Crédit Agricole has partnered with French multinational payment services firm Worldline to launch a new payment services brand for merchants in France.

CAWL will provide a range of services including an e-commerce platform and point of sale (POS) technology for stores.

Through the new joint venture, merchants will be able to access a multi-currency, multi-country payment network and personalised services through the platform.

It aims to tailor payment services to the different needs of each sector regardless of merchant size and industry.

The move comes after Crédit Agricole Group acquired a seven per cent stake in Worldline earlier this year.

In January, the French banking group said it intends to create a “major” player in the French merchant payment services market.

"CAWL has the ambition to be a major player in payments for all merchants in France, with an offering that combines service, proximity, and high technology, leveraging the strengths of Crédit Agricole and Worldline,” said Meriem Echcherfi, chief executive of CAWL. “We also aim to be a leader in innovation by creating integrated offerings that significantly increase the added value for merchants and, by extension, for their own customers."

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