During the decades Visa was bank-owned, its six regional associations squabbled over international expansion and failed to make much headway.

FORBES: Magazine Article

He has worked closely with JA and many state and regional jewelry associations as well as other retail organizations in a combined effort to develop programs designed to build membership.

FORBES: Jewelers of America Names JCK Veteran For Top Spot

The new associations will probably be set up on a regional basis.

BBC: News

The 537 Sparkassen (savings banks), mainly owned by municipalities, and the 12 Landesbanken, regional banks owned by state governments and savings-banks associations, account for 39% of domestic retail and corporate deposits and 35% of bank lending.

ECONOMIST: German banks