Credit Agricole Predissime 9 at a Glance
Predissime 9 is the Credit Agricole network's flagship assurance vie (life insurance investment) contract, underwritten by Predica, the group's insurance subsidiary. Distributed exclusively through Credit Agricole's 39 regional branches (caisses regionales), it is one of the most widely subscribed contracts in France thanks to the bank's exceptional territorial presence (approximately 7,000 branches).
But popularity does not equal quality. Predissime 9 suffers from high fees, an underperforming fonds euros, and a very limited range of unit-linked funds compared to current market standards. Our detailed analysis confirms that this contract significantly penalizes investor performance over the long term.
Our overall rating: 4/10
Contract Overview
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract name | Predissime 9 series |
| Insurer | Predica (Credit Agricole Assurances subsidiary) |
| Distributor | Credit Agricole (branch network) |
| Contract type | Multi-fund, individual |
| Entry fees | Up to 3% (negotiable) |
| Fonds euros management fees | 0.60% / year |
| Unit-linked management fees | 0.85% / year |
| Switching fees | 0.50% (1 free switch per year depending on branch) |
| Minimum initial contribution | 1,500 EUR (varies by branch) |
| Regular contributions | From 45 EUR / month |
| Number of unit-linked funds | ~50 funds (varies by regional branch) |
| ETFs available | 0 to 5 (very rare) |
| SCPI available | 1 to 3 (mainly Amundi SCI) |
| Managed investing | Yes (Amundi mandate) |
| Online partial withdrawals | Not always available (depends on branch) |
Attention: terms vary by regional branch
Credit Agricole is made up of 39 independent regional branches (caisses regionales). Entry fees, the number of available unit-linked funds, and certain conditions can vary from one branch to another. The data presented in this article reflects the general trend observed across the majority of branches.
Fees: The Contract's Major Weakness
Entry Fees: Up to 3%
Predissime 9 charges fees on every contribution, reaching up to 3% depending on the regional branch and the amount contributed. The typical sliding scale is:
- Contributions under 15,000 EUR: 3%
- Contributions from 15,000 to 50,000 EUR: 2.50%
- Contributions from 50,000 to 150,000 EUR: 2%
- Contributions over 150,000 EUR: 1% (negotiable to 0% for large portfolios)
These fees are negotiable, and many advisors will accept reducing them under client pressure. However, getting to 0% remains very difficult except for exceptionally large contributions (above 100,000 EUR).
Real-world impact: On a 50,000 EUR contribution with 2.50% entry fees, 1,250 EUR are immediately deducted. Only 48,750 EUR are actually invested. At Linxea Spirit 2 or Lucya Cardif, the full 50,000 EUR is invested.
Management Fees: 0.85% on Unit-Linked Funds
Annual management fees are 0.85% on unit-linked funds, compared to 0.50% at the best online contracts. On the fonds euros, management fees are 0.60% per year -- a reasonable level but still above the 0.50% charged by market leaders.
The 0.35% annual gap on unit-linked funds may seem negligible, but on a 100,000 EUR capital invested in unit-linked funds for 20 years, it represents a cumulative loss of approximately 12,000 to 15,000 EUR (accounting for compound growth).
Switching Fees: 0.50% Per Transaction
Most regional branches charge 0.50% of the switched amount, sometimes with one free switch per year. This makes any allocation adjustment within the contract costly. An investor who wants to adjust their allocation two or three times per year can easily spend 200 to 500 EUR in additional switching fees.
For comparison, switches are completely free and unlimited at Linxea Spirit 2, Lucya Cardif, and most online contracts.
Cumulative fees over 25 years
Consider an investor who contributes 100,000 EUR initially then 300 EUR per month for 25 years on Predissime 9, with 2.50% entry fees and 0.85% unit-linked management. Assuming a gross return of 5% and one switch per year, the total fee cost will reach approximately 55,000 to 65,000 EUR over the period. On an online contract at 0% entry and 0.50% management, this cost would be approximately 25,000 to 30,000 EUR. The 30,000 to 35,000 EUR gap represents the price of a studio apartment in some French provincial cities.
