05
10
The Eiffel Tower: a 19th-century industrial feat partly financed by the forerunners of BNP Paribas
By the time he won the competition for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, Gustave Eiffel […]
Are you interested in economic history ?
Each month, take a look at a new article on different and detailed themes.
01
06
Brussels, Dinan, Roma … A journey inside BNP Paribas’ historical archives [VIDEO]
As a leading economic player for almost two centuries, BNP Paribas is the custodian of […]
28
05
When BNP is committed to the environmment…The partnership with the animated series “SOS Polluards”
In 1990, SOS Polluards, a new children’s programme for 6-12 year olds, was launched worlwide […]
08
03
When banks follow closely women’s rights
For banks like for women, the law of July 13, 1965 is crucial. A new […]
22
02
How BNP Paribas has built its visual identity? [VIDEO]
Few days after its creation in May 2000, BNP Paribas unveiled its new emblem and […]
16
11
The securities depository of La Conninais in Brittany (France) : a war-driven decentralisation
In the tense international context preceding the Second World War, the government invited banks “to […]
27
10
Crédit Universel : a regional champion of consumer credit
Crédit Universel, a consumer credit institution founded in Marseille in 1955, has become a national […]
29
07
23 May 2000: the BNP Paribas Group is born (episod 1)
BNP Paribas has a long history going back 200 years, but the current structure of […]
All articles
05
10
The Eiffel Tower: a 19th-century industrial feat partly financed by the forerunners of BNP Paribas
By the time he won the competition for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, Gustave Eiffel […]
01
06
Brussels, Dinan, Roma … A journey inside BNP Paribas’ historical archives [VIDEO]
As a leading economic player for almost two centuries, BNP Paribas is the custodian of […]
28
05
When BNP is committed to the environmment…The partnership with the animated series “SOS Polluards”
In 1990, SOS Polluards, a new children’s programme for 6-12 year olds, was launched worlwide […]
08
03
When banks follow closely women’s rights
For banks like for women, the law of July 13, 1965 is crucial. A new […]
22
02
How BNP Paribas has built its visual identity? [VIDEO]
Few days after its creation in May 2000, BNP Paribas unveiled its new emblem and […]
16
11
The securities depository of La Conninais in Brittany (France) : a war-driven decentralisation
In the tense international context preceding the Second World War, the government invited banks “to […]
27
10
Crédit Universel : a regional champion of consumer credit
Crédit Universel, a consumer credit institution founded in Marseille in 1955, has become a national […]
29
07
23 May 2000: the BNP Paribas Group is born (episod 1)
BNP Paribas has a long history going back 200 years, but the current structure of […]
29
07
BNP Paribas and the electricity industry, 1881-1950
If the founding event of the arrival of electricity in France was the Universal Exhibition […]
29
07
Financing the Beirut-Damascus railway
Since the 1860s, the Ottoman Empire has lost a large part of its European territories. […]
29
07
The Compagnie parisienne de distribution d’électricité (1914-1946)
In 1888, in the run-up to the 1889 Universal Exhibition, when electricity was almost non-existent […]
29
07
Banque de Syrie et du Liban, the financial arm of Paribas in the Levant
Created in 1863, following a shareholder agreement between the Ottoman government and British and French […]
29
07
Freedom, equality, electricity!
