Annual
Report
2011
O
ver the course of 2011, as the debate on the role and responsibility of banks raged, the Caisses d’Epargne affirmed their uniqueness day in and day out.The difficult context, which particularly affected the banking sector, underscored the importance of the Caisses d’Epargne’s core purpose: serving communities with cooperative banks that are rooted in the local economy, mobilise savings, lend and actively promote social programmes, education, culture and sports. In sum, fulfil their role as economic actors that both serve and are part of the community, cultivating values of
trust, solidarity and commitment. More than ever, the Caisses d’Epargne meet the needs of French society. In 2011, their performance and client feedback confirmed this vision.
The Groupe BPCE recorded an encouraging profit of 2.7 billion euros.
The 17 Caisses d’Epargne largely contributed to this success, with 1,362 million euros. Keeping in line with their values, they increased lending by 10%. This dynamic growth has brought commercial success that benefits cooperative shareholders and customers alike, drawing in 600,000 new customers.
Voted France’s favourite bank*, the Caisses d'Epargne are renowned for their social utility** and unique relationship to cooperative shareholders, customers and, more broadly, French citizens.
These signals demonstrate the vitality of our businesses and the viability of our model. A model that, in light of the recent turmoil, has yet again proven its virtues.
The Federation, in symbiosis with the Caisses d’Epargne network, promotes this model with conviction. It nurtures the relationship with cooperative shareholders, represents their interests, contributes to the Caisses d’Epargne’s strategy and policies on social and environmental responsibility, trains elected leaders--such are the tasks the Federation pursues in cooperation with the regional Caisses d’Epargne and in dialogue with BPCE. In 2018, the Caisses d’Epargne will celebrate their 200th anniversary. This longevity demonstrates their ability to manage change, even in difficult times. Historically modern, tuned in to present day needs yet at the forefront of societal change: this is the Caisses d’Epargne.
Michel Sorbier
Chairman, National Federation
of the Caisses d’Epargne
&
Florence Raineix
CEO, National Federation
of the Caisses d’Epargne
editorial
The Federation, in symbiosis
with the Caisses d’Epargne
promotes their model
with conviction.
* Opinion survey by JDD / Posternak / Ipsos, January 2012. ** Survey by Viavoice/Ogilvy/Le Monde, March 2012.
table of contents
Developing
and promoting
the cooperative model
06-13
07
10
12
15
18
21
25
26
Keeping our identity
and commitment
alive
14-23
Organisation
of the National Federation
of the Caisses d’Epargne
24-27
Federal governance
Board of Directors
as of May 1
st, 2012
Philanthropy,
investing in our communities
Financial inclusion, facilitating access
to the underserved
Promoting our heritage
The relation with cooperative shareholders,
our driving force
Training elected officials,
foundation of good governance
Promoting our model
March 22: General Secretaries of the Caisses d’Epargne meet in Paris at the Federation to review recent legal and institutional developments.
March 31: Nicole Notat, Chairwoman of Vigeo, shares her vision on the “new forms of social responsibility for companies”, as special guest at the Caisses d’Epargne breakfast meeting series, the Matinales.
22/31
Mars
January 25: Heads of Cooperative Activities from the Caisses d’Epargne meet for a plenary session to draft the 2011 action plan and prepare the General Assemblies of the local savings societies (sociétés
locales d’épargnes, SLE).
January 26: Federation officials and the International Relations Committee received by MicroBank, the social bank of La Caixa, in Barcelona.
January 27: The Federation hosts a member of the Spanish Confederation of Savings Banks (CECA).
January
25/26/27
Highlights from 2011
February 23 and 24: The Federation hosts the European Microfinance Network’s task force on social performance of microfinance institutions. The Federation participates in the European Commission consultation on the Single Market Act, contributing to four areas: SME financing, governance, access to basic banking services and the social economy.
February
23/24
April 1-3: Thirty-one 15 to 20 year-old Europeans, winners of the 2010-2011 programme Learning about the Stock Market organised by Finances & Pédagogie and the Caisses d’Epargne, are received in Paris by the newspaper Le Monde.
April 7: The Benjamin Delessert Association rewards Sandra Rigot for her dissertation Strategies
and Governance of Pension Funds in the presence
of François Baroin, Budget Minister.
Regional Caisses d’Epargne hold their General Assemblies.
April
1/3/7
© FNCE© FNCE
May
12/25/26
May 12: Heads of Philanthropy from the Caisses d’Epargne meet at the Federation to take stock of recent philanthropic initiatives and define priorities for 2012.
May 25: The General Assembly of the Federation welcomes Jose Francisco de Conrado y Villalonga, Chairman of Microbank.
May 26: The Federation organises a plenary for a hundred members of Audit Committees and the chairpersons of Steering and Supervisory Boards, in the presence of Danièle Nouy, Secretary General of the Prudential Control Authority.
The Federation provides branch offices with toolkits to organise the local savings societies’ General Assemblies.
Board Members of local savings societies meet to prepare for their General Assemblies in June and July.
June 15 to July 8: General Assemblies of local savings
15
December 7: Over 400 Board Members and elected leaders participate in the Caisses d’Epargne’s 6th Initiatives & Convergences Convention entitled
Investing in People: Our Greatest Asset at the Salle
Wagram, in Paris.
