Banks and FinTech: working together, innovating better
Whether through crowdfunding platforms, neobanks or insurtechs, the links between FinTechs (unavailable link) and banks have become increasingly close. Investments issued from funds have grown exponentially, and partnerships between start-ups and banks are multiplying by the day. What are driving these innovations? Profound changes have occurred, which are incentivizing banks to partner with start-ups specializing in technology and innovation knowhow.
For Sophie Heller, COO Retail Banking & Services at BNP Paribas, the banking world today faces three challenges. “First,” she explains, “we see new competitors: telecoms and Big Tech companies are entering the financial services market. Second, client expectations are evolving very rapidly. The use of digital technology, in particular, is establishing new rules and requirements. Finally, clients no longer want to pay for certain services.”
The Group is thus following a policy of co-construction with innovative businesses to meet two main goals—to rethink the banking experience and to accelerate the bank’s positive impact on society. For this reason, BNP Paribas launched a special investment fund that aims to take minority positions in the most promising FinTechs.
client expectations are evolving very rapidly. The use of digital technology, in particular, is establishing new rules and requirements. clients no longer want to pay for certain services.
These funds, managed by BNP Paribas Capital Partner, invest in start-ups that develop services and solutions linked to key functions within the Group (consumer pathways, asset management, etc.). For BNP Paribas, the objective is twofold. On the one hand, it’s about encouraging the emergence of services and products to respond to new needs of our clients and build the banking experience of tomorrow. On the other hand, these investments support the growth of the new economy and innovation.
Programs to help grow start-ups
The fund complements several other bank initiatives. BNP Paribas has effectively opened several acceleration and support programs dedicated to hand-picked start-ups:
- At the headquarters of Station F, the world’s largest start-up incubator, BNP Paribas has partnered with the American accelerator Plug and Play to develop a support program dedicated to FinTech and insurtech start-ups. Overall, more than ten promising projects have been supported since its opening in 2017. During the April 2018 launch of the accelerator’s third season, BNP Paribas Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Head of International Financial Services Jacques d’Estais declared: “Our acceleration program with Plug and Play at Station F is a key element of our open innovation strategy… the industrialization phase of our best pilot projects will enable the acceleration of our digital transformation and the evolution of the client experience.”
- Alongside the accelerator Fintech Boost of L'Atelier BNP Paribas, the Group identifies and supports start-ups that develop innovative solutions to the needs of BNP Paribas functions. Some prototypes are developed and tested before the bank would potentially integrate offers and services. “By facilitating co-innovation with start-ups that are working on business issues, and by optimizing our organizations, the FinTech accelerator contributes to the digital transformation of the Bank’s functions,” explains Thierry Laborde, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Head of Domestic Markets at BNP Paribas.
- At We Are Innovation (WAI), the major BNP Paribas innovation hub, FinTech naturally assumes a prominent place. “These start-ups count on our professional, legal and technological expertise,” explains Myriam Beque, Head of Innovation Development, French Retail Banking, BNP Paribas. “Our mission is to connect project leads with internal teams at BNP Paribas to help evaluate these projects and gauge their interest for major financial establishments.”
- With the Finlabs program (unavailable link), jointly led by Bank of the West and L'Atelier US BNP Paribas on the West Coast of the United States, BNP Paribas aims to support the emergence of new ideas—to challenge them, test them, and diffuse them.
Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation
Beyond these support measures, as part of its own programs, BNP Paribas engages in initiatives that support dynamic start-ups: inviting Internet start-ups to conferences (Vivatechnology), participating in awards ceremonies, and so on. BNP Paribas is in this way a partner of the Prix David avec Goliath (David with Goliath Prize), which awards alliances between large businesses and very small ones, bestowing an honorary grant of €100,000 as well as business support to the winner.
“Of greatest importance is the ability to respond to all of our individual and business clients by proposing the full range of services that they need,” says Marie-Claire Capobianco, Member of the BNP Paribas Executive Committee. “And our clients want to have the choice—the choice of service model and the choice of relationship.” To serve all clients and expand the range of services requires maximum innovation capacity. Today, this happens through very close partnership with FinTech innovation actors.
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