Question 1

What is Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro?

Accepted Answer

Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro is a cooperative credit institution (Caixa de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo) operating as part of the Crédito Agrícola Group, Portugal's nationwide cooperative banking network. Based in Tabuaço, in the Viseu district, this local bank serves seven municipalities across the Guarda and Viseu districts in northern Portugal.

The institution is a member of the Sistema Integrado do Crédito Agrícola Mútuo (SICAM), the integrated system of mutual agricultural credit in Portugal. It focuses on providing comprehensive banking services to individuals, families, small and medium-sized enterprises, and agricultural communities in its region.

Question 2

When was Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro founded?

Accepted Answer

The current institution is the result of multiple mergers of local agricultural cooperative banks with roots dating back to 1926, when the first agencies were established in the region.

The evolution timeline includes:
• 1999: First merger between the former Caixas Agrícolas of Tabuaço and Sernancelhe
• 2000: Merger with the former Caixa Agrícola of Vila Franca das Naves
• 2003: Merger with the former Caixa Agrícola of Aguiar da Beira
• 2008: Final merger with the former Caixa Agrícola of Armamar and Moimenta da Beira, formally completed through public deed on November 28, 2008, in Tabuaço

The institution received its EBA authorization on April 11, 2019, and its legal formation dates to December 16, 1985. These successive mergers were driven by a desire to create synergies, increase operational efficiency, and strengthen the institution's position within the Crédito Agrícola network.

Question 3

Where is Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The bank is headquartered in Tabuaço, a municipality in the Viseu district of northern Portugal, in the renowned Douro wine region. The head office address is Rua Sá de Albergaria, Bloco E r/c, 5120-423 Tabuaço.

Question 4

Where does Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro operate?

Accepted Answer

The bank operates across seven municipalities in the Viseu and Guarda districts of northern Portugal:
• Tabuaço
• Penedono
• Sernancelhe
• Aguiar da Beira
• Trancoso
• Armamar
• Moimenta da Beira

The institution maintains 12 branches throughout this area, strategically positioned to serve both rural and urban communities. The geographic area is characterized by the Távora River (an affluent of the Douro) and the Douro River itself, which represent the natural union of the territories served. This is one of Portugal's most important wine-producing regions, including parts of the Douro Demarcated Region.

Question 5

What services does Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro offer?

Accepted Answer

As a full-service cooperative bank, Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services:

Retail Banking: Current accounts, savings accounts, time deposits (DP Net and DP Net Super), CA Poupança My Project (goal-based savings accounts), and certificates of deposit.

Lending Products: Personal loans (CA Crédito Pronto for eligible customers), mortgage loans, agricultural financing, and credit facilities tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Payment Services: Domestic and international transfers (SEPA), MB WAY integration for mobile payments, bill payment services for utilities and government services, and mobile phone top-ups.

Card Services: Debit and credit cards, including the CA Premier card, virtual cards for secure online shopping with 3D Secure validation, and prepaid cards for youth customers (GR8 via CA Teen app).

Insurance and Investment Products: Life and non-life insurance through CA Seguros, pension products through CA Seguros & Pensões, investment funds, and asset management services through the Crédito Agrícola Group network.

Digital Banking: CA Mobile app for smartphones and tablets with biometric login (Face ID/Touch ID), CA Mobile Empresas for business customers, CA Online web banking platform, Apple Pay integration, and 24/7 customer support via Linha Directa (808 20 60 60 or +351 213 805 660).

Specialized Services: Services for the agricultural sector, support for local businesses and economic development, and cooperative membership opportunities.

Question 6

What makes Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro unique?

Accepted Answer

Cooperative Structure: As a mutual cooperative bank, members have ownership stakes and voting rights in the institution's governance, fostering a strong sense of community ownership and democratic participation.

Deep Local Roots: With over 90 years of history in the region through its predecessor institutions, the bank maintains profound connections with local communities, understanding the specific needs of agriculture, viticulture, and rural enterprises in the Douro region.

Regional Focus: The bank specializes in serving the economic needs of wine producers, agricultural operations, and rural businesses in one of Portugal's most important wine regions, providing tailored financing solutions for seasonal agricultural activities.

