Credit Agricole SA history, profile and corporate video
Credit Agricole SA engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: French Retail Banking (Regional Banks); French Retail Banking (Le Credit Lyonnais Network); International Retail Banking; Specialized Financial Services; Asset Management, Insurance, and Private Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Corporate Center. The French Retail Banking (Regional Banks) segment provides banking and financial services which include savings products, life insurance, lending, and payment services for individual customers, farmers, small businesses, corporate and local authorities. The French Retail Banking (Le Credit Lyonnais Network) segment offers asset management, insurance, and wealth management products. The International Retail Banking segment covers foreign subsidiaries and investments that are involved in retail banking. The Specialized Financial Services segment provides consumer financing services and specialized financial services such as factoring and leasing. The Asset Management, Insurance, and Private Banking segment offers savings and investment solutions; investor services; private banking activities; and personal, casualty, and creditor insurance. The Corporate and Investment Banking segment operates in capital markets, investment banking, and financing activities. The Corporate Center segment involves central body function, asset and liability management, and results of the private equity business and various companies of the group. The company was founded on November 5, 1894 and is headquartered in Montrouge, France.“
“Market presence
The Caisses Régionales (e.g. Crédit Agricole Normandie in the Lower Normandy region) mainly focus on rural areas and less on urban ones. However, the Crédit Lyonnaissubsidiary has a significant presence in the big cities; the combination gives the Crédit Agricole group a leading market share in France.
Through all of its subsidiaries, Crédit Agricole SA has in excess of 21 million clients and a presence in over 60 countries.
The current objective of the group is to develop a strong presence in various other European banking markets by acquiring stakes in local banks in other countries.
In 2008, the Group was listed as the #2 largest cooperative in the world, by the International Cooperative Alliance.
Credit Agricole left the Greek market in October 2012 after it agreed to sell Emporiki Bank to Alpha Bank for a token price of €1, ending a six year investment in the debt-ridden country.
In January 2014, Credit Agricole agreed to sell its Bulgarian unit to the Bulgarian bank Corporate Commercial Bank for an undisclosed sum as part of an initiative to reduce its risk-weighted assets.”
*Information from Forbes.com and Wikipedia.org
**Video published on YouTube by “Groupe Crédit Agricole“