In 1989, the World Wide Web profoundly disrupted our daily lives. Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne was the first bank to follow suit by launching, as early as 1995, the first banking service using Internet technology. Journalists from the Financial Times and the BBC were present to cover this historic event, a true milestone "made in BZH."

A range of online banking services

Thirty years ago, on June 19, 1995, members and clients of Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne were able to enjoy complete access to online banking services, including: transactions and transfers; real-time stock market updates; portfolio valuation; e-payments; loan simulations; currency purchases.

Unlike other banking institutions that merely offered online databases, Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne provided a genuine interactive banking service, combining advanced technology with optimal security. Only members with personalized access keys, obtained through their advisor, could access these services.

Citélis: a portal to the future

The range of banking services from Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne was part of a broader platform, Citélis, which included:

• A museum and exhibitions;
• A travel agency via our former subsidiary Acta Voyages and a tourist office;
• A library and an e-commerce gallery to promote the products of client companies.

By connecting to Citélis, clients could also access the Internet without any additional subscription; the only requirement was to have a microcomputer and a modem. Offering an exceptional rate of 70 cents per minute for the connection (compared to over 2 francs for Minitel), Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne successfully applied a uniform cost across the four Breton departments through an innovative telephone system that eliminated differentiated pricing. Citélis, the brand that endures today, continues to provide innovative services to e-commerce players.

A pioneering legacy

Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne was already at the forefront of banking innovation, having launched the first home banking service via Minitel as early as 1982. With the emergence of Citélis, the Group reaffirmed its commitment to anticipating its clients' needs. At a time when only 20% of clients regularly visited their agency, it was essential to provide them with the most efficient communication tools.

With this same boldness in the face of new uses and consumption modes for banking services, the Group created Fortuneo Bank in 2000, which quickly became one of the leaders in online banking in France.

And this is also why the Group counts on two accelerators in its strategic plan, Faire 2030:

• Its IT strategy, aiming to implement a competitive and efficient IT system that partners with business operations, supporting commercial development and the Group's sovereignty;
• Its artificial intelligence strategy, aimed at harnessing the full potential of artificial intelligence in service of our strategy and our clients and employees, while ensuring its responsible and controlled use in line with our status as a mission-driven company.