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1990 - 2000: Redeployment

Integrated services

Adopted by Québec in 1988, the new Savings and Credit Union Act enabled the Group to reorganize its subsidiaries. The subsidiaries making up the corporate network were more closely linked to the cooperative network's strategic objectives, and their range of services was broadened.

The tasks involved in integrating services were barely completed when, in 1994, the Group acquired the Laurentian Group thereby increasing its market share in insurance and especially in personal insurance.

Reengineering

In 1995, an ambitious reengineering project was put in place to simplify and modernize caisse operations. The Group's objective was to optimize returns on technological infrastructures and improve services to members, while reducing operating costs.

Rebuilding the cooperative network

At the approach of its second century of existence, Desjardins achieved other major transformations. In 1996, the officers of the caisses reviewed the organizational and decision-making structure of the caisses, and abolished the credit committee structure. At their 1999 congress, they opted to merge the Confédération and the federations into a single organization.

In the meantime, the reconfiguration of the caisse network was underway. This was necessary due to tighter profitability margins and the phenomenal development of the virtual delivery mode of financial services, among other things.

Through all of these turbulent changes, Desjardins has strongly reiterated its desire to remain a cooperative, democratic and popular institution, and to showcase all of the aspects that make it a truly different kind of financial institution. 

Timeline

1990	January 4 -- Creation of Desjardins permanent shares. January 25 -- Creation of the Centre d'autorisation et de paiement des services de santé (CAPSS). Merger in July of Desjardins Life Assurance and La Sauvegarde. Television series on the life of Alphonse Desjardins is broadcast. 90th anniversary celebrations.
1992	April 13 -- Desjardins Bank opens in Florida.
1994	Acquisition of the major part of the Laurentian Group activities. Reengineering process kicked-off in June.
1996	March 30 amp; 31 -- At an annual congress, the caisse officers modified the structure by abolishing the credit committee, and redefined their own roles. September 26 -- Group launches Internet site. November 4 -- Beginning of AccèsD service.
1999	January 25 -- Implementation of the AccèsD telephone financial service. March 19 -- Together at an annual congress the officers adopt a proposal enabling within a period of three to five years to consolidate the federations and the Confédération into a single federation.
2000	Election in February of Alban D'Amours as president. Centennial celebrations. December 6 - Centennial of the Caisse populaire de Lévis.