for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
One of the major highlights of the AGM was the announcement of a 15 per cent dividend for members. In a striking display of technological efficiency, the dividend amount was credited directly into members’ bank accounts immediately after the AGM concluded. As SMS alerts flashed on mobile phones inside the packed auditorium, members welcomed the move with applause and enthusiasm.
The Society’s Vice Chairman Arvind Patel described Samata as “a treasure of prosperity built on the blessings and trust of its members.”
Further boosting confidence, several members and depositors announced fresh deposits worth crores of rupees during the AGM itself, signalling continued public trust in the institution’s financial stability and governance.
The Society also announced a provision of Rs 25 lakh from profit allocation for celebrations marking its 40th anniversary. All members will be felicitated with gifts during a special programme scheduled in September.
Speakers at the event praised Samata’s advanced digital initiatives, including voucherless self-banking transactions and OTP-based cash withdrawals through missed calls, which have enhanced transparency, speed and customer convenience.