Growing Together

next bank
in their words

Discover our journey through the testimonies of those who have made, and still make, our bank what it is today – from the founder to the client, and from the employee to the partner.

Michael Ratuszniak

Director, Zurich Branch

When I arrived in 2009, our presence in German-speaking Switzerland was relatively small – with a single branch in Basel. As the bank’s presence grew, so too did our legitimacy in German-speaking Switzerland. For several years now, Crédit Agricole next bank has focused its energies on exploring this high-potential area. Today, we have some 30 employees across 3 branches whose daily work is focused entirely on client satisfaction. I’m so proud to be part of this adventure, and am convinced that the best pages of our history have yet to be written.

Peter Cordani

Key Account Manager Partner, HypoPlus

We congratulate CA next bank on its 20th anniversary and look forward to many more years of successful partnership. We appreciate the very friendly dynamics and way of working together. With CA next bank as partner, we cover many client inquiries throughout Switzerland, offering them real added value. At the same time, we support CA next bank in its expansion into German-speaking Switzerland.

Romain S.

Cross-border client

As a cross-border worker in Geneva since 2008, and after a first try with a local bank, I wanted to find a new banking partner I could really trust. New to opening an account in Switzerland and 3rd Pillar investment, I turned to CA Financements (next bank). My advisor explained the bank’s different services to me, as well as the various banking operations I could make from France to Switzerland. It’s so easy now to link between my French payments and my Swiss account, and to manage my salary account. The management costs are virtually nil, too – especially since the CHF/EURO exchange rate is so competitive. What’s more, the bank manages this all directly. I have never – in our 10-year relationship – had any management issues or inexplicable costs. I’m always recommending the bank and promoting it among my friends or to new cross-border commuters!

Catherine Galvez

General Manager CA next bank (2014-2019); Current Deputy to the Chief Risk Officer, Crédit Agricole Group (Paris)

MMy history at CA next bank will always be marked by the development of the Strategic Project, built on the foundations of shared values, marked by strong ambitions for the future, and introduced by the C@PS100 teams. One of the more symbolic moments in the Strategy was the name-change. As General Manager, I genuinely feel I experienced an exceptional moment in the bank’s history, and am incredibly proud of having introduced and led this change alongside the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and all the employees. The Crédit Agricole next bank brand perfectly illustrates this dynamic, modern bank, that is as close to its clients as it is committed to their satisfaction – indeed, a brand that is much better-suited to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Switzerland. With our teams’ spirit and energy, and the potential Switzerland represents for Crédit Agricole, I know without a shadow of a doubt that we’ll be hearing about its successes for many years to come.

François Rayroux

Former Member of the Board of Directors, CA next bank

CA next bank opened my mindset by enabling me to be part of a company with a clear goal: to establish itself in a region which – historically speaking – has numerous economic and personal ties, and which, as far back as the Middle Ages, extended to Annecy, Basel, and Zurich. It is in this very region, in fact – which allowed the House of Savoy to maintain close relations with the towns and cantons of early Switzerland – that Crédit Agricole Financements (Suisse) SA (subsequently CA next bank) sought to establish a local bank serving cross-border workers and the Swiss population by offering real-estate financing and all manner of financial services for private individuals as well as Small and Medium Enterprises. This desire to unite several regions across borders, bringing together different cultures with common origins – in both the French- and German-speaking regions of Switzerland – enables, even today, the building of proverbial bridges, linking the different regions of this vast area in the heart of Europe and at the crossroads of the major alpine crossings. I can only continue to wholeheartedly support this initiative, and hope that it continue to build upon the shared goal of creating a common base between our countries.

Manuel Leuthold

Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, CA next bank, Independent Consultant

Over the course of my long career, I’ve been fortunate enough to do just about every job in banking. Back in 2007 or 2008, I had suggested to my then-employer the idea of developing mobile points of sale to cover the areas where we didn’t have a physical presence. A well-equipped, well-staffed vehicle seemed to be the most efficient solution! The project ultimately failed for reasons linked to the cost of security (in those days, cash had to be distributed!). Well, imagine my surprise when I joined the CA next bank Board of Directors – only to see that the idea was already implemented there... and successfully so! Meeting clients exactly where they are isn’t just a hollow concept: it is a daily reality, and proof that innovation is part of the retail banking world!

Laurent Bennet

Chairman of the Board of Directors, CA next bank

As Chairman of CA next bank and Managing Director of Crédit Agricole des Savoie, I’m proud of the progress made over the last 20 years. Together with all the border-based Caisses Régionales teams – which are shareholders – we’ve created a unique ecosystem that enables us to meet the needs of our clients on both sides of the border. Over the years, we’ve created a true transformation: one that makes CA next bank the young, dynamic Swiss bank it is today – recognised and respected in Switzerland. We aim to continue this trajectory by strengthening our presence in Switzerland and by regularly offering new services to our clients. Our commitment? To be useful to our clients and those they hold dear, and to act in their – and in society’s – interests every single day.

Pierre J.

Expat client

We had met the head of the Geneva Rive branch, Mr Mansouri, two years ago for a project that never came to fruition. The encounter, however, was really positive. Mr Mansouri always stayed available and proactive, offering sound advice. It stands to reason, then, that we would go back to him when new real-estate opportunities arose. Through my relationship with Mr Mansouri, what I see in CA next bank is a dynamic bank – one that adapts to find solutions and follows through on its clients' projects. Today, yes: we are owners. But above all, we are delighted with the service, and the teams’ speed and professionalism.

Pierre Vernet

Advisor, Crédit Agricole de Savoie (Saint-Julien branch)

As advisor in a branch bordering Switzerland, CA next bank is a valuable link when it comes to supporting our clients in their daily lives between France and Switzerland. Today, our cross-border clients appreciate being able to deal with the same group on both sides of the border, as this saves both time and costs. This 2-in-1 system offers clients all the benefits of Crédit Agricole with a comprehensive approach to their needs in France and Switzerland alike. Over the course of 20 years, we have developed a model with CA next bank that makes the border simply a physical one, not a banking one.

Rebecca Haddad

Process Manager, Credit & Banking Services Management

When I arrived in 2002, the Bank had about thirty employees (branches included). Today, 18 years later, and changing up a few figures, we are now over 200 employees. Whether in terms of project structure, supervision, regulatory, or market developments, the Bank has transformed over the years, sweeping its employees up in its wake. This lasting transformation highlights qualities such as openness, listening, and knowledge-sharing. Take, for example, how very mindful the Bank is of creating concrete opportunities for every employee to develop within the company – not only in their own roles, but in roles that weren’t initially theirs, thanks to access to training. Over the years, what has always stood out for me are the bank’s very human qualities – ones that, in my opinion, serve the clients’ best interests.