Here is a stock: it is a 1937 bond issued by the Compagnie parisienne de […]
28
07
23 May 2000: the BNP Paribas Group is born (episode 2) 2000
With a view to creating a banking group on a European scale, the BNP began […]
05
06
The new Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP) head office through the lens of Durandelle
Taken in the mid 19th century, the photograph documented the urban transformation of Paris and […]
15
04
When the Bank showed its modern nature at the 1900 World’s Fair
This international event held in Paris was an opportunity for the Comptoir National d’Escompte de […]
15
01
BNP Paribas Fortis and Great Britain during the two world wars
Here are two documents which offer an insight into how BNP Paribas Fortis, operating from […]
15
01
The BNP Paribas Group in London and its staff
Today, the United Kingdom is a nerve centre of BNP Paribas Group business activity: about […]
15
01
1918: banks mobilise for the Liberation bond and continue with the Reconstruction…
During World War I, banks were called upon to assist the French government in funding […]
15
11
The British & French Bank (1947-1967) : a bridge between two nations
An English subsidiary of the Banque nationale pour le commerce et l’industrie (BNCI), founded in […]
15
11
BNP Paribas in London: at the heart of the world’s economic and financial capital since the 19th century
Since the industrial revolution of the early nineteenth century, London’s reputation has grown steadily to […]
08
11
A necessity note of 1871 from Comptoir d’escompte de Paris
The Napoleonic period gave France solid and stable financial institutions from the beginning of the […]
04
09
YouTubers specialising in history: new knowledge brokers
Since 2014, more and more historically-themed channels have been springing up on the YouTube video […]
05
07
The Rostand family: Bankers, musicians, and theatre-lovers
The 2018 Edmond Rostand Festival, created by Thomas Sertillanges, pays homage to this talented French author […]
02
07
1848-2018: 170 years ago, the story of BNP Paribas began in France
On 7 March 1848, the Provisional Government of the French Republic decided to create short-term […]
15
06
The journey to a sustainable environment: almost 70 years of initiatives [Timeline]
Today, sustainable development is a central concern for the main economic players and international bodies. […]
04
06
Once upon a time… BNP Paribas in the American West
Present in the United States since the end of the 19th century, BNP Paribas has […]
27
03
VIDEO – The Comptoir National d’Escompte de Mulhouse : the Alsacian forerunner of BNP Paribas
Nicolas Stoskopf, emerite Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Haute Alsace (France), tell […]
26
03
Changing over to the euro – a challenge for banks
The turn of the century also witnessed the entry into effect of the euro on […]
21
03
Female employees and customers of the bank: parallel histories
Women’s rights have come a long way at the bank for employees and customers alike. […]
01
02
BNP Paribas celebrates 150th anniversary in the UK
1867-2017 : For 150 years, BNP Paribas and its forerunners have been living at the […]
01
02
The origins of our environmental responsibility: the BNP and WWF partnership in 1987
In 1987, BNP and the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) together launched a countrywide […]
30
01
Origins of the Channel Tunnel, 1957-1987
On 29 July 1987, François Mitterrand and Margaret Thatcher signed the treaty between Britain and […]
10
10
Smart cards, a French invention that revolutionised payments (1/2) : before the chip
In 1974, a French engineer developed a ‘portable memory device’ that paved the way to […]
10
10
BNP Paribas in China: more than 160 years ago (1/5)
Long before it established its countrywide network in France, the Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris (CEP) […]
10
10
BNP Paribas in China: the strategic turning point in the 1890s (2/5)
Long before it established its countrywide network in France, the Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris (CEP) […]
10
10
BNP Paribas in China: Paribas and Fortis roles (3/5)
Long before it established its countrywide network in France, the Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris (CEP) […]
10
10
BNP Paribas in China: towards a forced withdrawal (4/5)
Long before it established its countrywide network in France, the Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris (CEP) […]
10
10
BNP Paribas in China: Group’s return and improvement of positions (5/5)
Long before it established its countrywide network in France, the Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris (CEP) […]
03
08
The original communication of the BNP on the Barnes exhibition (1993-1994)
From September 1993 to January 1994, the BNP supported the Barnes exhibition. The collections were […]
26
07
BNP Paribas and the cinema in 9 founding dates (Timeline)
In 1917 began a joint history between BNP Paribas and the cinema that has spread over 100 […]
06
07
The Barnes exhibition : An outstanding corporate philanthropy for BNP (1993-1994)
Matisse’s Le Bonheur de vivre, Seurat’s Les Poseuses and around 72 other masterpieces of the […]
13
06
Paribas in the US : a strategy true to its international tradition 1/2
From the beginning of the 19th century, European bankers Bischoffscheim & Goldschmidt, the ancestor of […]
13
06
Paribas in the US 2/2 : a strategy true to its international tradition
From the beginning of the 19th century, La Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas (Paribas) […]
13
06
Smart cards, a French invention that revolutionised payments (2/2): across the world
In 1974, a French engineer developed a ‘portable memory device’ that paved the way to […]
23
05
A promising industry meets a daring bank (1/3): the BNC and cinema’s debut
Moviemaking, an industry that first appeared in the late 19th century, required substantial investments from […]
22
05
Where does BNP Paribas derive its name?
