Several members of Caisse Desjardins condemn the closure of 30% of service centers and ATMs across Quebec by December 31, 2026.
• Read also: Desjardins will close 30% of service centers by the end of 2026
• Read also: Minister Girard trusts Desjardins
Met at the exit of their financial institution on Wednesday, they did not go out of their way to make their state of mind known.
“I don’t know where they are going with their director [Guy Cormier], said Jean-Paul Dubé. They have no consideration for the elderly.”
“They don’t care about us. I’ve been on fire ever since I heard the news. It doesn’t make any sense.”
A customer for 60 years, Mr. Dubé goes to his cash register several times a week. If it were to disappear in the next few years, he would be distraught.
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“Technology is great, but I’m not comfortable with it,” he laments. I have to fight with the companies not to pay my accounts online.
“I do not trust. We don’t have time to get used to it. It’s going too fast for us.”
Comments that resonate with another client.
“I make all my payments and withdrawals at the ATM,” says M.me Hébert. They should wait a bit before closing everything. I am not ready!”
The Journal noted that some ATMs have already been withdrawn from circulation.
Mathieu Boulay – Le Journal de Montréal
Girard trusts
For his part, Finance Minister Eric Girard continues to have confidence in Desjardins.
“It affects communities, members and employees, he mentioned. This is the context and I trust Desjardins which is aware of all this.”
For the politician, this is no surprise.
“Desjardins is implementing a plan that they announced in 2015,” added Mr. Girard. This is the continuation of it. “There is nothing new although every time a service point closes, it is extremely difficult for the communities.”
“The other element is the pandemic. It’s certain that it has accelerated digital technology and the reduction in the number of branch transactions.”
Jobs in danger?
Desjardins has not disclosed which service centers will be affected by closures in the coming years. The decision will be made by the funds which will assess the needs in their respective region.
According to some reports, small towns or villages are losing their service centers.
“It’s deplorable,” says Sylvie Rochon upon leaving the financial institution. It’s a shame to know that regional funds will be affected.”
We also do not know the number of jobs that could be lost in this reorganization.
“There is no direct link between the evolution of the distribution network and possible job losses at Desjardins,” mentions Jean-Benoit Turcotti. The objective is not to eliminate positions, but to adjust to the new transactional habits of members.”
As for entrepreneurs who still make cash deposits at the counter on a regular basis, they will find themselves in the same situation as other members.
“Solutions exist,” adds Mr. Turcotti. We invite people who need it to contact their funds to discover the solutions available to them based on their reality.”
It is also unclear how many closures will be announced on an annual basis.
“It’s too risky to put forward a figure. There will remain ATMs and service centers to support our members in their financial lives.”
Service centers and ATMs down for five years:
Service centers
2023: 669
2022: 732
2021: 790
2020: 859
2019: 887
2015: 1122
ATMs
2019: 1689
2020: 1687
2021: 1679
2022: 1654
2023: 1559
2015: 2152