About the caisse

As a cooperative financial group contributing to the development of communities, we give our members and clients the support they need to be financially empowered.

Caisse populaire Desjardins de Lévis, the very first caisse, was founded in 1900 by Alphonse Desjardins.

At the end of the 19th century, Quebec was characterized by hardship, low morale and unemployment. Only usurious lenders were willing to give loans to the poor. Concerned by this situation, Alphonse Desjardins came to understand that those in need of credit would have to team up.

The idea took root. On December 6, 1900, about a hundred Lévis residents adopted the rules of association and by-laws Desjardins had prepared. Caisse populaire de Lévis was born.

On opening day, January 23, 1901, the 1st deposit was for 10 cents. But people were wary, and the early days were difficult. The caisse reached its first million dollars in assets in 1919.

In 1982, Caisse populaire de Lévis and Caisse populaire de Christ-Roi merged. In 2000, Caisse populaire de Lévis and Caisse populaire Desjardins de Saint-David merged and became Caisse populaire Desjardins de Lévis. On January 1, 2008, the Lauzon and Pintendre caisses joined Caisse populaire Desjardins de Lévis. On January 1, 2013, Caisse Desjardins de Bienville and Caisse Populaire Desjardins de Lévis merged to form a new cooperative that is both strong and forward-looking.

Today, the first caisse founded by Desjardins is still growing. It has more than 57,247 members and employs nearly 165 people in 2 locations. The Galeries Chagnon Service Centre provides standard transaction and teller services, and our head office offers advisory services for individuals. Today, it represents an economic force of more than $6.1 billion in business volume under management.

Learn more about the 120th anniversary of the founding of the first caisse

And it all started with only 10 cents.

To find out more, read La Caisse de Lévis : là où tout a commencé (available in French only). This book was published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1st caisse founded by Alphonse Desjardins.

Introduction (PDF, 39 KB)

Chapitre I Alphonse Desjardins, citoyen de Lévis (1854-1900) (PDF, 298 KB)		Chapitre II La fondation de la Caisse populaire de Lévis (1897-1900) (PDF, 237 KB)
Chapitre III La « caisse mère » en activité (1901-1920) (PDF, 499 KB)		Chapitre IV Crises et essor (1921-1945) (PDF, 606 KB)
Chapitre V « Les fruits magnifiques de la semence » (1945-1970) (PDF, 578 KB)		Chapitre VI De Lévis à Nazareth (1970-2000) (PDF, 474 KB)

Conclusion (PDF, 45 KB)

Notes (PDF, 373 KB)