Desjardins Group publishes its 2007 Social Responsibility and Cooperative Report

For the first time, Desjardins integrates the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines into its report, with necessary modifications relating to its cooperative difference

Quebec City, March 29, 2008 – Desjardins Group released its 2007 Social Responsibility and Cooperative Report today during its Annual General Meetings.

Published under the theme of Difference, Performance and Responsibility, the report contains a large quantity of information and statistics never published before, explaining how Desjardins meets its social responsibilities and expresses its role as a committed cooperative group. This is achieved through integration of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators and other relevant information pertaining to a cooperative enterprise.

With regard to the cooperative aspect, the report explains how Desjardins is different from the other financial institutions, owing mainly to its focus on member services and not on the exploitation of a given market for the benefit of shareholders. Its democratic nature, commitment towards young people, distinctive commercial practices, the representativeness of its elected officers, its educational role, its solidarity products, and the $664 million paid out in dividends to caisse members and as sponsorships, donations and scholarships, are among numerous examples of this difference.

Desjardins also demonstrates outstanding performance, having achieved a record year in 2007, with surplus earnings of $1.1 billion. As the leading private employer in Quebec, these excellent results enable the Group to offer competitive wages and working conditions to attract and retain qualified employees. Desjardins also ensures that regions benefit from significant economic spin-offs, through the purchase of goods and services totalling approximately $740 million. In this regard, the Group promotes business relationships with socially responsible suppliers who will follow its own efforts to integrate sustainable development principles into their practices.

Finally, Desjardins is also a responsible financial institution. It prioritizes concrete action in favour of sustainable development, as reflected in its residual waste management system, its Paper Challenge, its participation in the Change the World, One Step at a Time program, and its energy efficiency program. The Group also sets itself apart with its full range of responsible products and services, such as the Desjardins Environment Fund, as well as its ease of access and ability to meet the expectations of its various clienteles. Other activities include efforts to maintain the well-being of its employees, provide a respectful working environment with attractive career opportunities and promote diversity and equity in the workplace.

The report is available on the Desjardins Web site at www.desjardins.com/socialresponsibilityreport.

About Desjardins Group

The largest integrated cooperative financial group in Canada, with global assets of over $144 billion as at December 31, 2007, Desjardins Group consists of a network of caisses/branches, credit unions and financial centres for Quebec- and Ontario-based companies, as well as about 20 subsidiaries in life and general insurance, securities, venture capital, and asset management, many of which are active nationwide. With the skills of its 40,000 employees and the commitment of more than 6,500 elected officers, Desjardins offers its 5.8 million members and clients-individuals and businesses alike-a full range of financial products and services. Its physical distribution network is rounded out by virtual access methods supported by leading-edge technology. For more information, visit www.desjardins.com.

- 30 -

Source (for journalists only):
André Chapleau
Information and Media Relations Director
514-281-7229
1-866-866-7000, ext. 7229

March 29
Press room at the Quebec City Convention Centre
418-649-5218