Committed to our customers for 2 centuries

Although BNP Paribas’ roots span 200 years of history, the Group’s current structure took shape in 2000, following the stock market battle that saw BNP, France’s number one bank, merge with international investment bank Paribas. Discover two centuries of banking focused on serving the global economy, interspersed with developments, crises, rebirths, innovations and productive mergers.

Arbre Genealogique Bnp Paribas
Family tree

Once upon a time, there was BNP Paribas, a Group with deep and multiple roots…

Where does this name come from?

Where does this name come from?

The name BNP Paribas is rooted in almost two centuries of banking history and bears the mark of the banks whose tradition the Group carries on today. A graphic explanation.

When was the BNP Paribas Group born? In 1822, 1848, 1966 or 2000? This question merits some background information… BNP Paribas Group, one of the youngest European banks, was created on 23 May 2000 from the merger of international investment bank Paribas and leading French deposit bank BNP. BNP, from which the Group was formed, was created in 1966 from the merger of Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP) and Banque Nationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (BNCI), two banks whose origins lie in the 1848 Revolution. Finally, the Group’s oldest company is BNP Paribas Fortis, its Belgian subsidiary, which dates back to 1822.

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Discover in images the Group’s achievements during these almost 2 centuries : financing the economy, developing regions, commitment and passion, innovation, internationalisation
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The history of BNP Paribas, rich in diverse traditions, highlights both its raison d’être of funding the economy and its early forays on the international stage. BNP’s forerunner, Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris, has deployed a network abroad to support its clients’ commercial activities since the 19th century.

Looking at the history of BNP Paribas Group, we can identify a number of characteristics and values that have been forged, transmitted and acquired, sometimes in challenging circumstances, over time and as the Group has expanded:

• a long international and multicultural tradition;
• a consistent policy of working closely with industry and businesses in a bid to meet their needs, and maintaining strong local services for individual clients;
• extensive expertise and rigorous risk analysis;
• a culture of innovation, creativity and commercial vitality;
• an ability to integrate different cultures and histories.

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Learn more about the history of the BNP Paribas Group through this quiz

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1. Since when has BNP Paribas been a partner of Roland-Garros ?

Roland-Garros tennis court

Explanation

Although BNCI, the forerunner of BNP, sponsored the Tour de France in the 1950s, history between BNP Paribas and Roland-Garros officially began in 1973. Over the years, this large-scale tournament has gained a growing reputation and global media coverage. BNP and then BNP Paribas continued this partnership faithfully. For 45 years, the bank has been supporting tennis, sharing the values of fair play, responsiveness and performance.

Today, global tennis partner number 1, the Group sponsors the largest events and has created a worldwide community of tennis fans with its dedicated wearetennis.com website.

In 2018, the Group also launched an unprecedented programme to support young French tennis talents in their progression, "Team BNP Paribas Jeunes Talents”, in association with the French tennis federation.

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2. BNP Paribas’ oldest ancestor was born in ?

Explanation

In 1822 King William I established the General Society of the Netherlands to promote national industry.

The Brussels-based limited liability company is intended to assist the economic and industrial development of the Kingdom.
After the creation of Belgium in 1830, it became known as Société générale de Belgique. From 1822 to 1998, the institution changed its name several times and underwent mergers. In 1998, she joined the Belgian-Dutch Fortis Group. Then in 2009, BNP Paribas purchased the Belgian branch of Fortis, which became BNP Paribas Fortis.

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3. The Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP), one of BNP Paribas’ ancestor banks, was created by …

Archives historiques BNP Paribas

Explanation

The CNEP was set up on 8 March 1848 under the joint action of the State, the City of Paris and a group of booksellers in Paris. The latter, like many entrepreneurs and traders, are indeed weakened by the economic crisis that is paralysing France. The CNEP’s original purpose is to carry out discount operations to boost short-term credit to entrepreneurs and restore confidence.

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4. BNP Paribas is also heir to the Bank of Paris and the Netherlands, which was active from 1872 to 1999. What were its main activities ?

Explanation

The Bank of Paris and the Netherlands was founded in 1872 by French and German bankers. It is a French-language merchant bank, whose activities focus on two areas: managing financial transactions in the markets and financing businesses. Its specificity: it does not have its own banking network but relies on correspondents around the world, and it also forms alliances with other houses. It has specialised in financing exports of capital goods worldwide since the 1950s and major industrial projects.

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5. Where were the first branches of the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP) opened?

Explanation

In 1860, in the context of the Free Trade Treaty, the CNEP moved to Calcutta and Shanghai even before establishing a network of agencies in France. Its role was to support the French trade networks abroad (importers of raw materials, particularly cotton). That is also why it began in Australia in Melbourne and Sydney in 1881 (wool industry). Its international dimension continued to expand: Hong Kong (1862), San Francisco (1877), and Chicago (1893). In France, he opened his first branch in Nantes in 1867, followed by Lyon (1868) and Marseille (1869). BNP Paribas continues this international tradition and is present in 73 countries.

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6. In what year was BNP created ?

