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Crédit Coopératif Opens Acquisition Talks for Fintech Anytime
Crédit Coopératif has entered exclusive negotiations with Orange Bank to explore the acquisition of Anytime, a digital banking platform currently serving professionals and nonprofit organizations. The proposed deal is part of the cooperative bank’s broader effort to expand its reach in the association sector and strengthen its digital infrastructure ahead of 2030.
While no agreement has been finalized, the two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding and confirmed the beginning of formal consultations. The transaction, if approved, is expected to close by the end of 2025.
Strategic Rationale
The proposed acquisition forms part of Crédit Coopératif’s strategic roadmap to increase its market share among small and newly formed associations in France. According to internal projections, the bank is aiming to surpass 6% market penetration in this segment by the end of the decade.
Anytime, founded in 2014 and acquired by Orange Bank in 2020, provides account management and payment tools tailored to the administrative needs of small organizations. Over the past two years, it has repositioned itself toward the nonprofit market, offering digital services that align closely with Crédit Coopératif’s existing client base.
For Orange Bank, the transaction would mark an exit from a niche segment that no longer fits its strategic direction. A sale to Crédit Coopératif would also place Anytime under the ownership of a banking institution with deeper ties to the nonprofit economy.
A Broader Shift in Traditional Banking
The potential deal highlights a growing pattern among traditional financial institutions in Europe: the acquisition of targeted fintech platforms to serve vertical markets, particularly in areas where digital transformation is uneven. For cooperative banks like Crédit Coopératif, which serve a hybrid client base of businesses, individuals, and associations, integrating a specialist platform offers an alternative to building digital tools in-house.
The current banking industry has seen increasing competition from fintech providers offering low-cost, high-access solutions for underserved sectors. Associations, often operating with limited budgets and specialized administrative needs, have become a focal point for product innovation — but scaling these services remains a challenge.
If the deal proceeds, Crédit Coopératif would likely absorb Anytime’s operations into its broader distribution network, which includes both in-person business centers and remote banking channels.
Pending Conditions and Timeline
Employee consultation procedures are now underway at both Orange Group and Crédit Coopératif. These steps are required under French labor law before any acquisition involving significant structural changes. The outcome of these consultations, along with due diligence and regulatory review, will determine whether the deal moves forward.
No financial terms have been disclosed, and the companies have indicated that discussions are still at a preliminary stage.
Market Implications
While not a large-scale transaction by fintech industry standards, the proposed acquisition could set a precedent for future deals between niche platforms and cooperative banks. As traditional institutions seek cost-effective ways to compete with digital-first entrants, targeted acquisitions like this one may offer a faster path to modernization than internal development.
Moreover, the move underscores a larger trend: legacy banking institutions are increasingly adapting to fintech logic — not by mimicking startups, but by acquiring them where there’s strategic alignment.
Conclusion
Crédit Coopératif’s talks with Orange Bank over the possible acquisition of Anytime reflect a calculated bet on the future of nonprofit-focused digital banking. The potential deal signals both a continuation of the bank’s focus on social and solidarity economy clients and a broader effort to accelerate its digital transformation.
Whether the transaction is completed will depend on internal governance, market conditions, and regulatory approval. But it also represents a clear signal: the line between fintech and traditional banking continues to blur — especially when long-term growth is at stake.
