Group profile

The history of Crédit Agricole

Our 140-year legacy demonstrates our strength in pursuit of usefulness and universality. Currently the 9th largest bank in the world, we have supported society’s major transformations from the outset.

To know where you’re going, you have to know where you come from.

Discover a retrospective of the history of Crédit Agricole and its Raison d’être.

See the video.

  • 2024
    • Acquisition of Alpha Associates and aixigo by Amundi
    • Launch of Carbioz, a voluntary carbon offering, by Crédit Agricole and France Carbon Agri
    • Launch of Cawl, a payment brand for retailers in France, by Crédit Agricole and Wordline
    • Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance becomes Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility
    • Acquisition of Degroof Petercam by Indosuez Wealth Management
    • Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility acquires a stake in GAC Leasing in China
    • Acquisition of Nexity Property Management by Crédit Agricole Immobilier
    • Acquisition of Office Santé by Crédit Agricole Santé & Territoires (Healthcare and Territories)
    2023
    • Creation of Uptevia by CACEIS and BNP Paribas
    • Creation of Leasys with Stellantis and of CA Auto Bank by CA Consumer Finance
    • Creation of a Sustainability & Impact Department within Crédit Agricole S.A.
    • Acquisition of Royal Bank of Canada’s European asset servicing activities by CACEIS
    • Distribution agreement between Banco BPM and Crédit Agricole Assurances in Italy
    • Targets and action plans in five new sectors to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 (Alliances Net Zero 2050)
    2021
    • Acquisition of Lyxor by Amundi
    • Acquisition of Creval by CA Italia
    • 100% unwinding of the Switch guarantee
    • Acquisition of Olinn by CA Leasing & Factoring
    2022
    • Launch of the “Ambitions 2025” Medium-Term Plan
    • Launch of the new Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies and Crédit Agricole Santé & Territoires business lines
    • Targets and action plans in five sectors to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 (Alliances Net Zero 2050)
    2020
    • Acquisition of Sabadell AM, disposal of BSF
    • Framework agreement between CA Assurances and Europ Assistance
    2019
    • Group project, the 10-year vision plan for Regional Banks and the “Ambitions 2022” Medium-Term Plan
    • Expression of the Group’s Raison d’être
    • Merger of CACEIS and Santander
    2017
    • Acquisition of Pioneer Investments by Amundi
    • Integration of Banca Leonardo and three Italian banks.
    2018
    • Partnership of CA Consumer Finance with Bankia and Banco BPM
    • Creation of Azqore with Capgemini and acquisition of Banca Leonardo in Italy by Indosuez Wealth Management
  • 2016
    • Simplification of the Group’s capital structure
    2015
    • Amundi initial public offering
    2011
    • Acquisition of 172 Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. branches in Italy
  • 2010
    • Creation of CA Consumer Finance, CA Leasing & Factoring and Crédit Agricole CIB; new head office in Montrouge (92)
    2009
    • Launch of BforBank, creation of CA Assurances and Amundi
    2005
    • Creation of CACEIS
    2006
    • Acquisition of Cariparma, CA Egypt and CA Ukraine
    2003
    • Acquisition of Crédit Lyonnais (renamed LCL in 2005) and of Finaref
  • 2001
    • CNCA renamed Crédit Agricole S.A., initial public offering on 14 December 2001
    1999
    • Acquisition of Sofinco and an initial stake in Crédit Lyonnais
    1990
    • Creation of Pacifica (property and casualty insurance)
    1996
    • Acquisition of Banque Indosuez
    1988
    • Privatisation act concerning CNCA, which became a French Public Limited Company (Société Anonyme) owned by the Regional Banks
    1986
    • Creation of Predica (life insurance)
  • 1959
    • Order allowing Crédit Agricole to distribute housing loans, in rural areas, to non-farming households
    1945
    • Creation of Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole (FNCA), which acts as a representative body for the Regional Banks
    1899
    • Viger Act which allowed the creation of the Regional Banks
    1920
    • Creation of Office National du Crédit Agricole, which became Caisse Nationale de Crédit Agricole (CNCA) in 1926
    1894
    • Birth certificate of Crédit Agricole, the Méline Act, allowing the creation of the first Local Banks
    1885
    • Creation of the first Local Bank in Poligny (Jura)