The Predica Fonds Euros: Below the Competition
2024 Return: Approximately 2.20%
The Predica fonds euros, the primary guaranteed fund of the Predissime 9 contract, delivered a return of approximately 2.20% net of management fees in 2024 (before social charges). This rate is below the market average and far from the best fonds euros:
- Fonds euros Spirica (Linxea Spirit 2): approximately 3.13%
- Fonds euros Cardif (Lucya Cardif): approximately 3.00%
- Euro Exclusif (Boursorama Vie): approximately 3.10%
- Fonds euros Predica (Predissime 9): approximately 2.20%
The gap of approximately 0.80 to 0.90 percentage points with the best fonds euros is considerable over the long term. On a 100,000 EUR capital invested in the fonds euros, this gap represents approximately 800 to 900 EUR in lost return every year.
Why Does the Predica Fonds Euros Underperform?
Several factors explain this underperformance. The weight of older low-rate bonds in Predica's portfolio, a cautious reserving policy (the provision pour participation aux excedents is partially retained by the insurer), and 0.60% management fees that eat into the gross return. Additionally, Predica manages a very large fonds euros (over 200 billion EUR), which makes portfolio management less agile than for a smaller fonds euros.
Unit-Linked Funds: A Very Limited Range
A Choice Restricted to About 50 Funds
This is one of the contract's weakest points. Predissime 9 offers only approximately 50 unit-linked funds, most managed by Amundi, Credit Agricole's asset management subsidiary. For comparison:
- Lucya Cardif: approximately 2,300 funds
- Linxea Spirit 2: approximately 700 funds
- Boursorama Vie: approximately 470 funds
- Predissime 9: approximately 50 funds
Near-Total Absence of ETFs
ETFs (trackers), which have become essential for self-directed investors due to their very low management fees (0.10 to 0.30% per year), are virtually absent from the Predissime 9 range. You may occasionally find 3 to 5 Amundi ETFs depending on the regional branch, but the selection remains extremely limited.
This absence is problematic because ETFs are recognized as efficient and low-cost diversification tools. An MSCI World ETF at 0.20% annual internal fees provides global exposure to over 1,500 companies at a minimal cost. The in-house actively managed funds offered by Credit Agricole, on the other hand, carry internal fees of 1.50 to 2.50% per year, which considerably erodes net performance.
SCPI: Limited Access
Access to SCPI (Societes Civiles de Placement Immobilier, French real estate investment trusts) is also very restricted. The contract generally offers one to three SCI managed by Amundi Immobilier, but not the direct SCPI brands like Corum, Iroko Zen, or Remake Live found at the best online contracts.
Managed Investing: Decent but Expensive
Amundi Mandate
Predissime 9 offers managed investing operated by Amundi. The investor chooses a risk profile (conservative, balanced, dynamic) and Amundi handles the allocation and rebalancing.
This option can suit investors who do not want to manage their own investments. However, the additional mandate fees (approximately 0.20 to 0.40% per year depending on the profile) are added on top of the contract management fees and the internal fund fees. In total, investors in managed mode often bear more than 2.50% in cumulative annual fees -- a very high level.
Managed Investing Performance
The performance of Amundi's managed investing on Predissime 9 is generally inferior to that of online managed investing services (Yomoni, Nalo, Linxea). This is primarily explained by the cumulative fees that penalize net returns, and by the restricted investment universe limited to Amundi funds.
Contract Advantages
Let us be fair: Predissime 9 is not without merits. Here are its objective strengths.
A Dense Branch Network
Credit Agricole has approximately 7,000 branches in France -- the densest network in the country. For investors who insist on having a face-to-face advisor, this is a real advantage. In-branch appointments allow you to ask questions, sign documents on site, and receive personalized follow-up (though the quality of this follow-up varies).
The Strength of Predica
Predica is one of France's largest life insurers, with over 200 billion EUR in assets. The financial strength of the Credit Agricole Assurances group offers a guarantee of contract permanence. The investor need not fear a failure of their insurer.