December 14: The Federation kicks off a nation-wide web and radio campaign on social commitment. The ad publicises the website initiativescooperatives.fr, where videos produced by each one of the 17 regional Caisses d’Epargne can be viewed.
December
7/14
November 16: The Federation’s Board of Directors approves the operations plan for 2012.
November 21: The second meeting of the European Savings Banks is held in Valence, with the Caisse d’Epargne Loire Drôme Ardèche.
November 24 and 25: Heads of the Caisses
d’Epargne’s microfinance activities meet for a seminar in Nantes to take stock of operations, review ongoing projects and set priorities.
November
16/21/24
September 20: The Federation organises a plenary session for the heads of Cooperative Activities of the Caisses d’Epargne.
September 21: The Annual Meeting of the Caisses d’Epargne Training Managers is held at the Federation.
September
20/21
July 8: As part of the French G20 presidency, the World Institute of Savings Banks (WSBI) participates in discussions on financial inclusion at an international microfinance conference in Paris.
July
8
October 1st: Florence Raineix is named CEO of the National Federation of Caisses d’Epargne.
October 11-13: The Federation organises the
conference Women Entrepreneurs, Partners in Success at the Microentreprise Forum held at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
October 14: The jury for the Trophées de l’engagement (Committment Awards) meets at the Federation. A special Matinale is organised for the occasion, with Christian Nibourel, president of Accenture.
October 17-18: The National Federation of Caisses d’Epargne and National Federation of Banques Populaires organise the first joint seminar for the chairpersons of Caisses d’Epargne and Banques Populaires.
October 19: Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Chairman
of the Financial Markets Authority, is the special guest at the Matinale.
October 26: The Federation organises the first International Volunteers Awards.
October
1/11/14/17/19/26
© CELDA
© Thierry Pinalie
developing
and promoting
THE COOPERATIVE MODEL
In 2011, while the economic role
of banks was hotly debated, the
Caisses d’Epargne continued to
nourish a relationship of trust with
their cooperative shareholders,
4.3 million strong as of December
2011. The economic and financial
turmoil only reinforced the Caisses
d’Epargne model: a decentralized
network of regional, member-owned
cooperative banks that mobilise
savings and finance the needs of a
regional clientele. The Federation
supports the Caisses d’Epargne
by nurturing the relationship
with cooperative shareholders,
training elected representatives, and
representing their interests among
various stakeholders, particularly
policy-makers.
The relation with cooperative shareholders,
our driving force
1
Fostering dialogue,
nurturing community
A highpoint in the relationship between cooperative shareholders and the Caisses d’Epargne, the General Assemblies of the 275 local saving societies were held throughout France in June and July 2011. Some 4.3 million members (individuals and companies) were invited to discuss their bank’s activities, results and priorities. The Federation helps organise these meetings with a number of tools: position papers, policy briefs, information and PR materials. Ninety per cent of the Caisses d’Epargne take advantage of these tools. In 2011, efforts were made to raise awareness among the sales force about what it means to be a shareholder through contests and special invitations for cooperative shareholders.
Special meetings for cooperative shareholders from the same region to inform members in advance about issues concerning the bank. Fifty meetings were held in 2011. Among the issues discussed: insurance, retirement, the stock market, and asset management, along with a new topic devoted to the idea of a “family bank.”
Members’ Clubs bring together over 100,000 members.
The Federation provides New Member Kits, manages application requests, negotiates proposals, coordinates regional proposals and offers strategy support. By the end of December, seven Caisses d’Epargne had a Members’ Club or were about to start one, for a potential outreach of 1.6 million cooperative shareholders. Focus is on developing partnerships with brands that have similar values. The objective is to develop services that bring real benefits to cooperative shareholders’ daily lives.
4,340,000
members
as of 31/12/2011
381,000
participants at the
General Assemblies of the 275 local
savings societies in June-July 2011
Building the shareholder relationship
through diversified and innovative
communication
A decidedly multimedia approach. The website societaires. com was redone and is now societaires.caisse-epargne.fr Designed together with the branch network’s operational teams, this state-of-the-art site strengthens members’ ties to the Caisses d’Epargne, educates them on cooperatives, gives updates on regional priorities and benefits (Members’ Clubs, webinars, special dossiers, etc.), and provides general information on the bank.
The extranet network for Board Members of the local savings societies continued roll out during 2011. At the end of December, 14 of 17 Caisses d’Epargne had implemented the system, representing nearly 80% of the potential users. The extranet promotes collaboration, information sharing and linkages between the Caisses d’Epargne and elected representatives of the savings societies.
Information in the branches remains a must.
Printed documentation also got a facelift in 2011. The
welcome booklet, given to new members, was adapted to the Caisses d’Epargne’s new graphic branding. The brochure on shareholding, available in branches, is designed for customers looking for information or to subscribe. The Federation also developed three poster campaigns.
Each month, the Federation sends texts to the regional Caisses d’Epargne for publication in letters sent to Board Members of the local savings societies and the cooperative shareholders themselves. They give updates on the Caisses d’Epargne and the Groupe BPCE, and are intended to be supplemented with regional information.
