BNP Paribas and microfinance: 25 years shared history
At BNP Paribas, we have made financial inclusion and social entrepreneurship key commitments in
18/08/2017
BNP Paribas in Latin America
- 18.11.2016
Present in Latin America for more than a century, the BNP Paribas Group aims to forge new strategic partnerships based on local circumstances and the economic dynamics of the region. 3,600 BNP Paribas employees are responsible for all of the major markets in 6 countries: Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Colombia.
Present in Latin America for more than a century
The banks that were BNP Paribas’ forerunners established relationships with Latin America in the second half of the 19th century through equity investments in railway companies and contributions to government bonds, and in 1914 the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris opened a representative office in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Over the years, the Group has successively expanded its presence in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, with the aim of supporting trade in the key centres of business in Latin America and of assisting French companies active in the region.
BNP’s presence in Latin America in the 1990s enabled it to support its customers in the areas of trade and finance. The bank plays an advisory role to companies wishing to invest or establish themselves there.
Today, the BNP Paribas Group in Latin America is:
BNP Paribas has also had a presence for 50 years in Mexico and 20 years in Brazil, as well as 10 years in Mexico for BNP Paribas Cardif.
To mark these key dates, Jacques D’Estais, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Head of International Financial Services, has emphasised that: “We want to develop and strengthen our relationships with all of our customers – individual investors as well as institutional investors, companies and partners. It’s vital to strengthen the ties within the Group in the region. Our aim is to support our growth through diversification, innovation and the digital transformation of our products to better meet the needs of our customers.”
Our aim is to support our growth through diversification, innovation and the digital transformation of our products.
Did you know?
1968
BNP became a partner for the Olympic Games in Mexico. To mark this event, BNP created an “in-house” poster based on an image from the Mayan calendar: the rotation of planets around the sun and the succession of days and nights.
1978
Paribas (Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas) was involved in financing the Caracas metro. Its innovative financing solution enabled French manufacturers to win the contract ahead of the bid from the Japanese.