Spotlight on BNP Paribas’ advertising materials
This vintage handkerchief was created by the Banque Nationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (BNCI), one of BNP Paribas’ ancestral banks, which operated from 1932 to 1966. Serving both as a practical item and a promotional tool, it was designed to engage with the bank’s clientele.
A unique advertising tool for the bank
This handkerchief features a detailed illustration of the Paris metro map with the locations of BNCI’s branches in the Île-de-France region. The map is surrounded by the names of nearby metro stations, making it easy for customers to find their way to the bank’s main branches. The BNCI logo, a caduceus symbolizing commerce, is prominently displayed at the top. This innovative marketing medium was ahead of its time, reflecting BNCI’s reputation for creative communication. The bank’s collection of advertising objects, which includes playing cards, ashtrays, lighters, and other items, is a testament to its outside-the-box approach to marketing.
