The new Caisse Desjardins in Mansfield and Pontefract officially welcomed clients into its new building on Wednesday with an open house featuring food, drink and tours of the facility.
The new building, at 243 Rue Hérault in Mansfield, has been in operation since February, and replaces the old building located at 175 Rue Principale in Fort Coulonge.
Members of the community, politicians, and employees gathered to celebrate the new location with sparkling wine, snacks, and a big Desjardins cake.
Stéphane Labine, the director of the Caisse, said the new building responds better to the needs of the staff and the community.
“We’re able to offer services in a more secure and confidential way,” Labine told THE EQUITY in French.
“At this new location we are able to go further in helping our members with everything digital,” he said, noting the new building has spaces where clients can learn online banking skills.
There will be a genius bar where clients can learn, for example, how to pay bills from their devices, or how to make e-transfers.
“We want to help our members have . . .
more financial autonomy,” Labine said.
“The more people are able to manage their own finances, the more they will contribute to economic development in the region.”
Madeleine Vallières, president of the Caisse, said they want to help older people manage their finances according to their own preferences.
“Many people were afraid in-person bank tellers were going to disappear,” she said.
“We don’t want people to think that older people will no longer be able to access services just because they can’t use a computer [. . .] we want to offer them services that are accessible to them.”
Labine said Desjardins is different from other banks because it operates on a community model. He says last year the branch invested $50,000 in local projects relating to culture, sports, education, and health, among others.
“It’s about giving back to the community,” he said.
Vallières said the Caisse Desjardins first came to the Pontiac in the 1940s. There have been several locations over the years, including in Chapeau and Fort Coulonge.
She said the architecture of the new building, which is now the only Desjardins location in the Pontiac, reflects the organization’s strong roots in the region. The structure features large wooden beams on the interior — an homage to the Pontiac’s logging history.
