Groupe BPCE is the second-largest banking group in France thanks to its flagship Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne retail banking brands. Groupe BPCE and its 108,000 employees serve 31.2 million customers, 8.9 million of whom have decided to become cooperative shareholders of their respective banks. The cooperative shareholders owned the regional banks (banque populaire and caisse d’epargne), which in turn owns BPCE. The Group’s different subsidiaries with a total of 14 Banque Populaire banks, 16 Caisses d’Epargne, Natixis, Crédit Foncier, Banque Palatine, etc offer banking and insurance services tailored closely to the needs of the individuals and communities they serve.

The first Caisse d’Epargne was founded in Paris in 1818 to promote, collect and manage popular savings. Recognized as “private institutions of public utility,” the Caisses d’Epargne have pursued missions of general public interest since 1895. In 1950, they were authorized to grant loans to local authorities. In 1999, they became cooperative banks. Through successive business creations and acquisitions, Groupe Caisse d’Epargne has extended its activities towards corporate customers, investment banking with the acquisition of Ixis, insurance, private asset management and, with Nexity, the Group became a full-fledged operator in the real estate sector. 2018 will be their 200 years anniversary.

The Banques Populaires: financing and developing commerce and businesses

In 1878, the first Banque Populaire was created in Angers by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs with a view to pooling funds to allow entrepreneurs to finance their projects themselves. Their cooperative status was established in 1917. At the service of craftsmen, tradespeople and SMEs, the Banques Populaires rapidly became major players in their regional economies, and opened out their services to individual customers in 1962. In 1998, the acquisition of Natexis provided Group Banque Populaire with a publicly listed vehicle. Pursuing its development, the Group affiliated several regional or specialized banks.

The Banques Populaires command top-ranking positions among SMEs, self-employed professionals, and high net worth clients. The same is true of the Caisses d’Epargne among individual customers, local authorities, and the social housing sector. In their capacity as complementary cooperative banking institutions, boasting deep roots in their respective regions, the two networks share the same commitment at the service of regional and local development.

Natixis is the corporate, investment management, insurance and financial services arm of Groupe BPCE. To address specific needs of companies, financial institutions and institutional investors, Natixis provides customized solutions in a number of areas of first-rank recognized expertise. Natixis also designs products and services tailored to the client base of Group BPCE’s two retail networks.

– 31.2 million customers
– 108,000 employees
– 8.9 million cooperative shareholders  8,000 bank branches
– Net revenues: €23.4bn (2016)
– Net profit, group share: €3.4bn (2016)

The Group’s credit ratings is as folows:

Rating attributed to BPCE

Faithful to its status as a cooperative banking institution, the Group accompanies its customers in the realization of their different projects and develops long-lasting relationships with them, thereby contributing 20% to the drive to finance the French economy.