Under Prime Minister Joseph de Villèle, the French government started to leverage the CDC to finance new infrastructure, inaugurating its role as France's development bank.

The CDC granted its first local infrastructure loan for the development of the Port of Dunkirk in 1822, and at the same time acquired securities issued by the Compagnie des quatre canaux [fr], a canal investment venture.

Since 1890, under a mandate from the French state, the CDC has been receiving funds deposited by individuals at notaries, notably during inheritance or property transactions.

This line of operations has subsequently widened to include funds from company administrators and legal representatives, court clerks, and bailiffs.

In 2000, the CDC was entrusted with the creation of the cyberbase programme, the aim of which was to deploy digital public spaces over the entire French territory to encourage the development of Internet use and new information technology.

In 2004 the CNCE took full control of Eulia and therefore of Ixis, and in 2006 had it merged with Natexis Banques Populaires to form Natixis, which subsequently evolved into a fully-owned subsidiary of Groupe BPCE.

In 2004, Caisse des Dépôts acquired all the equity of the Société Nationale Immobilière (SNI), the number one social landlord in France,[20] which it subsequently rebranded as CDC Habitat [fr].

In 2018, the CDC reorganized its activities supporting France's local governments as a new unit branded the Banque des territoires [fr], which is not however a bank in a legal sense.

In 2009, Caisse des Dépots, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the European Investment Bank and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) created the Long Term Investors Club (LTIC) with the aim of bringing together worldwide institutions to emphasis common identity as long-term investors, to encourage cooperation and to foster appropriate conditions for long-term investments.

This led to the creation of the "task force of the Paris stock exchange on long term investment"[26] under the guidance of former financial director of AXA insurance company Gerard de la Martiniere.

Still active today, the task force is dedicated to the promotion of the model of long term investment to the institutions of the European Union on a regulatory, fiscal, accounting and prudential level.

With a combined balance sheet of €2.45 trillion, ELTIA's goal is to promote long-term investment in alignment with the objectives and initiatives developed by the European Union.

Caisse des Dépôts is one of the investors brought together in the Marguerite Fund which combines the contributions from public institutions (CDC, KfW, CdP, etc.)

As such Caisse des Dépôts has committed to provide €8 billion in the form of loans, equity and guarantees to projects under financing from the European Fond for Strategic Investment (EFSI), enhancing the leverage potential of the Fund.

The CDC Group's principal governing bodies are Commission de surveillance (the Supervisory Board) and Chief Executive Officer (directeur général), as described below.

The law on the Modernization of the Economy of 4 August 2008 (PACTE) enlarged and strengthened the role of the Supervisory Board and consolidated parliamentary oversight of the CDC Group.

Equally, the "PACTE" law (Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation) of 22 May 2019 expanded the Commission de surveillance's mission and responsibilities particularly regarding strategic issues, the adoption CDC's budget and investment decisions.

The missions of the Supervisory Board are set out by the French Monetary and Financial Code in its Articles L. 518-7 to L. 518-9 and were amended in 2018 by the "PACTE" law (Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation).

Pursuant to Article L. 518-7, the Supervisory Board provides for a permanent control over the CDC's management ensured by its chief executive officer.

Pursuant to Article L. 518-9, the Supervisory Board carries out every control and verification it requires to perform its functions and obtains any documents it believes necessary.

Under the provisions of the PACTE law: The chairman and members of the Commission de surveillance as of [today] are: In line with its lifelong principle of parliamentary oversight, chairs of the CDC have been either members of the Chamber of Peers or the Senate, or Deputies of the Chamber of Deputies or National Assembly:[30] The chief executive officer (French: directeur général) is responsible for administering the institution's funds and assets and is assisted both by Caisse des Dépôts' Management Committee and by the Group Management Committee, both of which are chaired by the CEO.

The CEO is appointed for a period of five years by decree of the President of the French Republic, and takes an oath of office before the Supervisory Committee.