While BNP Paribas was created in 2000 through the merger of BNP and Paribas, its […]
22
05
A promising industry meets a daring bank (2/3): the BNC and the Gaumont-Franco-Film-Aubert group
Moviemaking, an industry that first appeared in the late 19th century, required substantial investments from […]
22
05
A promising industry meets a daring bank (3/3): the 1930s crisis and the cinematic renaissance
Moviemaking, an industry that first appeared in the late 19th century, required substantial investments from […]
17
05
A brief history of consumer credit 1/3 : the origins
The use of credit in France has gradually grown since the 1920s and is now […]
17
05
Singapore, the gateway to South-East Asia for BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas Group has had a strong presence in Asia Pacific since Comptoir National d’Escompte […]
16
05
A brief history of responsible credit 2/3 : the organisation of consumer credit
The use of credit in France has gradually grown since the 1920s and is now […]
16
05
A brief history of consumer credit 3/3 : the organisation of responsible credit
The use of credit in France has gradually grown since the 1920s and is now […]
06
04
Banking, a family story : the singular careers of the Restoubles in Paribas – Martine Restouble
A bank is a place of work, but also a living area where couples meet […]
03
04
The French American Banking Corporation, a French bank in America
After opening its first office in San Francisco in 1877, the Comptoir national d’escompte de […]
23
03
How The East Was Won (1/3): Early attempts by CEP to establish a presence in Japan
Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris opened a branch in Japan in 1867 to support French economic […]
18
03
How The East Was Won (2/3): Establishment projects aborted by Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas
Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris opened a branch in Japan in 1867 to support French economic […]
16
03
How The East Was Won (3/3): Third time lucky in setting up in Japan
Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris opened a branch in Japan in 1867 to support French economic […]
03
03
San Francisco: the origins of BNP Paribas’ history in the US
The Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP), the forerunner of BNP Paribas, took the decision […]
21
02
BNP Paribas Group present in China for more than 160 years
It is often as a pioneer that BNP Paribas Group entered into China: by opening […]
09
02
Banking, a family story: the singular careers of the Restoubles in Paribas – Emile Auguste et Olga Restouble
A bank is an area for finance. It is also a living place for the […]
08
02
Banking, a family story: the singular careers of the Restoubles in Paribas – Emile Restouble
A bank is an area for finance. It is also a living place for the […]
01
02
A century of BNP Paribas banking in Poland (1/3) : Banque Franco-Polonaise
BNP Paribas finalised the acquisition of BGŻ bank on 23 September 2014, but the group’s […]
01
02
Hong Kong, the bridgehead into Asia Pacific region for BNP Paribas (1/3): the CNEP a pioneer
Starting in 1862, Comptoir d’escompte de Paris (CEP), BNP Paribas forerunners, strove to carve out […]
31
01
A century of BNP Paribas banking in Poland (3/3) : a history of “rapprochements”
BNP Paribas finalised the acquisition of BGŻ bank on 23 September 2014, but the group’s […]
31
01
A century of BNP Paribas banking in Poland (2/3) : BGŻ, the Polish farming bank
BNP Paribas finalised the acquisition of BGŻ bank on 23 September 2014, but the group’s […]
23
01
Hong Kong: the bridgehead into Asia Pacific region for BNP Paribas (3/3): the birth of a regional platform
Starting in 1862, Comptoir d’escompte de Paris (CEP), BNP Paribas forerunners, strove to carve out […]
23
01
Hong Kong: the bridgehead into Asia Pacific region for BNP Paribas (2/3): the BNCI, Paribas and Fortis
Starting in 1862, Comptoir d’escompte de Paris (CEP), BNP Paribas forerunners, strove to carve out […]
03
01
Social measures, social connections: a tradition that’s still alive and well at the bank
Ever since their creation, banks have promoted a family spirit among their staff. Attachment to […]
16
12
40 years of BNP Paribas presence in Korea
From the 19th century, Asian trading centres became strategic for European banks. The forerunners of […]