Death Benefit Guarantee Options
Some regional branches offer death benefit guarantee options (garantie plancher deces), which guarantee beneficiaries a minimum capital in the event of the policyholder's death, even if unit-linked funds have declined. This option has an additional cost but can reassure certain investors.
An Established Contract with Tax Seniority
Many investors have held a Predissime contract for more than 8 years, or even more than 15 years. This tax seniority is an asset that should not be overlooked, even if the contract is otherwise mediocre.
Major Drawbacks: Summary
Excessive Cumulative Fees
The combination of entry fees (2 to 3%), high management fees (0.85% on unit-linked funds), and switching fees (0.50%) makes Predissime 9 one of the most expensive contracts on the market. Over 20 to 30 years, these fees absorb a significant share of gross returns.
Too Narrow an Investment Range
With only 50 funds, most of which are in-house Amundi products, the investor lacks the tools to build a diversified and performant allocation. The near-total absence of ETFs and direct SCPI is a major handicap.
Disappointing Fonds Euros Return
At approximately 2.20% net in 2024, the Predica fonds euros sits below the market average and nearly a full percentage point below the best fonds euros available from online competitors.
Lagging Digital Interface
The Credit Agricole online portal for assurance vie management is often considered less user-friendly and less comprehensive than online broker interfaces. Online switches are not always available depending on the regional branch, and performance tracking is basic.
Direct Comparison with Market Leaders
| Criterion | Predissime 9 | Linxea Spirit 2 | Lucya Cardif |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurer | Predica | Spirica | BNP Paribas Cardif |
| Entry fees | Up to 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Unit-linked management fees / year | 0.85% | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Switching fees | 0.50% | 0% | 0% |
| Fonds euros 2024 | ~2.20% | ~3.13% | ~3.00% |
| Number of funds | ~50 | ~700 | ~2,300 |
| ETFs available | 0 to 5 | ~40 | ~70 |
| SCPI/SCI available | 1 to 3 | ~30 | ~20 |
| Online switching | Varies | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum contribution | 1,500 EUR | 500 EUR | 500 EUR |
| Our rating | 4/10 | 9/10 | 8.5/10 |
What to Do If You Hold a Predissime 9 Contract?
If Your Contract Is Over 8 Years Old
You benefit from maximum tax seniority. Open an online contract (Linxea Spirit 2 or Lucya Cardif) and redirect all your future contributions to this new contract. For the capital already in Predissime 9, evaluate the benefit of annual partial withdrawals (rachats partiels) taking advantage of the 4,600 EUR (single person) or 9,200 EUR (couple) annual allowance on capital gains.
If Your Contract Is Under 8 Years Old
Open a new online contract immediately for your future contributions. For existing capital on Predissime 9, it may be preferable to wait until the 8-year mark before making a withdrawal, unless the capital gains are small or nil (in which case, the tax on the withdrawal will be minimal or zero).
Do Not Close the Contract Impulsively
Even though Predissime 9 is a mediocre contract, do not close it on impulse without calculating the tax impact of the withdrawal. Use our withdrawal simulator to estimate the tax applicable to your situation.
Preserve the tax seniority
If your Predissime 9 contract is over 8 years old, it has intrinsic tax value. You can leave a nominal amount (a few hundred euros) to preserve this seniority while transferring the bulk of your capital to a better contract through scheduled partial withdrawals.
Final Verdict: 4/10
Credit Agricole's Predissime 9 is an assurance vie contract to avoid for any investor who wants to optimize their wealth. Entry fees, high management fees, a mediocre fonds euros return, and a very limited unit-linked fund range make it a clearly inferior contract compared to the alternatives available online.
The only argument in favor of this contract is in-branch advisory support. But this support comes at an exorbitant price: tens of thousands of euros in additional fees over the life of the contract. In 2026, online contracts offer quality customer service (phone, email, chat) that meets the needs of the vast majority of investors, even those less comfortable with technology.
Our recommendation is clear: if you are a Credit Agricole customer with a Predissime 9, open a Linxea Spirit 2 or Lucya Cardif contract in parallel, redirect your contributions, and plan gradual partial withdrawals from your old contract. Your wealth will thank you.