Crédit Agricole 140 years of history: 1950s - Expansion of the network
In the early 1950s, Crédit Agricole developed savings inflows to boost financing for French farmers.
In addition to the existing 5-year notes, regular periodic borrowings were set up to finance the purchase of equipment by young farmers and the modernisation of farms.
Crédit Agricole’s business became increasingly diversified: it could distribute conventional loans to farmers, finance certain public sector works, issue bonds and hold deposit accounts. The increase in the number of transactions and the rising popularity of cheques had an impact on its organisation.
Caisse Nationale poster for a debt issue (1951).
Until then, customers could visit either the premises of the local and regional banks or temporary points of contact set up in villages on market days. There were few staff and often they were volunteers – this was the case for the secretaries of the local banks, who often invited members to their homes to deal with their affairs.
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With the rising number of transactions, the regional banks needed staff and premises. This was the beginning of the mass recruitment of more specialised employees and the creation of a network of offices – the term branches was not used – which gradually formed a dense network across France. Innovative solutions were launched, such as banking trucks to serve remote villages, and direct marketers to visit customers at home and identify their needs as effectively as possible.
The end of the decade saw a further extension of the scope of action, which had a major impact: from 1959, Crédit Agricole was able to finance housing for all people in rural areas and no longer just farmers. This quickly elevated it to the position of leader in this area.
In the same serie
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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: 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 : 1900s - First extension of the scope of actionThe first decade of the 20th century saw Crédit Agricole establish a lasting presence in the regions. -
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.