The local savings companies are cooperative companies, subject to the provisions of law no. 47-1775 of 10 September 1947 on the status of cooperation, subject to the provisions of this section.
They contribute to the development of the general policies of the savings and provident institution to which they are affiliated. Their purpose is also, within the framework of these general guidelines, to encourage the widest possible ownership of the capital of this savings and provident institution by promoting membership.
To facilitate this ownership, local savings companies are authorised to offer members as defined in Article L. 512-93 an initial share at a preferential price.
Local savings companies may not carry out banking transactions, issue or manage electronic money or provide payment services. They do not need to be registered in the Trade and Companies Register. They are affiliated to the Caisse d’Epargne et de Prévoyance in whose territorial district they operate.
The level of remuneration for the shares held by the members of local savings companies is set by the general meeting of the savings and provident institution with which these local savings companies are affiliated.
The creation of a local savings company must be approved in advance by the savings and provident institution with which the local savings company is affiliated, as well as by the central body of savings banks and banques populaires.
All the local savings companies affiliated to each savings and provident institution constitute a single entity for the application ofarticle 145 of the General Tax Code.
The last paragraph of article 1 and the second paragraph of article 16 of the aforementioned law n° 47-1775 of 10 September 1947 do not apply to local savings companies.