Crédit Agricole: Defining 'Raison d'être' through the 2010s Decade

Crédit Agricole, a major French banking group, has detailed its strategic evolution during the 2010s, a period marked by the formalisation of its "Raison d’être," or reason for being.

By the beginning of the decade, Crédit Agricole operated an extensive network comprising 39 regional banks and held a majority stake in its central institution, Crédit Agricole S.A. The group's activities spanned all banking sectors, serving a diverse clientele from individuals to corporations and institutional investors across France and internationally. This structure also included a second retail banking network, LCL.

In 2019, the Group initiated a process to reflect on and articulate its "Raison d’être." This introspection culminated in defining its core purpose: 'Working every day in the interest of our customers and society.' This guiding principle has historically informed the bank's development and services, adapting to evolving customer needs and societal changes.

The articulated "Raison d’être" now serves as a strategic compass, uniting the Group around a shared objective. This purpose has been translated into concrete medium-term goals and ambitions, forming the "Group Project." This project encompasses three key components: the Customer Project, focused on client interests; the Human-Centric Project, addressing the role of employees; and the Societal Project, outlining the Group's broader impact.