Number one in France, number three in Italy, second European bank by the size of its balance sheet, Crédit Agricole wants to expand its borders a little further in Europe. This is the main message conveyed by the new medium-term strategic plan (2026-2028) of Crédit Agricole SA (CASA), the registered structure of the joint banking group. “We want to be a leader in Europe, and not only in France and Italy which are our preferred markets, but also go further in conquering Europe”summarizes Olivier Gavalda, general manager of Crédit Agricole SA.
Seeking growth and profitability outside France is a constant strategy for large French banks as their domestic market appears to be burdened by increasing competition and an adverse regulatory environment (regulated interest rates, usury rates, etc.). Thus, Crédit Agricole has built, in small successive steps, a second retail market in Italy, which also relies on its subsidiaries specialized in consumer credit, insurance and asset management. The French bank is also at the heart of banking restructuring in Italy, through its Italian subsidiary and its strategic stake in Banco BPM of 20.1%.
