BNP Paribas signed an agreement today with Orient Commercial Bank (OCB) that will allow it to gain a foothold in Vietnam's retail banking and consumer credit markets. Under the terms of the agreement, which lays the foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship, BNP Paribas will assume 10% ownership in OCB once the required administrative authorizations have been given. This share will then rise to 20% when national legislation permits. The group will assist OCB in its development projects in Vietnam, including Consumer Finance activities.
OCB is the 9th-largest private bank in Vietnam. Since its creation in 1996, OCB has been growing rapidly, and over the past several years, it has grown by about 50%. OCB has a network of 37 branches, 14 of which were opened in 2006. They are distributed mostly throughout southern Vietnam, which is the most dynamic region of the country. OCB's 730 employees serve 44,000 individual customers and 14,000 business customers.
With an economy expanding at a rate of 7%, a population of 80 million, and a low level of penetration for the financial services industry, the Vietnamese financial services market is especially promising, and has become even more attractive since Vietnam joined the WTO at the beginning of the month.
BNP Paribas in Vietnam
Since 1991, the BNP Paribas branch in Ho Chi Minh City has been offering corporate banking services and investment banking services such as trade and fixed income banking. In 2005, Cardif opened a representative office.
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is a European leader in banking and financial services, and ranks among the world's top 15 banks by market capitalization. It has around 140 000 employees, 110 000 of whom are based in Europe. The group occupies leading positions in three significant fields of activity: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. It is present in 85 countries and has a strong presence in all the key financial centres. Present throughout Europe, in all its business lines, France and Italy are its two domestic markets in retail banking. BNP Paribas enjoys a significant and growing presence in the United States and leading positions in Asia and in emerging markets.
OCB is the 9th-largest private bank in Vietnam. Since its creation in 1996, OCB has been growing rapidly, and over the past several years, it has grown by about 50%. OCB has a network of 37 branches, 14 of which were opened in 2006. They are distributed mostly throughout southern Vietnam, which is the most dynamic region of the country. OCB's 730 employees serve 44,000 individual customers and 14,000 business customers.
With an economy expanding at a rate of 7%, a population of 80 million, and a low level of penetration for the financial services industry, the Vietnamese financial services market is especially promising, and has become even more attractive since Vietnam joined the WTO at the beginning of the month.
BNP Paribas in Vietnam
Since 1991, the BNP Paribas branch in Ho Chi Minh City has been offering corporate banking services and investment banking services such as trade and fixed income banking. In 2005, Cardif opened a representative office.
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is a European leader in banking and financial services, and ranks among the world's top 15 banks by market capitalization. It has around 140 000 employees, 110 000 of whom are based in Europe. The group occupies leading positions in three significant fields of activity: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. It is present in 85 countries and has a strong presence in all the key financial centres. Present throughout Europe, in all its business lines, France and Italy are its two domestic markets in retail banking. BNP Paribas enjoys a significant and growing presence in the United States and leading positions in Asia and in emerging markets.