LA CAISSE DÉCONOMIE DESJARDINS DES TRAVAILLEUSES ET TRAVAILLEURS (QUÉBEC): A UNITED BANK WITH UNIQUE STRATEGIC COMPETENCIES 1 By Martine Vézina 2 And Céline Legrand 3
Introduction The Caisse déconomie Desjardins des travailleuses et des travailleurs (CETT) 4 is an example of a united bank, the activities of which are focused on the flourishing social economy sector businesses in Quebec. 5 In 1995, the OECD recognised it as one of the most advanced cases of united banks internationally (Turcotte, 1998). In 1995, the CETT was named Credit Union 6 of the Year within the Fédération des caisses déconomie Desjardins du Québec, of which it was a member at the time. In 1996, it received the 1996 Arts & Business Award from the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce. In 1997, its contribution to the provinces socio-economic development was once again underlined when it was a winner in the Mercuriadesawards, given out to exceptional Quebec businesses. As can be imagined, the CETT is not just another credit union. It sees itself above all as tool of social and economic development. As well, the CETT stands up very well to comparisons with other, more traditional financial institutions with regard to economic performance and growth. This paper seeks to identify the foundations of its social and economic success. It is based on an examination of the organisations strategic capacities. The authors delve into the 1 This paper has been published by the authors in Empresa Sociale , under the title « Le strategie di une banca solidale » (« La stratégie dune banque solidaire »), , jan.-feb. 2002, pp 39-58 We would like to thank all those who agreed to participate in this study and in particular certain officials of the Caisse déconomie Desjardins des Travailleuses et Travailleurs (Québec), Clément Guimont, General Coordinator, et Michel Sauvé, Coordinator, Business Financing, Centre de services de Montréal, as well as Diane Paquin, advisor. We also had the collaboration of the directors of two of the Credit Unions business clients, namely, Camille Rheault, Coordinator of the Foyer St-Antoine and Christian Yaccarini, President-Executive Director of the Société de développement Angus. 2 Martine Vézina is professor at the École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal and an associate researcher at the Desjardins Center for the study of financial co-ops. 3 Céline Legrand is a doctoral student in the Joint PHD program at the École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal. 4 The Desjardins Workers Credit Union (translators note) 5 For a complete portrait of the social economy sector in Quebec, see the November-December 2000 issue of this Journal. 6 Credit Union is the English-language equivalent of Caisse and Caisse Populaire (translators note).