Published by the Federation, the quarterly magazine S’investir is the information source for the local savings societies’ Board Members. The magazine was developed to accompany them in their roles and responsibilities as administrators, and disseminate the network’s strategy and activities.
Webinars were tested and launched in 2011 in six Caisses d’Epargne. Simple and innovative, this communication platform makes it possible to deliver virtual training to cooperative shareholders. Based on web technology, there are plans to expand the system throughout the Caisses d’Epargne network.
Supporting executive management
The Caisses d’Epargne’s cooperative philosophy is underpinned by a network of business executives and technical staff whose role is crucial. Their hard work, collaboration and willingness to share ensure that the cooperative relationship is nurtured in the Caisses d’Epargne network. In 2011, three plenaries, ten working groups (information sessions, General Assemblies and Members’ Clubs) and bimonthly conference calls were organised.
* Source: Observatory for Cooperative shareholders, 2011.
Key figures
New website: societaires.caisse-epargne.fr/
91%
of our cooperative shareholders have
a good image of the Caisse d’Epargne
*
A SOLID REPUTATION
AMONG OUR MEMBERS
How cooperative shareholders see the
Caisses d’Epargne is of utmost importance.
This is why the Federation set out, via the
Observatory of Cooperative Shareholders, to
gauge members’ perceptions of their bank.
A survey by Ipsos with 1,704 members in
April 2011 measured the evolution of the
Caisse d’Epargne’s brand image against its
competitors. Findings revealed that the Caisse
d’Epargne enjoys a solid reputation among
cooperative shareholders: 91% reported
having a good opinion of the bank. The Caisse
d’Epargne is also highly rated in quality of
service: 67% of members surveyed consider
staff competent. Results were analysed by
region and made available to each regional
Caisse d’Epargne.
80%
of shareholder representatives
can access the extranet
Key figures
FEDERATION
BRINGS TOGETHER
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
Nearly 400 Board Members and chairpersons
of local savings societies and Steering and
Supervisory Boards participated in the 6th
Annual Initiatives & Convergences Convention,
on December 7 at Salle Wagram in Paris.
Entitled Investing in People: Our Greatest Asset,
the meeting was an opportunity for elected
leaders to reaffirm the Caisses d’Epargne’s
uniqueness. Insisting on the relevance of the
cooperative model, the Federation Chairman,
Michel Sorbier, asserted that “Our customers,
our cooperative shareholders, our employees
and our partners are with us because they
share our vision of a moral bank, based on
proximity, commitment, history and trust”.
François Pérol, Chairman of the Board of
BPCE, echoed this conviction, “Our cooperative
roots are grounded in proximity, an asset that
is unique to us.”
Initiatives & Convergences Convention, December 7, 2011, Salle Wagram, attended by over 400 Board Members of local savings societies.
Training elected officials, the foundation
of good governance
Training activities on the rise
Training shareholder representatives is a way to establish
balanced and effective governance in cooperatives.
The process set up by the Caisses d’Epargne ensures elected leaders comply with best practices and regulatory requirements.
2011 was particularly active, with a total of 2634 participants attending 169 training sessions. Participation alone of local savings company Board Members grew 45%. The level of activity over the past three years attests to the fundamental role of training in the Caisses d’Epargne.
The training catalogue now offers forty modules. Five new classroom modules and five e-learning modules for the extranet were added in 2011.
In all, participants clocked 8721 training hours in 2011, up 15% from last year thanks to more participation in regional training sessions. As in previous years, most training participants (85%) are Board Members of local savings societies. On average, one in two has been trained, out of roughly 4000. The proportion is about the same for members of the Supervisory and Strategy Boards, with 163 participating out of 300. The chairpersons and members of
the Supervisory and Strategy Boards and Audit Committees received an average of 2 and 4 days of training, respectively.
A dynamic partnership
The training programme is the result of close collaboration between the Federation and the Caisses d’Epargne. The Federation organises centralized trainings for Steering and Supervisory Board chairpersons, and Audit Committees members. The Caisses d’Epargne handles trainings that target Steering and Supervisory Board members and local savings societies Board Members. Strong performance in 2011 is due to the increase in regional training sessions, up 23% from 137 to 169.
The Caisses d’Epargne embraced training activities in 2011, organising and facilitating many sessions, and choosing new topics. Forty-five per cent of training topics proposed to local saving societies administrators were developed at the regional level, with the rest coming from the Federation’s training catalogue.
2
© FNCE
169
training sessions
Operations, social commitment, regulation, the inner workings of finance...these are just a few of the training topics offered. During 2011, more training sessions of shorter duration were offered to a wider audience.
E-learning gains ground
Online training via the extranet has been in development since 2010. Among the modules currently available online: Banking and Capital Markets, Financial Reporting and European Central Bank. In 2011, our offer expanded with five new modules. Two more are expected to be launched in the 1st half of 2012: Corporate Social
Responsibility and Banking Risks. Both modules were developed in collaboration with experts from the Caisses d’Epargne.
2634
shareholder representatives
Danièle Nouy, Secretary General of the Prudential Control Authority, Audit Committees plenary, May 26, 2011.
