Crédit Agricole 140 years of history : 1900s - First extension of the scope of action
The first decade of the 20th century saw Crédit Agricole establish a lasting presence in the regions.
Due to the strong mobilisation of activist mutualists in rural areas of France, many local banks and more than a hundred regional banks were created. The involvement of departmental agricultural teachers was also essential to promoting Crédit Agricole’s action. As volunteers, they often provided secretarial services to the local banks and committees that received loan applications. However, while new structures were created and ideas spread, lending remained low in the early years, for two reasons. Not only were farmers still reluctant to apply for a loan and take on debt, but the lending terms were quite restrictive.
Since 1894, only farmers who were members of a union could call on Crédit Agricole. Only short-term loans were available and they were strictly limited to agricultural needs. However, this limit on individual short-term loans was removed in 1906 when Crédit Agricole was able to grant long-term loans to farming cooperatives.
These cooperatives were expanding at this time and in many cases, the
mutual shareholders of the local banks were also members of purchasing,
production or sales cooperatives. Crédit Agricole therefore adapted to meet
their financing needs. This was the first extension of Crédit Agricole’s scope of
action. There would be many more.
Crédit Agricole held a congress every year.
Here in Saint-Émilion in 1907 and in Blois in 1908.
In the same Series
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Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 2025 until todayCrédit Agricole is now an original model of universal retail banking. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 2010s - The expression of our “Raison d’être”At the beginning of this decade, Crédit Agricole: included 39 regional banks, fully-fledged banks and the majority shareholders of the central institution Crédit Agricole S.A.; was active in all banking businesses; provided services to all types of customers, from individuals to corporates and institutional investors, from the most vulnerable to the wealthiest; included a second retail banking network, LCL; was present throughout France and on all continents. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 2000s - A new dimensionIn 2001, the regional banks, the majority shareholders of Caisse Nationale de Crédit Agricole, decided to open up its capital to the public. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1990s - A growing groupCrédit Agricole, no longer under government supervision, was now in control of its destiny. It completed its goal of becoming a universal bank with the ambition of being useful to all. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1980s - The beginnings of universal bankingIn the early 1980s, Crédit Agricole operated throughout France, including in the largest urban areas. It also began to develop its international network with a growing number of new locations (Frankfurt, Milan, Cairo, Singapore, etc.). -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1970s - From rural to internationalFrom 1971, Crédit Agricole’s geographical scope gradually expanded. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1960s - A decade of renewalSince 1897, Crédit Agricole received advances from the government each year, which it had to repay. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1950s - Expansion of the networkIn the early 1950s, Crédit Agricole developed savings inflows to boost financing for French farmers. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1940s - War and reconstructionThe Second World War disrupted the organisation of Crédit Agricole. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history : 1930s - Helping farmers through the crisisThe 1929 crisis that began in the United States reached France in the following years. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history : 1920s - Electricity and housingThe birth of the Caisse Nationale de Crédit Agricole -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history : 1910s - Serving the entire countryAt this time, two important measures strengthened Crédit Agricole’s action in its fight against rural depopulation. -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history : 1890s - A bottom-up organisationCreation of the local banks -
Crédit Agricole 140 years of history : 1880s - Creation in the JuraOur story begins in 1885 in Salins-les-Bains in the Jura.