1971 - 1990: Growth

Surprised and fascinated by the importance, the size, and the innovative character of the Group, Québecers came aboard with massive support, rapidly increasing the number of members. At the same time, the Group was asked to become more actively involved in developing Québec's economy.

In 1971, special legislation enabled the creation of the Société d'investissement Desjardins which would be soon joined by Crédit industriel Desjardins (Desjardins Industrial Credit).

Growth and innovations

While its assets soared, also due to the effects of inflation, Desjardins continued to innovate, implementing services like Inter-Caisses, direct deposit, and automated tellers. At the same time, it created new support organizations such as the caisse centrale, a securities brokerage firm, a securities transportation corporation, etc.

Its participation in launching the Canadian Payments Association confirmed it nationwide as a major financial institution.

Unifying the cooperative forces

During this period, there was more unification of cooperative forces in the area of savings and credit. For example, the Credit Union Federation joined the Group in 1979, and was soon followed by the Québec Credit Union League.

By the end of the 1980's, the Group was joined by francophone federations located in Ontario, Manitoba and Acadia.

Total assets for the Group, which were at $2.5 billion in 1971, reached $44 billion by the beginning of the 1990's.

It is not surprising that in 1988 there was a complete overhaul of the legislative framework which was starting to seem outdated in view of the Group's expansion. Under the new law, which was better adapted to the size and diversity of its activities, the Mouvement gained the latitude to group subsidiaries under holding companies.

Timeline

1971	December 23 -- Adoption in Québec of a new law enabling the creation of the Société d'investissement Desjardins as well as the election to the provincial federation of the first full-time president.
1972	April 27 -- Alfred Rouleau elected president. First use of the Inter-Caisses service.
1975	June 2 -- Official launching of Inter-Caisses. Founding in September of Profin, which would later become Crédit industriel Desjardins (Desjardins Industrial Credit). On the occasion of the 75th anniversary, creation in October of the Prix annuels Desjardins annual Desjardins awards.
1976	Inauguration in April of the Complexe Desjardins, in Montréal.
1977	In March a new logo was launched.
1978	Starting in January, the caisses began to offer an automobile registration service. Launching of the international youth contest (Concours international des jeunes).
1979	Foundation in June of the Caisse centrale Desjardins, which became the financial agent for the Mouvement. September 19 -- The Fédération des caisses d'économie (credit union federation) joins the Mouvement. The regional unions are now called federations, while the provincial federation will be called the Confédération. November 1 -- foundation of the Société historique Alphonse-Desjardins.
1981	The Quebec Credit Union League joins the Fédération des caisses d'économie Desjardins du Québec in January. Election in January of Raymond Blais as president. Acquisition in May of a VISA franchise. October 5 -- Acquisition by Desjardins Industrial Credit of Location Pierre Lafleur, which will become Location Desjardins. Automated tellers deployed in October. The dissident federation created in Montréal in 1945 joins the Fédération des caisses populaires Desjardins de Montréal et de l'Ouest-du-Québec in November.
1986	Acquisition of the Québec operations of Brink's; this securities transportation service then became known as SÉCUR.
1987	Claude Béland elected president in January. Foundation of Assurances générales des caisses Desjardins (car and home insurance).
1988	Desjardins enters securities brokerage market. New Savings and Credit Union Act is passed, making it possible, among other things, to group the subsidiaries under holding companies.
1989	The Fédération des caisses populaires de l'Ontario joins the Mouvement in May. Acquisition by the Confédération of Info-Logik company, which was purchased not long prior to that by the Fédération de Montréal et de l'Ouest-du-Québec; this company will become Service de paie Desjardins (Services de paie et de ressources humaines Desjardins). The Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba joins the Mouvement in June.
1990	The Fédération des caisses populaires acadiennes joins the Mouvement in January.