These three bank branches will disappear in South Aveyron and Lévézou: “In rural areas, we are almost part of the public service” 

In total, 26 agencies will close their doors in the departments of Aveyron, Lot, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne DR

The CGT of Crédit Agricole denounces this situation. When, on the management side, we defend a "commercial redeployment project". A total of 26 agencies from four departments will close up shop, others will see their opening hours reduced.

This is a measure that will take effect on January 1, 2025. During the last CSE (Social and Economic Committee) of Crédit agricole Nord Midi-Pyrénées – which concerns Aveyron, Lot, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne –, the company presented a "commercial redeployment" plan.

This aims for example "for our employees to be more present with our customers, in particular farmers", summarizes Pascal Duprat, deputy director of the regional fund. But to this is added the other side of the coin. The closure of 26 branches in the bank's territory, including five in Aveyron in Lanuéjouls, Firmi, Salles-Curan, Villefranche-de-Panat and Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance.

An unfavorable opinion from CSE elected officials

A decision that is not to everyone's taste. Firstly for the CGT of Crédit Agricole, whose headquarters is in Rodez. "And all the elected representatives of the CSE have issued an unfavorable opinion", assures CGT representative Jean-Paul Valentin. He continues: "In rural areas, we are almost part of the public service. For the elderly population, sometimes not very comfortable with digital technology, these services are essential."

Only three days of opening per week for certain agencies? This is where the point of view diverges with management. "The attendance at these agencies is very low. It has collapsed since the health crisis. Today, we need to go to customers, not the other way around."

Always an agency "less than 30 minutes by car" depending on the direction 

Pascal Duprat also affirms that all Crédit Agricole customers will always have an agency "less than 30 minutes by car from their home& quot;, similarly, ticket machines will remain self-service in these villages. According to its accounts, in the North Midi-Pyrénées territory, the bank will have 130 branches across its entire territory at the start of next year, "when our most established competitor has 70".

But that’s not all, Jean-Paul Valentin notes that "certain agencies which until then opened five days a week, no’ will open in just three days". And he is worried about the employees of the antennas who will close their doors "who will undergo forced mobility". "We are talking about only a few kilometers, replies the deputy director of the regional fund. And then, no position will be deleted."

A new Aveyron headquarters to come 

A few months ago, the company announced in any case the construction of a new headquarters on the Causse Comtal for the Aveyron headquarters of the bank. Cost of the operation, 20 million euros. After presenting this plan, the CGT is worried about a "double talk". Pascal Duprat brushes aside this subject with & rsquo;a back of the hand.

"We have renovated our network of agencies, not yet our headquarters. I don't think the unions would be happy to have employees who are not in the same boat. This project is also part of an ecological transition approach, that has nothing to do with it."

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