Part of a Strong Network: While maintaining local autonomy, the bank benefits from membership in the Crédito Agrícola Group, which is the largest branch network in Portugal with over 600 branches nationwide, more than 1.6 million customers, and over 400,000 cooperative members.

Deposit Protection: Customer deposits are protected by the Portuguese Deposit Guarantee Fund (Fundo de Garantia de Depósitos - FGD) up to €100,000 per depositor, per institution. Prior to January 1, 2020, deposits were protected by the FGCAM (Fundo de Garantia do Crédito Agrícola Mútuo), which was integrated into the national FGD system.

Community Development: The bank actively supports local economic development, social initiatives, and community projects, maintaining a commitment to the sustainable development of the territories it serves.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro?

Accepted Answer

Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro is classified as a Credit Institution (Instituição de Crédito) under Portuguese and European banking regulations, specifically a Caixa de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo (Mutual Agricultural Credit Bank).

In Portugal, Caixas de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo represent a unique category of cooperative banks organized as cooperatives with limited liability (Cooperativa de Responsabilidade Limitada - CRL). These institutions operate under the Legal Framework of Crédito Agrícola Mútuo (Decree-Law 36/92) and are regulated by the Banco de Portugal (the Portuguese central bank) and the European Central Bank as part of the Single Supervisory Mechanism.

The institution is categorized by the European Banking Authority as CRD_CRE_INS (Credit Institution under the Capital Requirements Directive). It operates as a Less Significant Institution (LSI) under ECB supervision, forming part of the larger SICAM system coordinated by Caixa Central de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo, CRL.

As a cooperative bank, it differs from commercial banks in that it is owned by its members (associados), who have voting rights regardless of the size of their investment, and profits are typically reinvested in the community or distributed to members based on cooperative principles rather than shareholder dividends.

Question 8

What is the Crédito Agrícola Group?

Accepted Answer

The Crédito Agrícola Group is Portugal's only cooperative banking network and has over 100 years of history, dating back to 1911. The Group was formally established following the first agricultural cooperative credit law in 1886.

The network comprises:
• 75 local cooperative banks (Caixas de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo) operating throughout continental Portugal and the Azores
• Caixa Central de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo, CRL - the central coordinating institution
• FENACAM (Federação Nacional das Caixas de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo) - the national federation representing cooperative interests
• Specialized subsidiaries including CA Seguros (insurance), Crédito Agrícola GEST (asset management), CA Serviços (IT and shared services), and moey! (digital banking platform)

The Crédito Agrícola Group is the largest branch network in Portugal and holds approximately 4-5% market share of total banking assets. It ranks among the top banking groups in Portugal alongside CGD, BCP, Santander, and Novo Banco.

Question 9

How does Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro rank within the network?

Accepted Answer

Following the 2008 merger, Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro became the largest Caixa Agrícola in the Viseu and Guarda districts. According to historical reports, the institution positioned itself among the top twenty Caixas Agrícolas nationally in terms of assets and business volume.

The bank has consistently demonstrated strong performance in credit quality management, with historically low non-performing loan ratios that have placed it among the best-performing institutions within the Crédito Agrícola network.

Question 10

Who regulates and supervises Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro?

Accepted Answer

The institution is supervised by multiple regulatory authorities:

Primary Supervision: Banco de Portugal (Portuguese Central Bank) serves as the competent authority (designated as PT_BP in EBA records) and conducts ongoing supervision as part of the European Single Supervisory Mechanism under the oversight of the European Central Bank (ECB).

Prudential Supervision: The bank is subject to European banking regulations including the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) and Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR), with regular assessments of capital adequacy (ICAAP), liquidity adequacy (ILAAP), and recovery planning.

Network Coordination: Caixa Central de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo, CRL exercises supervisory, guidance, and monitoring responsibilities over associated Caixas under powers delegated by Banco de Portugal, including oversight of risk management, compliance, and operational standards.

Deposit Guarantee: Since January 1, 2020, the institution participates in the Fundo de Garantia de Depósitos (FGD), Portugal's national deposit guarantee scheme, which protects eligible deposits up to €100,000 per depositor, per institution.

Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro

in Portugal 🇵🇹

Crypto-Friendliness

All done!

About Crédito Agrícola Vale do Távora e Douro in Portugal