Given the unprecedented development of payment infrastructures and its future prospects, it is essential to invest in a way that is commensurate with the challenges. The partnership project announced today between BNP Paribas and BPCE will respond to ongoing market developments, in particular those relating to the digitalisation of payment systems, the virtualisation of debit cards and promotion of instantaneous transactions. It strengthens the partnership which already links the two banks within Partecis for the development of payment processing software, which they intend to expand and consolidate into a reference payment processor on the market, on an international level.

The partnership would result in the creation of a common processor with a technological platform (operations, back-office activities and development), capable of integrating the best technological standards for payments, the growing usage of digitalisation (acceleration of mobile payments, expansion of e-commerce, demand for immediacy) and the innovations brought about by domestic and international schemes (Carte Bancaire, Visa, Mastercard, EPI/Wero.).

With 17 billion transactions from BNP Paribas and BPCE processed, this processor would be the leader in France and will rank among the Top 3 in Europe. It could also be opened to handle transactions from other banking institutions.

The partnership is accompanied by an exclusive agreement between BNP Paribas and BPCE to create a target business model in the form of a joint venture.

Nicolas Namias, CEO of BPCE, stated: “The first generation of our collaboration in payments with BNP Paribas was a great success. With this new industrial partnership project, in line with our next strategic plan, we are taking an important step towards accelerating innovation in payments in the coming years. In this way, we will offer the best quality of service to our customers, in particular the networks Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne.”

Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and CEO of BNP Paribas, adds: “Payment systems are an essential component of the bank’s relationship with its customers, and we must ensure they adhere to the highest possible standards. Given that the increase in card transactions is exponential, our ambition for this processor, is to create a device that is efficient and scalable across all our European locations. It is this context that demonstrates how important this joint European platform project with Groupe BPCE is, as it aims to support the acceleration of our development in payment systems.”