HIGH LEVEL
OF SATISFACTION
Training evaluations are distributed after
every session to assess participants’ needs
and identify areas for improvement. Overall,
participants were satisfied with training in
2011. The cumulative rates of “satisfied” and
“very satisfied” were close to 100% for all the
sessions.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
PLENARIES
Nearly 100 people attended the 2011
plenary for Audit Committees, held May
26 in Paris at the initiative of the Chairman
of the National Federation, Michel Sorbier.
Guest of honour Danièle Nouy, Secretary
General of the Prudential Control Authority
presented a regulator’s vision of banking
audit committees. Indeed, the financial crisis
has led to much discussion on governance.
Governance principles are not applied the
same way across institutions and countries.
Capacity building and the involvement of
decision-making bodies—the Supervisory and
Strategy Boards at the Caisses d’Epargne—
are major challenges. Participants worked in
small groups on several themes: preparation,
operations, audit committee evaluations,
reporting to Steering and Supervisory Boards,
training of chairpersons and members. It
was a constructive process that encouraged
dialogue, debate, and new ideas, offering
valuable inputs for improving the
ever-important audit committee.
© FNCE © FNCE
Promoting our
model among
decision-makers
Representing our interests in Europe
and abroad
The Federation promotes the Caisse d’Epargne model through a policy of active representation. It sits on several committees of the European Savings Bank Group (ESBG) and the World Institute of Savings Banks (WSBI), where it promotes common positions with other European savings and retail banks: WSBI-ESBG Coordination Committee, Committee for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Committee of Economic Affairs and Committee on Financial Regulation.
In 2011, the Federation represented the Caisses d’Epargne in several consultations of the European Commission on the Single Market Act, Governance and the Progress Microfinance Facility.
At the international conference on microfinance organised by the Banque de France at the G20 in Paris, the Federation, via the World Institute of Savings Banks, highlighted the crucial role of savings banks in financial inclusion in developing countries and Europe. Parcours Confiance,
Créa-Sol and the Microfinance Institute of the Caisses
d’Epargne Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur and Corsica were cited as outstanding examples in France.
Facilitating access
to European funding
The Federation has developed a range of services to help regional Caisses d’Epargne benefit from the European Commission’s funding programmes. Several were piloted in early 2011 by the Caisse d’Epargne in Auvergne and Limousin, including sessions to raise awareness of leaders
3
and professions associated with regional economic development and meetings with local decision-makers to discuss European priorities and issues. The Federation has developed two documents on European funding to accompany these efforts. The first, European Funding: Guidelines for the Caisses d’Epargne, is for a generalist audience and maps the EU funding landscape according to management modalities and possible benefits for savings banks and their customers. The second is a guide for regional business development managers, Client Interview Guide, which includes fact sheets to distribute to clients and a list of resources on European funding possibilities. Each Caisse d’Epargne can customise these documents to their region.
Michel Barnier, European Commissioner
Christian Nibourel, President, Accenture
Nicole Notat, Chairwoman, Vigeo
Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Chairman, AMF
© CE Alsace © FNCE
© FNCE © FNCE
Matinales: fostering dialogue with
policymakers
Matinales des Caisses d’Epargne is a breakfast series that addresses parliamentarians and economic policymakers. It is organised in partnership with La
Chaîne parlementaire, a French cable channel that covers
parliamentary proceedings, and La Lettre de l’Expansion, a public affairs weekly. Three Matinales were held in 2011. On March 31, Nicole Notat, Chairwoman of Vigeo, addressed the “new forms of social responsibility for
companies”. On October 14, Christian Nibourel, president
of Accenture France, presented his vision of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in front of an audience of Caisses d’Epargne partners. Finally, on October 19, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Chairman of the Financial Markets Authority, shared his view on the European crisis.
MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
MICROCREDIT IN SPAIN
On January 26, 2011 the Federation’s
Chairman’s cabinet and the International
Relations Committee were received in
Barcelona by José Francisco de Conrado y
Villalonga, Chairman of MicroBank, the social
bank of La Caixa. The delegation attended
a conference on MicroBank’s activities and
microcredit in Spain, and visited a branch
office to see the tools and systems used to
evaluate microcredit requests. In turn, on
January 27, the Federation hosted a member
of the Spanish Confederation of Savings
Banks (CECA) who presented the evolution
and reform of Spanish Savings Banks.
« LES EUROPÉENNES » :
A CAISSE D’EPARGNE EVENT
The 2
ndmeeting of ”les Européennes”
co-organised by the Federation and the Caisse
d’Epargne of Loire Drôme Ardèche, was held
November 21 in Valence. Partners, elected
officials, business leaders, representatives
of local organisations, community and
institutional leaders joined Caisse d’Epargne
and the Federation officials. Over 150 people
attended the panel discussion moderated by
journalist Memona Hintermann on the theme
European financing for regional and territorial
economic development: where to go in time of
crisis? Jean-Jack Queyranne, Chairman of the
Rhône-Alpes region, Joel Roques, Chairman
of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
of Drôme, Philippe Dessertine, Director of
the Institut des Hautes Finances, and Nicolas
Ravailhe of Euraegis all shared their views on
how to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Economist Christian Saint-Etienne, speaking at the Initiatives & Convergences Convention.
promoting
our values
AND KEEPING OUR
IDENTITY ALIVE
In 2011, the Federation established new guidelines
on social and environmental responsibility.
