Banks and Insurance Companies: Why They Choose the Engagé RSE Label

In the face of economic, environmental, and societal challenges, the financial and insurance sector is transforming its business models: preferential rates, selection of investment products based on ESG criteria (environmental, social, and governance), coverage of climate risks… But beyond developing their commercial offerings to align with sustainable, ethical, and responsible finance, banks, mutuals, and insurance companies are also implementing their own CSR strategies as responsible businesses: alongside financial performance, they are prioritizing non-financial performance! And they want to make that known. CSR certification initiatives in the sector are gaining momentum: among the 860 organizations certified as “Engagé RSE” by AFNOR Certification ( figure for May 2026 ), more than 40 are players in the financial sector.

On the occasion of the national meeting of companies certified as “Engagé RSE,” held on March 26, 2026, at the new headquarters of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles in Paris, AFNOR organized a roundtable discussion focused on the strategic challenges of CSR in the financial sector. Around the table, Christian Acknin , CEO of Santéclair, François Coste , Group Sustainability Director at Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and Valérie Roques , Director of CSR, Philanthropy, and Public Interest at Caisse d’Épargne Ile-de-France—all three of which hold the Engagé RSE certification—answered the following question: How can CSR be leveraged as a strategic tool for risk management, positive impact, and sustainable performance?

Climate risk, game-changer insurance professions

In the insurance industry, climate change is directly disrupting risk management models. The best claim is the one that never happens “Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more costly,” says François Coste of Groupama. Past data can no longer be used to predict the future; our challenge is to model risk he explains. For Groupama, this trend represents nearly 900 million euros in additional exposure by 2025. During a hailstorm, there are sometimes 20 to 30 claims that must be handled simultaneously in the same area.

At the same time, Groupama has implemented a forestry policy. The company owns private forests in France and views forests as a powerful tool for decarbonization and resilience. The forests owned by Groupama currently sequester 12 million tons of carbon, with carbon stocks increasing by 2% each year, four times the group’s operational carbon footprint .

Supporting local stakeholders in their transition to sustainability

The speakers also emphasized their role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, local governments, and local stakeholders. Every euro raised in the region is a euro invested in the region says Valérie Roques, speaking on behalf of Caisse d’Épargne. Caisse d’Épargne Île-de-France aims to guide its customers toward greater sustainability. We have hired two ESG experts who are directly involved in client meetings , she adds. For its part, Santéclair supports the reshoring of healthcare providers. When the 100% Santé program was implemented, the company chose to support the French optical industry. Today, 53% of the lenses distributed through its network are manufactured in France. The company is also taking action to address medical deserts through telemedicine solutions and the integration of innovative startups into the care pathway.

The label as a tool for internal structuring and mobilization

CSR guides all our decisions, from procurement to supplier relations, and this extends throughout our entire ecosystem , summarizes Christian Acknin of Santéclair. At this company, CSR criteria now account for more than 20% of tenders, compared with less than 5% ten years ago. That makes sense; certification is a great management tool. , he adds. The same sentiment is echoed at Caisse d’Épargne Île-de-France. The bank, which hires about 700 employees a year, believes that the certification helps boost its appeal as an employer and foster internal engagement. During the audits, everyone wanted to show off their best work , explains Valérie Roques.

These results are consistent with those of Responsibility Europe’s study on the impact of CSR certification  : 83% of certified organizations report an increase in employee engagement and pride in belonging. More broadly, 88% observe a direct impact on their transformation efforts, and 80% believe the initiative enhances their credibility with stakeholders.

Non-financial reporting and ESG training

It is not easy to apply the rigor of financial analysis to non-financial data , acknowledges François Coste of Groupama. Yet it is essential for better measuring non-financial performance by incorporating CSR issues into strategy development, performance metrics, and investment decisions. The three speakers also emphasized the importance of training. CSR can no longer be driven solely by management and/or a dedicated department: it must now permeate all business units. To achieve this, AFNOR Competencies has the right offer.