A brief history of IT in the banking industry
Technology plays a key role in the banking industry, maximising the efficiency of transactions and services. Over the decades, banking practices have changed significantly due to information technology. And the BNP Paribas group has often positioned itself at the forefront of such developments. Let’s take a look back at a century of innovation, from the 1920s to the present day.
Office equipment
1920 – 1950
Banking activities are booming. Introduction of task automation for enhanced efficiency.
1926
The Comptoir national d’escompte de Paris buys 90 accounting machines
1929
Paribas is one of the first French banks to use punch card machines
The first computers
1950 – 1980
Banks invest in the first mainframe computers to process a multitude of transactions. IT systems thrive in regional banking centres.
1957
CNEP orders the Bull Gamma 60.
The largest computer developed in Europe.
1958
The IBM 705 is installed at BNCI*, in the most active data processing centre. The equipment covers 200 M2.
1979
At the Société Générale de Banque in Brussels, 68 % of the operations are computerized.
*Banque Nationale Pour le Commerce et l’Industrie
Digital globalisation
1950 – 1980
Information technology becomes more sophisticated with the development of digital networks : minitel, micro-computers, internet.
branch networks promote the advent of remote banking.
1983
Cetelem expands Minitel for in-store credit
1995
BNP and Paribas become the first French banks to establish a presence on the internet
1er january 2002
Changeover to euro notes and coins; BNP Paribas has been employing 500 IT specialists since 1996
1997
BNP is the first French bank to offer online services with its site BNP net
2010
BNP Paribas offers banking services on IPAD
Blockchain technology and AI
Since 2011
This technology enables decentralised transaction recording and authentification. Another revolution in the world of banking. BNP Paribas therefore encourages this innovation by investing, for example, in the Fintech* Digital Asset Holdings (DAH).
Within the Group, AI has been integrated into processes and tools since 2016. The progressive exploitation of this technology and data management are at the heart of the Group’s strategic plan, with more than 800 use cases already in production.
BNP Paribas holds the top position among European banks in terms of investments in AI startups and ranks 3rd among global banks.
*Fintech are start-ups exploiting information and communication technologies to offer innovative financial solutions
Find out more :
Mémoires vives : 50 ans d’informatique chez BNP Paribas
Pierre Mounier-Kuhn
Edited by BNP Paribas, Paris, 2013
Partager cette page
