>would you say that banks as a rule are completely worthless?

OP didn't talk about banks, and I'm not sure the comparison is even valid.

As for your second paragraph. This is a possibility. Why don't we do this? That seems like a good business opportunity. Someone to organize the coop, provide startup investment, and receive a fee for x# of years afterward. Like a mortgage, but for coops, requiring coop rules and regulations for everyone involved. That seems interesting.