certas direct compagnie d'assurance

What certas direct compagnie d'assurance does

Certas direct, compagnie d'assurances is a Canadian property and casualty insurance carrier that operates as a wholly-owned direct-distribution subsidiary of Mouvement Desjardins, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada. Founded in 1996, the company writes auto, home, travel, recreational vehicle, pet, visitor-to-Canada, life, health, disability, critical illness, and accident insurance, alongside loan, credit balance, and credit margin protection products. Certas direct is one of three core insurance subsidiaries in the Desjardins Assurances portfolio, sitting alongside Desjardins Assurances générales inc. and La Personnelle, with shared customer information across the group to enable coordinated servicing.

The company's core technology stack is inherited from the Desjardins group: the AccèsD online banking platform, the Services Mobiles Desjardins mobile application (iOS and Android), electronic document signing via SMS or security questions, voice-based biometric authentication, and Adobe-powered personalization and analytics. Operational AI is deployed for automated premium calculation, fraud detection, and behavioral biometric anomaly detection through Biocatch. Underwriting is supported by credit bureau integrations with TransUnion and Equifax.

Certas direct generates revenue through recurring insurance premiums on a monthly or annual billing cadence, sold directly to consumers and small businesses via the 400+ Desjardins caisse branch network across Quebec and Ontario, the AccèsD online platform, the mobile app, licensed insurance agents, and phone-based customer service. The direct-to-consumer model bypasses independent broker commissions and leverages the Desjardins cooperative's 5M+ member base for cross-sell. The go-to-market is hybrid: digital-first quote and self-service for transactional buyers, with in-person advisory at caisses and dedicated agents for higher-touch segments including SMEs and complex household coverage. Pricing is risk-based on individual driving record, vehicle, property, and coverage selections.

Name

certas direct compagnie d'assurance

Legal name

Certas direct, compagnie d'assurances

Website

https://certas.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Certas direct is a Canadian direct-distribution property and casualty insurance subsidiary of Mouvement Desjardins, writing auto, home, and adjacent personal lines insurance to consumers and small businesses across Quebec and Ontario through the Desjardins caisse network, AccèsD digital platform, and licensed agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Property and Casualty Insurance

NAICS

Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126), Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Insurance Carriers, Nec (6399)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurtech-Enabled Brokerage (Digital Brokers & Aggregators) (FSAEADAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Embedded Insurance & Affinity Distribution Platforms (FSAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Auto insurance
• Home insurance
• Direct insurance
• Property casualty insurance
• Vehicle insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississauga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Property and Casualty Insurance Premiums: Certas direct generates revenue primarily through insurance premiums from auto, home, and business insurance policies. Premiums are collected on a recurring basis (monthly or annual payment options) and represent the core revenue stream for the insurance operations.
2. Credit Card Fees and Interest: Revenue from credit card annual fees (ranging from $0 to $395 depending on card tier), interest charges on outstanding balances (ranging from 10.9% to 21.9% APR), and transaction fees. The BONIDOLLARS rewards program incentivizes card usage and increases transaction volume.
3. Banking Account Fees and Services: Revenue from monthly account maintenance fees (e.g., $15.95/month for L'Illimité package), overdraft fees, wire transfer fees, and foreign exchange margins on international transfers.
4. Mortgage and Loan Interest: Interest income from mortgage lending activities, including fixed-rate and variable-rate mortgage products, pre-approvals, renewals, and refinancing services. Additional revenue from mortgage-related insurance products such as loan insurance.
5. Wealth Management and Investment Products: Revenue from investment management fees through Desjardins Gestion de patrimoine, including managed portfolios, mutual funds (Fonds Desjardins), and wealth advisory services. Also includes revenue from Desjardins Courtage en ligne (Disnat) online brokerage services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Certas direct Compagnie d'assurance is a direct-to-consumer auto and home insurance provider operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mouvement Desjardins cooperative. The company distributes insurance policies directly through Desjardins' network of over 400 caisses in Quebec and Ontario, as well as through the AccèsD online platform and the Services Mobiles Desjardins mobile application. Customer information is shared between Certas direct and Desjardins Assurances générales to deliver coordinated insurance services.

Product overview

Certas direct, compagnie d'assurance is a subsidiary of Desjardins Group offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and financial services. The core insurance offerings include auto, home, travel, life, health, disability, critical illness, accident, and pet insurance, as well as specialized coverage for visitors to Canada and recreational vehicles. The company also provides credit cards (including Flexi Visa, Remises, Boni, and Odyssée branded cards), mortgage lending products, and personal banking services such as checking and savings accounts. These products are distributed through Desjardins' network, with the privacy policy noting that information is shared between Desjardins Assurances générales and Certas direct for customer service purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AccèsD: Online and mobile banking platform for personal and business customers
• Desjardins Courtage en ligne (Disnat)
• Valeurs mobilières Desjardins
• BONIDOLLARS

