On March 19, 2026, Desjardins Bank published a press release in the pages of Le Soleil de la Floride, announcing the appointment of Renée-Claude Legault as the bank’s president and chief executive officer. Appointed to this position in December and having arrived in Florida in February, Ms. Legault—the first woman to hold this role at Desjardins Bank—agreed to speak with us.
It should be noted right away that Ms. Legault has over 30 years of experience within Desjardins. She therefore has extensive experience within the Desjardins Group, having risen through the ranks in various roles and at different credit unions in Quebec. She states: “My passion is customer service. It’s really about serving the customer to support them in their various projects, whether they’re business-related or personal. Also, team management. These are the two driving forces that really motivate me .” And these driving forces are precisely the immediate priorities of the new president and CEO!
Immediate Priorities
Ms. Legault notes that her immediate priorities at the Floride branches are to work with the current Desjardins Bank team, which she says she is very grateful to have inherited: “It’s a wonderful, highly committed team. So getting to know them better and leveraging everyone’s strengths are among my immediate priorities, as is continuing to maintain a strong market presence so we can listen to our members and their needs, and adapt. The challenge is to keep getting better and better for our customers.”
Innovation, Trust, and Adaptation
Desjardins Bank is open to innovation: “There’s a lot of support we can provide to members and clients who call us or come to see us. It’s about answering their questions effectively and guiding them through their financial situations and respective projects, offering them the best possible service.” Ms. Legault notes that Desjardins has always adapted to clients’ needs and that these needs guide the bank in its strategic decisions: “For now, it’s about capitalizing on our strengths by highlighting them, and considering the evolving needs of clients to adjust as we go.”
In terms of building trust, “it’s built by individuals,” says the President and CEO. “And with our committed employees, we’re able to create that bond of trust. “People who come to see us are happy to receive personalized service, and that’s what we continue to provide, just as they’d like.” It’s also about being available and accessible: “And we are—by phone, through our technological tools, and in person. So it’s reassuring for our clients to know they can count on us when they need us.”
Opportunity in Florida
Providing excellent support to clients looking to invest in real estate in the Sunshine State is a priority at Desjardins Bank. The manager explains: “There’s an educational component, and our expertise can be leveraged to help clients bring their projects to life. That’s our added value for clients looking to purchase property in Florida. And for clients looking to make a transaction, it’s really the reliability of our systems and our personalized service that set us apart and allow us to support them effectively.”
As for real estate investments at Desjardins Bank, there are always Canadians investing or looking to invest in Florida despite the current geopolitical climate.
“We’ve seen movement in real estate, and the market has been active in 2025,” confirms Ms. Legault.
On a personal note
While the new manager has moved to Florida, near the beach, to satisfy her love of nature, her partner is currently splitting his time between here and Quebec, and her children hope to visit her very soon. Lots of positives!
Message to current and future clients
Renée-Claude Legault declares enthusiastically: “My team and I are truly delighted to be at your service and to listen to your needs. We are deeply committed to making a positive difference for our clients here in Florida.”
This article was translated using DeepL.
