The Crdit Agricole group monopolizes nearly 35% of the mortgage market, according to data published by the banking police. And the green bank continues to progress in this highly strategic market. By bringing together the groups Crdit Agricole, BPCE and Crdit Mutuel, the mutual banks weigh 8 out of 10 mortgages.
The photo certainly dates from the summer of 2021… But the balance of power between the big banks is such on the mortgage market that they are surely very close in this summer of 2022. And this despite the current strong tensions, with rates that are skyrocketing and usury thresholds (the maximum at which banks can lend to individuals) that change much less rapidly.
Real estate credit: what should we expect for the return?
French banks concentrate almost all of the housing loan outstandings distributed in France and the three mutualist groups [Crdit Agricole, Banque Populaire-Caisse d’Epargne et Crdit Mutuel, NDLR] represent more than three-quarters of the market. This observation, drawn up by the Prudential Control and Resolution Authority (ACPR) in 2020, has not changed one iota! The ACPR has published the 2021 edition of its annual study on mortgage loans (1) in the heart of the summer, and the balance of power remains almost unchanged.
The three mutualist groups therefore leave only crumbs BNP Paribas and Socit Generale: less than 10% of the home loan market each. And, among the mutualist groups, it is the Crédit Agricole which unambiguously draws its pin from the game, with 34.9% of loans in repayment. A precision all the same: the ACPR delivers the market shares of the banking groups, and not of the signs. The Crdit Agricole group therefore includes the regional banks of the green bank, but also LCL or BforBank. The Crdit Mutuel group and its 15.9% market share includes the two cousin groups Alliance federale and Arka. And BPCE brings together not only the Caisse d’Epargne and the Banque Populaire but also the Crdit Coopratif.
Discover the best free bank cards thanks our comparison
The only banks to gain market share
The basis of Credit Agricole is also not ready to be challenged. According to the ACPR, in 2021, the Crédit Agricole group once again gained market share: +0.2 additional percentage points. The BPCE and Crdit Mutuel groups grew at the same rate over one year. And La Banque Postale nibbles 0.1 point.
How to explain this base of the Credit Agricole? The banking regulator does not provide any explanation, even if this probably reflects an aggressive commercial policy, everywhere in France, on mortgage rates. Housing credit is a strategic loss leader for banks, because it helps to retain customers for several years, and to encourage them to subscribe to other ancillary products (passbooks, insurance, accounts for children, etc.) .
Bank domiciliation, home insurance… What banks can impose on you (or not) during a mortgage
Market shares of banking groups in real estate loans
- Crédit Agricole: 34.9% of outstandings
- Banque Populaire Caisse d’Epargne (BPCE): 27.6%
- Credit Mutuel: 15.9%
- BNP Paribas: 8.9%
- General Society: 8.2%
- The Postal Bank: 1.0%
- All foreign banks: 2.2%
- Other French banks: 0.3%
Source: ACPR, market shares calculated on the basis of outstanding mortgages as of June 30, 2021.
Compare real estate rates