Products and services

• Assurance auto (Auto Insurance) Auto insurance providing protection for vehicles against risks such as accidents, theft, and damage, distributed directly to consumers via Desjardins caisses, AccèsD online, and the Desjardins mobile app.
• Assurance habitation (Home Insurance) Home insurance protecting residences and belongings against fire, theft, vandalism, and water damage, distributed directly to consumers via Desjardins caisses, AccèsD online, and the Desjardins mobile app.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5 million members and customers served across Canada
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Desjardins Assurances générales inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithin the Desjardins Group, Certas direct shares customer transaction and interaction information with Desjardins Assurances générales inc. to provide integrated insurance services. This internal partnership enables coordinated service delivery across the insurance subsidiaries.
• La Personnelle Assurances générales inc. / La Personnelle Compagnie d'assurancescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertas direct and La Personnelle (both Desjardins insurance subsidiaries) share customer information to enable comprehensive insurance offerings. This internal cooperation ensures customers can access the full range of Desjardins insurance products across different subsidiaries.
• DuPropriominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate partnership for homeowners - DuProprio enables customers to sell homes without commission fees, integrated into Desjardins mortgage and homeownership services.
• ConfiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate partnership providing access to real estate brokers through Confia, integrated into Desjardins mortgage and property services for home buyers.
• RénoAssistanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome renovation partnership providing access to verified contractors through RénoAssistance network, integrated with Desjardins mortgage refinancing and renovation financing products.
• TransUnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau partnership providing credit score access and credit monitoring services for customers through AccèsD. Enables identity verification and credit assessment for lending decisions.
• EquifaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau partnership providing credit score access and credit monitoring services for customers. Customers can access credit reports from both TransUnion and Equifax for comprehensive credit monitoring.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment network partnership for Visa-branded credit cards including Flexi Visa, Boni Visa, Remises Visa, and Odyssée Visa product lines. Visa provides the payment infrastructure and card network for transaction processing.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment network partnership for Mastercard-branded credit cards including Remises Mastercard and Odyssée World Elite Mastercard products. Mastercard provides global payment processing infrastructure.
• InteraccoreTechnology or IntegrationCanadian payment network partnership for Interac debit transactions, e-Transfers, and payment services. Interac enables core debit card functionality and instant fund transfers between Canadian financial institutions.
• Apple (App Store)coreTechnology or IntegrationMobile application distribution partnership through Apple App Store for the Services Mobiles Desjardins iOS application, enabling mobile banking and insurance services for iPhone and iPad users.
• Google (Google Play)coreTechnology or IntegrationMobile application distribution partnership through Google Play Store for Android mobile application, enabling mobile banking and insurance services for Android device users.
• Desjardins Courtage en ligne (Disnat)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline brokerage subsidiary providing self-directed investment services. Disnat offers stocks, ETFs, options trading, and managed portfolios through an integrated platform accessible via Desjardins accounts.
• Valeurs mobilières Desjardins (VMD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service wealth management subsidiary providing investment advisory, portfolio management, and financial planning services under the Gestion de patrimoine Desjardins brand.
• Auth0coreTechnology or IntegrationIdentity and authentication platform providing secure access to authenticated Desjardins services including online and mobile banking platforms.
• BiocatchcoreTechnology or IntegrationBehavioral biometric security platform helping identify suspicious behavior on websites and mobile applications to protect customers and prevent fraud through anomaly detection.
• Adobe (Analytics, Target, Audience Manager, DemDex, Everest Tech)coreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe technology stack including analytics (Adobe Analytics for website behavior analysis), personalization (Adobe Target for customized experiences), and advertising technology (Audience Manager, DemDex, Everest Tech for targeted advertising and customer profiling).
• Facebook/MetaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media partnership enabling content sharing on Facebook and Facebook-integrated authentication options. Also enables targeted advertising based on customer profiles and behavioral data.
• LinkedInminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional networking partnership providing audience insights and enabling targeted professional services advertising based on LinkedIn profile data.
• Petline InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet insurance partnership where Petline underwrites and administers the Desjardins Pet Insurance program (Programme d'assurance animaux de compagnie de Desjardins), distributed by Desjardins.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TD Insurance: Direct insurance arm of TD Bank offering auto, home, life, and health insurance to TD banking customers through embedded cross-sell. Comparable as a bank-affiliated direct insurer leveraging captive customer relationships.
• Aviva Canada: Major Canadian P&C insurer providing auto, home, and commercial coverage through broker and direct channels. Comparable to Certas direct as a major personal lines competitor with both broker and direct distribution capabilities.
• RBC Insurance: Insurance subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada providing life, health, auto, home, and travel insurance through bank-channel distribution. Comparable to Certas direct as a banking-affiliated direct insurance provider using captive customer base.
• Intact Financial Corporation: Canada's largest P&C insurer offering auto, home, and commercial insurance through direct, broker, and affinity channels including its direct digital offering. A broad incumbent comparable because of overlapping personal lines focus and direct distribution ambitions.

Emerging players

• Square One Insurance Services: Canadian direct-to-consumer insurer focused on home, tenant, and condo insurance with online quote and bind capabilities. Comparable as a digital-first direct distribution personal lines insurer targeting Canadian consumers.
• Sonnet Insurance Company: Digital-first Canadian personal lines insurer offering auto and home insurance through a fully online quote and purchase experience. Comparable as a Canadian direct insurer competing for the same digital-first buyer segment.

Regional players

• Beneva (formerly La Capitale): Quebec-based mutual insurer offering auto, home, life, and group insurance with strong Quebec market presence. Comparable as a Quebec-rooted cooperative/mutual insurance competitor.

Direct peers

• Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company: Canadian mutual insurance company underwriting auto and home insurance across Canada. Comparable as a Canadian mutual-cooperative insurer with similar personal lines focus and multi-province direct/broker distribution.
• The Co-operators Group Limited: Canadian cooperative insurance and financial services company offering auto, home, life, and commercial insurance through a member-owned structure with multi-channel distribution. Most directly comparable due to cooperative ownership model and broad personal lines portfolio.
• La Personnelle Assurances générales: Sister insurance subsidiary within Desjardins Group providing personal lines insurance products. Most directly comparable as a wholly-owned Desjardins insurance peer sharing customer information and distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/mouvementdesjardins
• Facebookfacebook.com/desjardins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/certas-direct-insurance-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/desjardinscoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about certas direct compagnie d'assurance