The legal obligation to finance public interest
missions that was in place from 2001-2009 has
given way to a voluntary approach embrace
wholeheartedly by the Caisses d’Epargne
‒ a contemporary reflection of our historic
vocation as a community-focused bank.
Philanthropy,
investing in our communities
1
Caisses d’Epargne, committed
to the social economy
In 2011, the Caisses d’Epargne spent 18 million euros on 1100 projects as part of its corporate philanthropy program. These numbers attest to our clear commitment to social and cultural development. They are also significant compared to other banks. The Federation has started reflecting on the partnership process to anticipate future commitments. High-quality, lasting partnerships and collaborative project development are on the agenda in the coming years.
The Federation made considerable efforts to position the Caisse d’Epargne and improve its visibility in national social economy and corporate philanthropy networks. It contributed to working groups of corporate social responsibility organisations like Admical and IMS- Entreprendre pour la Cité on topics including communication and staff involvement in corporate philanthropy policies. The Caisses d’Epargne also participated in events organised by actors such as: ESSEC Chair in Philanthropy, Admical, IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité, Fonda, CEGES, National Council of Regional Chambers of Social Economy and Avise. These partnerships have enhanced the visibility of the Caisses d’Epargne in many ways: publication of an article in Admical’s newsletter Business and Philanthropy; the inclusion of the Caisses d’Epargne on the web database Mécénova of IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité; meetings
with national bodies of community-based networks to build regional partnerships and develop regular contact; communication via IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité and Admical of the requests for proposals from the regional Foundations of the Caisses d’Epargne Picardie, Alsace, Midi-Pyrenees, Normandy Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine.
1100
community development
projects supported
© Ge
tty Images - Pho
toc
onc
ep
ts/F
rank and Helena
Spearheading new ideas
and supporting the network
The Federation emphasises the importance of appropriating new developments in corporate responsibility, including changes to legal and fiscal frameworks. It has increased support to the Caisses d’Epargne to make sure executive management possess cutting-edge expertise. The social and environmental responsibility guidelines established in 2009, which include philanthropy as a major element, call for on-going training and information.
The Federation offers philanthropy task managers from the Caisse d’Epargne network personalised guidance on sponsorship mechanisms. It has organised several work-shops to exchange experiences on recent developments in philanthropy and sponsorship. In October, a two-day semi-nar brought together a number of experts from IMS, Avise, Le Rameau, Unis-Cités, Caisses d’Epargne Foundation for Solidarity, Belem Foundation and BPCE.
To improve the referencing of projects supported by regional Caisses d’Epargne, the Federation has made it easier to post developments online thanks to improved ergonomics, new document templates and automated queries on social commitment issues, a new directory, and the creation of individual identifiers to facilitate queries.
Efforts to organise philanthropic initiatives continued throughout the year with a series of regional assessments, definition of strategies, new instruments (foundations and endowment funds), calls for proposals, increased training for staff and elected officials. Board Members of the local savings societies, genuine ambassadors of their communities, got more involved this year, participating in the regional assessment process and meetings with project leaders.
The Caisses d’Epargne develop the social economy by financing a variety of projects.
18
million euros for local philanthropy
20
million listeners tuned
into radio spots
COMMUNICATION: CAISSES
D’EPARGNE CREATE A BUZZ
Radio + Internet = a new kind of publicity
campaign to promote the Caisses d’Epargne’s
community commitment. On December
14, the Federation launched a series of
ads on the radio stations France Inter and
Europe 1, and video-sharing site Dailymotion.
The campaign related success stories
in microfinance, philanthropy, and local
development. From December 14 to 27,
three radio spots invited listeners to go online
(www.initiativescooperatives.fr) to listen to
17 stories (one for each Caisse d’Epargne),
produced in 3D video with cutting-edge
graphics. Viewers can also watch a testimony
from a Caisse d’Epargne official. Radio spots
and Dailymotion videos are signed Caisse
d’Epargne. Investing in People: Our Greatest
Asset.
TROPHÉES DE L’ENGAGEMENT 2011
The Trophées de l’engagement en région
(Committment Awards) celebrate the Caisse
d’Epargne’s know-how and good practices
by awarding Accomplishments that reflect our
values. Awards are given in four categories:
microcredit, philanthropy, cooperative initiatives
and local development. The first edition of
the Trophées de l’engagement en région
generated great interest from the 17 regional
Caisses d’Epargne and their partners. Sixty
high-quality projects were sent to a jury of
experts that convened on October 14 to select
three projects per topic, which were then voted
online by staff, cooperative shareholders and
Board Members of local savings societies.
The winners of the categories philanthropy,
microcredit and local development were
awarded a trophy and a check for 3000 euros
on December 7, 2011, at the Initiatives &
Convergences Convention, organised by the
Federation in Paris.
Financial inclusion, facilitating access
to the underserved
Caisse d’Epargne, France’s leading
microcredit bank
In 2011, the Caisses d’Epargne disbursed 3164 microloans for personal use and 922 for businesses, up 15% from 2010, for a market share of 28% (both uses combined) (guaranteed by FAG* and FCS). The Caisses d’Epargne have helped nearly 5000 individuals and entrepreneurs forge social and economic ties to their communities. The approach is holistic, combining financing of small businesses, vehicles for job hunting, vocational training and essential durable goods with close accompaniment of clients and access to banking products and services essential to daily life.