Explanation
On 4 May 1966, the Ministry of Finance announced the merger of the Banque Nationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (BNCI) and the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP) into an institution known as Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP).
This rapprochement takes place in the context of banking reforms and concentration initiated by Finance Minister Michel Debré.
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The choice of the name “Banque Nationale de Paris” sums up the scope and objectives of the merger: to create a modern bank, serving the national economy, whose influence will enhance Paris’s place in the international financial world.

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7. In 2006, BNP Paribas purchased an Italian bank, BNL. In which city was it founded ?

Affiche de la BNL où est inscrit "Depuis 60 ans au service du cinéma italien" - Archives historiques BNP Paribas

Explanation

BNL is one of the main players in Italy’s development. It was founded in Rome in 1913, initially to support the cooperative movement in the country. At that time, the predominantly rural Italian economy had to industrialize. Its public dimension means that it is the only large Italian bank born in Rome, while Milan is the country’s financial centre.

BNL, a bank serving the Italian national economy, also distinguished itself by establishing in 1935 an autonomous department specialising in film credit. The section provides medium and long-term credits for film production, distribution and trade in Italy and abroad. Nearly 5,000 films were supported between 1935 and 2015.

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8. In 2014, BNP Paribas purchased the Polish bank BGŻ. Which sector does it primarily finance ?

Billet Polonais Mark

Explanation

The origins of BGŻ go back to 1919, when a state agricultural bank was created. This public institution essentially grants loans to farmers to enable them to buy land and acquire means of production. But it also finances irrigation, the purchase of fertilisers… Livestock farming and processing also benefit from serious modernisation. In 2014, BNP Paribas bought out BGŻ. Then in 2015, the Group merged its activities in Poland with those of BGŻ BNP Paribas. This group continues to be a leader in agri-business and the food sector and is also well placed in consumer credit and corporate banking.

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9. When was the Cetelem subsidiary set up, dedicated to consumer credit?

Frahbnpp 3af272 Scaled

Explanation

Today, credit has gradually developed in France since the 1920s. Consumer credit, launched in the 1950s, marks a turning point in society. Cetelem, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas set up in 1953, is one of its historical players.

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10. When did the banks recruit women ?

Explanation

Until the 1880s, a bank clerk was a man.

However, with the creation of new administrative services, the first jobs for women in large financial institutions have come.
In 1914, they accounted for about 25% of the CNEP’s Paris workforce (700 out of 3000).

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11. What is the name of the training organisation dedicated to banking’s businesses in France?

Explanation

The bank is one of the few professions to have built such a comprehensive technical education system and to have been concerned with managing the skills development of its employees. It awards diplomas recognised by the State. The Centre d’enseignement technique de banque was set up in 1932, but in 1972 it became a training centre for the banking profession following the Law of 16 July 1971.

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12. In what year was the first computer installed at BNP Paribas?

Explanation

In 957 the CNEP controlled the largest computer developed in Europe, the Bull Gamma 60. It thus moves directly from mechanography (a set of mechanical and electro-mechanical techniques for calculating and publishing information) to a large, ultra-modern system developed with novel components. As soon as it became operational in March 1961 (training and integration periods were necessary), the computer was operated continuously.

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A selection of images to discover the BNP Paribas adventure

Jean Jadot (1862-1932) – Governor of Société Générale de Belgique, the forerunner of BNP Paribas Fortis – BNP Paribas Fortis Historical Archives

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Railway line linking Beijing to Hankeou in China, financed at the turn of the 20th century by three banks that were the ancestors of BNP Paribas: Société Générale de Belgique, Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas and Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Automatic cheque sorter at the BNP, circa 1950 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Crowd in front of the Paribas branch on Avenue de l’Opéra in Paris, at the opening of the subscription for Société Genarep shares, 5 August 1957 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Cetelem at the Salon des arts ménagers, 1956 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Banque Nationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (BNCI) branch in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 1962 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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BNL in New York in 1963 – BNL Historical Archives

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BNP’s computer centre, 1966 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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BGL BNP Paribas headquarters in 1969 – BGL BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Pierre Ledoux, président de la BNP, inaugure sa succursale à Chicago en 1974 - Archives historiques BNP Paribas

Pierre Ledoux, Chairman of BNP, inaugurates its Chicago branch in 1974 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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BNP’s administrative centre in Nancy, 1989 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Agence de la BNP à Macao en 1991 - Archives historiques BNP Paribas

BNP branch in Macao in 1991 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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In 1993, on the premises of the American subsidiary Bank of the West, acquired by BNP in 1979 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives.

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Paribas celebrates the changeover to the euro in its building at 37, place du Marché Saint-Honoré, 1999 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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The BNP Paribas taking flight symbol unveiled at the Roland Garros international tournament, 2000 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Génération Cetelem” communication campaign dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the subsidiary specialising in consumer credit, 2013 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives

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Deployment of the brand on the pediment of the BGZ BNP Paribas headquarters, 10/16 Kasprzaka Street in Warsaw, 2015 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives.

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Nickel, the first French neo-bank, joined the BNP Paribas group in 2017 and offers the possibility of opening a current account in 5 minutes at a tobacconist’s, with no income requirements and no overdraft or credit facilities.

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The story continues, discover it…

Pioneering times – 1822-1913

Standing the test of time – 1914-1965

The modern bank – 1966-1999

A major European Group – since 2000