Société centrale de crédit maritime mutuel may carry out any financial transactions on behalf of other maritime mutual credit institutions and provide them with its services. It centralises all surplus resources of the regional mutuals and unions and coordinates the financial and accounting methods of their operations. It controls commitments in accordance with the rules defined by the central body of the savings banks and banques populaires.
It submits general regulations for approval by the central body of the caisses d’épargne et des banques populaires, setting out the rules governing the operations of the regional mutuals and their associations. These regulations also set out the principles of the common policy for the development of Crédit Maritime Mutuel and may define a system of financial solidarity between Crédit Maritime Mutuel institutions.
The general regulations institute a conciliation procedure to settle any difficulties that may arise in relations between the central body of savings banks and popular banks, when it is not acting as central body, and a maritime mutual credit institution.
The general regulations must be approved by the Minister for the Economy and the Minister for Maritime Fisheries.