The Caisses d’Epargne rely on the Parcours Confiance** network and Créa-Sol**, which they founded and finance. Active throughout France, Parcours Confiance and
Créa-Sol mobilise 70 client advisers in 50 branches. Parcours Confiance and Créa-Sol advisors offer support adapted to vulnerable groups, in collaboration with over 600 associations and local governments. In the field, teams work in synergy with Caisses d’Epargne branches to identify clients needy and offer comprehensive support with partner organisations, including regional Family Affairs Departments Unions, social services, soup kitchens and local government bodies.
Finances & Pédagogie, a non-governmental organisation created and funded by the Caisses d’Epargne, offers interactive workshops on money, budgeting and banking.
Finances & Pédagogie hosted 75 financial management
workshops in 2011 for Parcours Confiance beneficiaries. Emblematic of this partnership, the “Driver’s License for 1€ a Day” program helps disadvantaged youth finance their license. Similarly, a partnership with the Social Action Fund for Temporary Work allows temporary workers access
to microcredit. 2011 saw a rise in pro bono work by Board Members of local savings societies and Caisse d’Epargne retirees for Parcours Confiance and Finances & Pédagogie.
Driving microfinance development
The Federation is the driving force for microfinance in the Caisses d’Epargne. A microfinance steering committee was established with the chairpersons of the Caisses d’Epargne and representatives of the Federation and BPCE. Its role is to supervise microfinance operations, analyse challenges and opportunities, and guide the network’s microfinance strategy through federal bodies. The committee has made microfinance a strategic issue and affirmed the Caisses d’Epargne’s expertise in the sector.
In 2011, in addition to their efforts to develop microfinance, teams worked to streamline and improve the reliability of the tools and procedures used to disburse microcredit and manage delinquency and risk. Dashboards were created with the help of the BPCE’s management information systems department.
Parcours Confiance continued to grow throughout the year
thanks to continuing education and networking meetings involving all the Caisses d’Epargne.
* Loans guaranteed by France Active or the Social Cohesion Fund. ** Parcours Confiance is a Caisses d’Epargne programme to promote
microcredit and access to financial services. Créa-Sol is a microfinance institution accredited by the Ministry of Finance and financed by the Caisses d’Epargne Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur and Corsica.
2
4086
microcredits disbursed
Advocacy in France and Europe
The Federation is the centre of expertise for the Caisses d’Epargne on topics related to financial inclusion and microfinance in France and Europe. It serves as an information clearinghouse and observatory. It also contributes to the work of representative bodies from the banking sector, of the French public authorities and of the European Commission. Along with Caisse des Dépôts and Secours Catholique, the Federation is one of nine organisations selected by the European Commission for the Cooperation for Inclusive Affordable Personal Credit project, designed to build capacity of microcredit staff in Europe. As such, it is helping position the Caisses d’Epargne as a European leader, with the ultimate objective to mobilise European funds to refinance and expand microfinance.
Number one
bank for personal microcredit
A CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR MICROFINANCE
INSTITUTIONS
As part of its efforts to develop microcredit
in Europe, the European Commission is
heading a series of meetings in Brussels
to create a code of conduct for European
microfinance institutions. The Federation plays
an active role in this initiative. It is designed
to build consensus on the financial and
social performance indicators microfinance
institutions should track internally and the
indicators to be disseminated to the wider
public.
Microcredit client and her advisor from Parcours Confiance.
© Staccato-FNCE
Ecureuil Coopération Internationale
Established in 2007, Ecureuil Coopération Internationale (ECI) brings the Caisses d’Epargne brand of community-driven banking abroad. ECI taps into the skills and know-how of the Caisse d’Epargne’s retired executives and salaried staff to provide pro bono services to partners through training and technical advisory missions. In the last four years, 100 missions were carried out with partners like postal savings banks and microfinance institutions, mainly in West Africa. In 2011, 20 missions mobilising 22 volunteers were conducted with four partners in West Africa, members of the World Institute of Savings Banks (WSBI) and Fonds d’impulsion de la microfinance.
These missions cover the entire range of banking skills: commercial development, sales techniques, financial education, information systems, risk management, human resources management, strategic planning, etc. Currently, ECI has a roster of 250 trained volunteers who are ready to be deployed or redeployed. ECI’s main partners include PosteFinances in Senegal, Banque Populaire pour l’Epargne et le Crédit in Togo, Caisse d’Epargne of Côte d’Ivoire, National Postal Bank (Sonapost) in Burkina Faso, the Postal Bank in Benin and the Fonds d’impulsion de la microfinance in Senegal. Also in 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation finalised a project with the National Postal Bank (Sonapost) in Burkina Faso. The Foundation, created in 1994, aims to double the number of savings accounts of 10 member institutions of the World Institute of Savings Banks by 2014.
250
volunteers
100
20 in 2011
missions in 4 years,
International Volunteer Awards, October 26, 2011.
