GC201311333 ART. The value added through a brick-andmortar social network: the bridges built by the Crédit Agricole

Abstract

Some banks that are mutual benefit societies have wanted to grow bigger, but have often lost sight of their founding values. The Crédit Agricole, in particular its affiliate in northeastern France, has developed a social network that, far from being virtual, creates concrete solidarity among its many stakeholders. This network’s economic and social performance is analyzed by using the “dominant service” criterion. Questions are raised about how this type of organization will evolve during a recession.