Solidarity Bankers: a lever with a strong impact for Crédit Agricole

The Solidarity Bankers sponsorship and skills volunteering program, launched by Crédit Agricole SA and the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in June 2018, has enabled around thirty Group employees to carry out technical assistance missions with impact businesses and microfinance institutions in more than ten countries. Three questions for Bénédicte Chrétien, Group Human Resources Director at Crédit Agricole SA

What is your assessment of the Solidarity Bankers initiative for the Group's employees and for Crédit Agricole as an employer brand?

Since 2018, this program has enabled 39 employees to complete 357 days of missions in 21 countries, benefiting 29 organizations. For each mission, our Solidarity Bankers are present for one to two weeks in the field or are available remotely to provide their expertise (marketing strategy, logistics, financial reporting, fundraising support, purchasing, HR, etc.) to operational teams.

The feedback is very positive for both parties. The beneficiary organizations highly appreciate the technical expertise needed to secure the deployment of their project. Managers view their employees' commitment as a real lever for skills development, particularly their soft skills or behavioral competencies. Volunteer employees are proud to participate in the solidarity projects initiated by the Group, to experience a unique human connection, and to enhance their professional experience.

Recent studies have confirmed that employee community engagement, whether initiated by them or by the company, is strongly correlated with their professional commitment. By responding to their quest for meaning and social utility, these missions are a powerful driver of attractiveness, motivation, and cohesion for our employees.

Do you think this program meets the demand for social engagement among your employees?

The Group has set itself the ambition of being a responsible employer in a corporate citizen. Utility is the marker of our Purpose and education a strong axis of our social and societal contribution. This program is the perfect illustration. The health crisis has amplified the expectations of civil society, which increasingly focus on the development of our companies' human capital. Solidarity commitment is no longer the preserve of millennials. It is therefore legitimate and essential that the Group supports such volunteer programs, which are a strong symbol of its societal commitment.

Does inclusive finance fit into the Bank's strategic plan?

Crédit Agricole is committed to being a trusted partner for all its clients. Its ambition is to serve households from the most modest to the most affluent, from local professionals to large international companies. Its strength and the diversity of its expertise allow it to support each of its clients over the long term in their daily lives and life projects, in particular by helping them protect themselves against uncertainties and plan for the long term. Inclusive finance is therefore at the heart of Crédit Agricole's Purpose and an integral part of our strategic objectives, both in France and internationally.

This article was published in "Our technical assistance system", accessible here