INTERNATIONAL
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
As part of the European Year of Volunteering,
the Federation organised the first International
Volunteer Awards on October 26, 2011. The
awards recognized Caisses d’Epargne and
Banques Populaires’ executives and staff
for their volunteer work with African financial
and microfinance institutions and other ECI
partners. Sponsored by European Parliament,
the event was attended by Michel Sorbier,
Chairman of the Federation; Olivier Klein,
general manager of commercial banking
and insurance and BPCE Board member;
and Edyta Michelin, European Parliament
representative in Paris. Four volunteers were
celebrated in front of an audience of 100 for
their high-quality contributions.
© FNCE
Promoting
the heritage of the
Caisses d’Epargne
Organising our archives
In 2010, efforts began to bring the Caisses d’Epargne’s historical archives to a single site. The idea is to highlight the banks’ rich history and leverage their assets for brand promotion.
The pooling of historical archives continued in 2011, with the processing and integration of archives from new Caisses d’Epargne and their subsidiaries: Caisses d’Epargne Languedoc-Roussillon, Picardie and Rhône- Alpes, the Finances & Pédagogie association. There are now 12 Caisses d’Epargne involved in the archiving project. A document collection was created, based on:
• Sorting and inventorying of the historical archives of the Caisses d’Epargne participating in the project;
• Indexing of the Journal des Caisses d’Epargne;
• Registration of historical buildings belonging to the Caisses d’Epargne (with documentation on each);
• A photo database covering more than two hundred years of the Caisses d’Epargnes’ history.
During 2011, a working group created a list of themes and issues of historical interest, to help set up the procedures needed to manage and preserve the archives.
Cash desk and registers from the late 19th century,
Caisse d’Epargne Rhône-Alpes archives.
3
12
Caisses d’Epargne participate
in historical archives project
Tools to promote
the Caisses d’Epargnes’ heritage
Thanks to the archiving efforts, the Caisses d’Epargne are able to showcase their heritage and leverage it as part of their branding strategy. The Federation is encouraging the network to embrace its history in several ways:
Personalised documentation for each Caisse d’Epargne
for the General Assemblies of the local savings societies.
Historic profiles on each Caisse d’Epargne for the site
societaires.caisse-epargne.fr
Research at the request of the Caisses d’Epargne and partners, such as regional cultural affairs services.
An information booklet on when and how to use and showcase the Caisses d’Epargnes’ heritage: disseminated during the 1st semester of 2012.
Personalised training sessions on the history of community involvement.
Participation in the organisation of day-long workshop on “Savings Banks and the Crisis”, at the European Savings Banks Group (ESBG), in anticipation of an upcoming European conference.
Curation of an exhibition on the commitment of Caisses d’Epargne, in conjunction with the event Trophées de
l’engagement en régions and the Federation’s Initiatives &
Convergences Convention.
Old postcards of Caisses d’Epargne buildings and documents related to school-based savings schemes from the Caisse d’Epargne Loire-Centre archives.
TRAVELING EXHIBITION
ON THE SOCIAL COMMITMENT
OF THE CAISSES D’EPARGNE
For the Initiatives & Convergences Convention
held in December 2011, the Federation curated
an exhibition to showcase the social commitment
of the Caisses d’Epargne. The exhibition
presented many of the activities supported
by the Caisses d’Epargne throughout France,
including philanthropy, microfinance, financial
education and regional development. Designed
to travel, the exhibition is available to any Caisse
d’Epargne wishing to communicate on the
banks’ strong social commitment. Developed
with touch screens, it is flexible and adaptable
so as to meet demands of each Caisse d’Epargne.
organisation
OF THE NATIONAL
FEDERATION OF THE
CAISSES D’EPARGNE
Heart of the cooperative structure adopted in 1999, the National
Federation is the representative body of the 17 regional Caisses
d’Epargne, their 4.4 million members and the 4,000 Board Members
of the local savings societies. It helps define strategic priorities by
encouraging debate within the Caisses d’Epargne. Its mission is
to coordinate and facilitate the relationship between cooperative
shareholders and the Caisses d’Epargne and support elected
representatives in their mandate. It defines, coordinates and promotes
social and environmental responsibility within the Caisse d’Epargne
network and liaises with foreign financial institutions. Mouthpiece of
the Caisses d’Epargne, the Federation is also in charge of representing
and promoting the interests of the network, particularly among public
authorities.
Federal governance
The Federation is governed by a General Assembly, Board of Directors, the Chairman’s cabinet, a Federal Council, four Committees and an operational team that liaises with the Caisses d’Epargne branch network.
The General Assembly is composed of five representatives from each Caisse d’Epargne: two members of the Steering and Supervisory Board plus the chairperson, and one member of the Management Board, plus the chairperson. It meets once a year and approves annual accounts.
Board of Directors
The Federation’s Board of Directors is composed of all the chairpersons of the Steering and Supervisory Boards and Management Boards for each Caisse d’Epargne. It is supported by four Committees and ad hoc working groups.
The Chairman’s cabinet is composed of eight members: an equal number of chairpersons from the Steering and Supervisory Boards and the Management Boards.
The Federal Council is a consultative body that brings together the chairpersons of the Steering and Supervisory Boards and Management Boards. These two populations are consulted separately on matters determined
by the Board.
