La Poste wants to strengthen financial services

Negotiations are underway between the French State and La Poste to
renew its contract, which runs out this year. With 60,000 employees
from a total of 300,000, financial services ensure activities, and
sometimes the raison d’etre, for a third of the 17,000 post offices.
Martin Vial, chairman of La Poste, fears that it is becoming
marginalised, after the setting up of a large general public
division by Caisse des depots and Caisses d’epargne. He is asking
for an enlarged insurance and consumer credit department. The French finance ministry appears ready to grant Martin Vial’s
first wish, but not the second, as it would demand the creation of a
postal bank subject to common law. This question will undoubtedly be
raised after the Presidential election.
Abstracted from Le Monde