Crédit Agricole is launching EKO on 5 December An easy, transparent way of managing your budget : an account, a card, an app, any branch

The creative theme behind the EKO ads draws on a staple of digital culture - “epic fails”. The principle is to show, in a fun way, that while we can’t always control things in everyday life, with EKO we can at least control our budget.

The media plan is an ambitious one, taking in TV, cinema, digital and social media. This launch of EKO is also Crédit Agricole’s first campaign on Snapchat. With videos using Snapchat codes, the campaign is fully in line with young people’s habits, designed to engage with them and enhance awareness of the offer among this target client group.

An easy, transparent way of managing your budget

As France’s biggest bank, Crédit Agricole is rounding out its range of everyday banking services with EKO - a simple, clear offer with a low price, open to all with no minimum income requirement, and available both online and in its branches. EKO is a new service for those who wish to manage their budget, given that one in three French people are overdrawn at least once every quarter. EKO was designed to avoid unpleasant surprises (no small print or hidden charges). Its features will help French people manage their budget, with an international payment card that requires a check of available funds, text messages to notify the cardholder when the account balance is negative or falls below €20, and no authorised overdraft. 

A 100% digital, 100% human offer

EKO clients can choose how they interact with their bank and they can change their minds at any time. To manage their account on a daily basis, they can use the “Ma Banque” app - France’s leading bank app used by 5 million people - or the secure personal area on the website. They can also visit any branch, with no extra charge, and access Crédit Agricole’s full range of services (savings, insurance, loans).

EKO was designed to incorporate all the digital functionalities that are useful on a daily basis: an app, a quick account-opening process that takes less than 10 minutes either online or in a branch, contactless payments, the option to allow or prevent online payments and the possibility of increasing payment limits.

EKO was co-designed with Crédit Agricole’s clients. It meets the dual objective of low-cost services and budget management, providing a solution for all those who like to keep track of their spending.

The design process involving Crédit Agricole’s clients used agile methods in a digital lab.

The name “EKO” was chosen to reflect its simplicity. A major communications campaign on TV, in the cinema and online will promote the launch of EKO in the next few days.

Details of the EKO offering