Inclusion

Financial and social inclusion

BNP Paribas is the driving force behind many initiatives to promote financial and social inclusion, one of the 5 priorities of the Group’s sustainable development strategy as part of its GTS strategic plan. This commitment aims to contribute to a more just and inclusive society for the most vulnerable, some of whom may have been excluded for socio-economic reasons. BNP Paribas has a long-standing engagement to local development, be it economic, social or cultural and in recognition of its efforts. In recognition of its efforts, the Group was named Best Global Bank for Financial Inclusion in 2024 at the Global Euromoney Awards.

Inclusive and innovative banking models  

To meet the needs of its diverse and sometimes vulnerable customers, BNP Paribas must adapt to develop inclusive and innovative services that combine personalised service and digitalised support. 

Identifying and assisting vulnerable customers

In France, BNP Paribas has developed tools to identify and support vulnerable customers, including Centres Specialized in Budget Solutions (CSSB), as well as a free basic service account. Meanwhile, the AXELLE platform, features offers and services from committed partner companies, as well as advice on managing a budget or finding a job. 

With the acquisition of Nickel in 2017, BNP Paribas has expanded its offering to meet new payment habits. Nickel aims to democratise current accounts by making them accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their income. Opening and managing an account in real time (without an overdraft facility) is now possible in five minutes, whether online, at a tobacconist, or in a partner neighbourhood store. As the end of 2024, 10 years after its launch, Nickel had 4 million accounts opened in France. With nearly 8,000 points of sale throughout France, Nickel is now the largest current account distribution network in France and aims to become the largest in Europe.

In 2023, BNP Paribas Cardif, the Group’s insurance subsidiary, launched a Social Action Fund to provide exceptional assistance to its customers in personal, financial, social or health-related difficulties. 

Accessing banking services in a few clicks

Access to online financial services is an essential tool for promoting financial inclusion. Hello bank!, BNP Paribas’s 100% digital bank for individuals and free-lance professionals, crossed the million-customer threshold in 2024. Launched in 2013, it was the first digital bank to offer its customers the Livret d’Epargne Populaire, a savings account for lower-income people in France. Hello bank! is one of the three least expensive banks in France (according to Capital magazine’s 2025 Panorabanques analysis, which includes young people, employees, shop owners and executives). 

Meanwhile, Floa, a BNP Paribas subsidiary and a pioneer in payment facilities, helps consumers make purchases through its “Buy Now Pay Later” solution, which allows them to spread out spending. Floa also promotes more sustainable consumption. According to the KANTAR X Floa 2023 analysis of payment habits in Europe, 58% of European users of payment facilities use them to buy a higher-quality or more environmentally friendly product. In addition, the Floa Circle Pay solution contributes to the recycling and refurbishing of household appliances, thus prolonging their lifecycle and facilitating the purchase of other goods. 

Inclusion around the world, through microfinance 

Internationally, the Group actively supports microfinance institutions (MFIs) around the world (13 countries at the end of 2023). BNP Paribas allocated €345 million in 2023, financing 21 MFIs directly, through dedicated funds. These microcredits, dedicated to underprivileged populations that are excluded from the traditional banking system, support the development of small economic projects and in particular help  women entrepreneurs in emerging countries. 

Microfinance in figures 

€ 345M

In credits or investments in 2023

€ 1.4Bn 

In cumulative funding since 1989

3.2M

Microcredit beneficiaries supported indirectly since 1989

“Financial inclusion aims to improve access to financial products for everyone, regardless of their situation. What most people suffering from financial exclusion lack is education on the subject. Then they need access to financial services themselves: this is where microfinance comes in.” 

Claudia Belli

Head of Social Business and Microfinance at BNP Paribas   

Improving inclusion among youth

BNP Paribas has a long-standing commitment to youth and has stepped up its support since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. As a bank, we have created new products to enable students to finance their studies, while helping associations, particularly in France, to support young people in the areas of educational continuity, equal opportunities and psychological distress. 

BNP Paribas also acts for young people as an employer: in 2023, in partnership with more than 400 business schools, universities and training organisations in France, the Group recruited 2,500 students under apprenticeship or professional training contracts across over 300 different professions. Outside France, this is reflected in “on the job” induction courses, mentoring, graduate programs to strengthen networking, and the development of certified training courses for young graduates working within BNP Paribas.    

Supporting international initiatives with our partners

To achieve its inclusion goals, BNP Paribas Paribas partners with several organisations working on critical social issues. Among these many partnerships is the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, which BNP Paribas has been supporting since 2018 in its mission to raise awareness and take action for populations affected by violence and poverty. BNP Paribas also supports initiatives for more inclusive business models, through coalitions such as the OECD’s Business for Inclusive Growth and by partnering on specific projects with the Grameen Creative Lab, a social business incubator.

The bnp paribas foundation

The BNP Paribas Foundation supports initiatives in favour of culture, research, and solidarity with young people, disadvantaged populations and refugees. 

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