FLORENCE RAINEIX, NEW CEO
OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION
OF CAISSES D’EPARGNE.
Florence Raineix was appointed CEO of the
National Federation of Caisses d’Epargne
October 1
st, 2011 after serving successively
as Secretary General, Legal Director, Central
Director and Executive Director of the
Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France. Throughout
her career, she has been instrumental in
implementing the 1999 Caisses d’Epargne
reform both nationally and regionally, for the
Caisse d’Epargne Île-de-France Paris. More
recently, she oversaw the legal and institutional
restructuring of the current Caisse d’Epargne
Île-de-France, created in 2008 through the
merger of three regional Caisses d’Epargne.
Upon taking office, she emphasised her goal to
see “the Federation at the heart of cooperative
activities of the Caisses d’Epargne network and
to mobilise its forces and energies to strengthen
the link between the Caisses d’Epargne and
their cooperative shareholders”.
1
Board of Directors
2
Committees are co-chaired by a chairperson from a Steering
and Supervisory Board and chairperson from the Management
Board, both appointed by the Federation’s Board of Directors.
Each Caisse d’Epargne appoints one representative from
the chairpersons of the Steering and Supervisory Boards
and Management Boards to each Committee. Committees
submit policy proposals to the Federation’s Board. Their role
is to express the needs of the Caisses d’Epargne and their
Committees
Astrid Boos
Chairwoman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Alsace
Luc Carpentier
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Alsace
Jean-Charles Boulanger
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Aquitaine Poitou-Charentes
Jean-François Paillissé
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Aquitaine Poitou-Charentes
Co-Chairman, Identity Committee
Maurice Bourrigaud
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Auvergne and Limousin
Victor Hamon
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays-de-Loire
Co-Chairman, Identity Committee
Didier Patault
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire
Jean-Pierre Gabriel
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne de Bourgogne Franche-Comté
Co-Chairman, Prospective Committee
Michel Sorbier, Chairman
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Auvergne and Limousin
Jean-Claude Créquit,
Vice-Chairman and Treasurer Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Côte d’Azur
Jean-Marc Carcélès
Chairman of the Management Board
of the Caisse d’Epargne Languedoc-Roussillon
Jean-Claude Cette
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Provence-Alpes-Corse
Joël Chassard
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Normandie
Jean-Paul Foucault
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Île-de-France
Yves Hubert
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Picardie
Benoît Mercier
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Lorraine Champagne-Ardenne
Board of Directors
as of May 1
st
, 2012
Governance
Committee
The Governance Committee strives to improve the governance of the Caisses d’Epargne network. It oversees the effectiveness and independence of decision-making bodies, sees to the smooth functioning of the cooperative’s democracy, and ensures
Identity
Committee
The Identity Committtee oversees social and environmental responsibility initiatives. Its work focusses essentially on encouraging
International
Relations Committee
The International Relations Committee promotes the Caisse d’Epargne model abroad, helps uncover new business
Prospective
Committee
The Prospective Committee studies the outreach of the Caisses d’Epargne model in light of demographics, societal changes
Bernard Roux
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Midi-Pyrenées
Co-Chairman, International Relations Committee
Pierre Carli
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Midi-Pyrenées
Nicolas Plantrou
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Normandie
Philippe Lamblin
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Nord France Europe
Alain Denizot
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Nord France Europe
Laurent Roubin
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Picardie
Alain Lacroix
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Provence-Alpes-Corse
Co-chairman, Prospective Committee
Yves Toublanc
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Rhone-Alpes Chairman, Supervisory Board, BPCE
Stéphanie Paix
Chairwoman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Rhône-Alpes
Jean-Pierre Deramecourt
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne de Bourgogne Franche-Comté
Co-Chairman, International Relations Committee
Pierre Mackiewicz
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Côte d’Azur
Bernard Comolet
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Île-de-France
Co-Chairman, Governance Committee
Pierre Valentin
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Languedoc-Roussillon
Jean Arondel
Chairman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Loire-Centre
Co-Chairman, Governance Committee
Nicole Etchegoïnberry
Chairwoman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Loire-Centre
Catherine Amin-Garde
Chairwoman of the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Loire Drôme Ardèche
Francis Henry
Chairman of the Management Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Lorraine Champagne-Ardenne
orbe. EdEp : 08.2012.30580
Caisse d’Epargne
Lorraine Champagne-Ardenne
Caisse d’Epargne
Nord France Europe
Caisse d’Epargne Provence-Alpes-Corse Caisse d’Epargne Picardie Caisse d’Epargne Rhône-Alpes Caisse d’Epargne Île-de-France Caisse d’Epargne Côte d’Azur Caisse d’Epargne Loire-Drôme Ardèche Caisse d’Epargne d’Auvergne et du Limousin Caisse d’Epargne Languedoc-Roussillon Caisse d’Epargne Midi-Pyrénées Caisse d’Epargne d’Alsace Caisse d’Epargne Aquitaine Poitou-Charentes Caisse d’Epargne Bourgogne Franche-Comté Caisse d’Epargne Loire-Centre Caisse d’Epargne Normandie Caisse d’Epargne
Bretagne Pays de Loire
