They are 45 in this case to Caisses d'Epargne

This is a new piece placed in the file of the booklet a. ING Direct France, the French subsidiary of the Dutch Bank ING, sent this summer to the European Commission the results of a survey conducted on its behalf by the Sofres. This survey shows that a holder of booklet in five would be tempted to transfer its booklet A in another bank that Caisses d'Epargne or La Banque Postale, if these two networks ceased to be the only authorized to distribute it.

They are only 16 to consider such a transfer among clients of La Banque Postale, but 25 of Caisses d'Epargne. This rate falls to 12 for the Livret bleu to Crédit Mutuel, which currently has immunity.

These results will undoubtedly be of interest to Brussels which, following a complaint by the Crédit Agricole, BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Banques Populaires and ING Direct France, opened early June an infringement procedure against the France, to force her to justify the distribution of the booklet A duopoly.

According to the study conducted with 10,000 people in February, with a telephone survey conducted on 1.011 French more 18 years late June, 73 of the French would be favourable to a trivialization of the livret A and blue, i.e. to their extension to all networks. Rate falling to 66 today, the more refractory holders to La Banque Postale.

Transfer, 54 entrust their A booklet to their main Bank one where incomes are located and 42 to switch to another bank network. "Only 2 in benefit to reduce the stock of their booklet, which suggests a relative stability of the current outstanding", said André Coisne, CEO of ING Direct France. 71 would leave unchanged the deposited amount, and 24 it would rise to the occasion.

On their side, 48 of the individuals who are currently not A booklet would consider opening one in their main bank if it were to be undercover. "In total, we believe the potential for increase in outstanding amounts to around EUR 20 billion for commoditization", said André Coisne. They would add to the 108 billion EUR already deposited on the booklet.

Is the booklet A a product of appeal for the two networks that are currently its distribution According to the study, 39 of holders of Livrets A or blue chose their bank because it was possible to open one of these booklets: 42 of holders of A booklet to La Banque Postale, it is the product that led them to become a customer. They are 45 in this case to Caisses d'Epargne... but only 12 to Crédit Mutuel!

Income exceeding the average

More than two thirds have opened an account in the institution where they have purchased a booklet A blue. They are 60 have done so to La Banque Postale and even 83 to Crédit Mutuel, but only 40 for Caisses d'Epargne. 17 of the holders of booklet to the Banque Postale domiciled incomes to Crédit Agricole and 20 per cent of those who have one to Caisses d'Epargne are the Green Bank.

Finally, according to the study, livret A holders have rather above average income. "80 of the books are held by the French with home wins over 14.400 EUR net per year, says André Coisne." "And 60 of households whose income is less than 7,000 euros have, conversely, no booklet."