Explore the historical archives of BNP Paribas

For nearly two centuries, the predecessor banks of BNP Paribas have generated extensive documentation on their activities, businesses, locations, and the worlds they have navigated. Preserved by the Archives & History Department, these archives represent an exceptional heritage, at the intersection of corporate, economic, and social history.

What makes a bank’s archives worth discovering?

Behind the scenes of history: to understand, connect, and interpret

Stepping into the historical archives of BNP Paribas means tracing not only the bank’s history but also that of the world in which it operates. It is rediscovering the tangible traces of decisions, career paths, projects, professions, expansions, innovations, and even crises.

These collections offer insight into the bank in all its dimensions: operations in France and internationally, corporate relationships, locations, organizational structures, and more. They provide a window into the evolution of professional practices, territories, and exchanges.

These archives reveal how a bank navigates the ages and supports societal transformations.

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What types of materials make up the archival collections?

Diverse sources to explore a tangible history

Annual reports, meeting minutes, executive files, economic studies, personnel records, photographs, posters, objects, audiovisual materials, and digital resources: this diversity of formats enriches the entire archival collection.

  • Documents

    Map of Morocco’s railway network, 1955 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives (11AH383)

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    11ah383 Carte Maroc Aspect Ratio 550 310

    Documents

    Map of Morocco’s railway network, 1955 – BNP Paribas Historical Archives (11AH383)

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  • Photographies

    Photograph of a women’s football team – no reference code

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    Equipe Feminine Foot Aspect Ratio 550 310

    Photographies

    Photograph of a women’s football team – no reference code

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  • Posters

    1920 National Loan, Banque Nationale de Crédit – BNP Paribas Historical Archives (10FI632EL)

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    Frahbnpp 4fi985 Resized Aspect Ratio 550 310

    Posters

    1920 National Loan, Banque Nationale de Crédit – BNP Paribas Historical Archives (10FI632EL)

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  • Ephemera

    BNP Paribas historical archives (4FI424)

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    Frahbnpp 4fi424 Fusion 3 Aspect Ratio 550 310

    Ephemera

    BNP Paribas historical archives (4FI424)

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  • Objets

    BNP Paribas Historical Archives Preservation Center, Dinan-Taden

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    Reserve Aspect Ratio 550 310

    Objets

    BNP Paribas Historical Archives Preservation Center, Dinan-Taden

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The history of BNP Paribas is not an abstract concept—it is a lived reality, shaped by places, by the women and men who worked there, by administrative records, images, actions, and strategies.

An overview of the archives and guides to help you explore

The historical archives bring together collections from the Group’s predecessor banks: CNEP, BNC, BNCI, BNP, Paribas, and Compagnie Bancaire.

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View the corporate family tree

The collections preserved by BNP Paribas vary in both size and composition:

  • The CNEP collection primarily consists of corporate documents—annual reports, minutes of general meetings, and board meetings—supplemented by personnel files and a selection of property-related records.
  • The Paribas archives stand out for their broad geographic scope and the diversity of their holdings, particularly in international relations, economic and financial studies, and sector-specific activities.
  • The BNCI and BNP collections shed light on the day-to-day operations of a major bank, covering branch networks, banking operations, real estate, internal circulars, administrative centers, and subsidiaries.
  • Compagnie Bancaire and its subsidiaries provide insight into the history of credit and consumer finance.
  • For all collections, historical annual reports serve as a key resource for tracing the long-term evolution of the institutions that shaped the BNP Paribas Group.
CNEMCNEPParibasBEMBNCBNCICompagnie bancaireBNP
1848-19301848-19661872-20001907-19591913-19321932-19661959-19971966-2000

This page offers an introduction to the historical archives of BNP Paribas.

Would you like to explore further?

For further exploration, a dedicated page brings together available resources and practical information for consulting the archives.

Are you a researcher, student, or working on a documentary project?

Consult the Archives Guide