21
11
A brief history of IT in the banking industry
Technology plays a key role in the banking industry, maximising the efficiency of transactions and […]
15
10
The bank architecture of the 60s-70’s, between pop culture and high-tech – SLIDESHOW
Constantly changing, bank architecture reflects the changes in society and conveys the Bank’s image. From […]
07
10
The Camondos: cosmopolitan bankers close to Paribas
Known as the Rothschilds of the Orient, the Camondos are a line of five generations […]
07
09
VIDEO – Discounting: the short-term credit formula that financed the French economy for a long time
BNP Paribas is the heir of the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP). The CNEP’s […]
01
09
Factoring, support for the real economy
The first evidence of factoring is to be found in the fifteenth century in France […]
19
08
The bank also offers “Fantastic holiday camps”…
Holiday camps, which were first created in 19th century Switzerland, quickly developed in France. A […]
05
08
BNP Paribas and the Olympic Games: a long-standing partnership
The Group’s continuously growing partnership with tennis since 1973 is well known; less well known […]
13
06
“Le Centre d’Information Bancaire BNP” in Paris: a showcase for the bank’s innovation in the 1970’s
Le Centre d’Information Bancaire BNP (BNP Banking Information Centre) opened its doors on 11 May […]
25
05
Chemins du Baroque – long-term project
In 1987, Alain Pacquier and Lionel Lissot launched a cultural cooperation programme aimed at restoring […]
18
04
CGER at the heart of education savings in Belgium: Growth, war and the school pact
The movement for education savings in Belgium began in Ghent. The city encouraged the practice […]
31
03
INFOGRAPHIC – The history of BNP Paribas in Africa from 1940 to today
BNP Paribas is an international banking group. Since the 19th century, its forerunner banks chose […]
31
03
The Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris: the bank of booksellers?
In 1848 the July Monarchy was more than running out of steam, it was worn […]
14
03
INFOGRAPHIC – The history of BNP Paribas In Africa from 1860 to 1939
BNP Paribas is an international banking group. Since the 19th century, its forerunner banks chose […]
11
03
BNCI – internationalisation via Africa
The Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP) was the first forunner of BNP Paribas Group […]
04
02
The Carte Bleue – a French success story
The launch of the Carte Bleue was one of the banking sector’s greatest innovations in […]
27
01
Office equipment operators – technicians at the heart of banking
After the First World War, the banking sector had to become more efficient in order […]
21
01
Projet Banlieues, ten years of action
BNP Paribas plays an important role in French towns through its large network of agencies. […]
14
01
Minitel – the advent of home banking
The banking sector reflects social and technological changes. In the 1960s, information technology started to […]
04
11
VIDEO – French women’s journey toward financial independence
On 13 July 1965, women in France became bank clients in their own right, when […]
30
10
The back office revolution in the 1930s
Innovation can take various forms. In the banking sector, one of the greatest changes involved […]
29
10
The Caracas Metro – innovative funding
In the twentieth century, Caracas became an important economic centre in Latin America. With the […]
28
10
BNP Paribas, an Asian story
In the nineteenth century, British and Japanese banks dominated the Asian banking system. However, French […]
24
10
BNL, the bank for Italian cinema for over 80 years
Cinema involves both creation and production. In France, BNP Paribas has close ties with the […]
24
10
Alphonse Pinard, a republican banker
Alphonse Pinard (1815-1871) is an important figure in the history of banking in France. He […]
13
10
Payments Solutions: when innovation plays “leapfrog”
Although bartering was one of the first forms of trade, exchange units were gradually introduced. […]
25
09
A bygone job – the bank messenger
In the nineteenth century and until the 1960s, banking called upon certain jobs that no […]
25
09
Financial support for Paz del Rio – a successful gamble
In the early 1950s, European countries were severely weakened after the two World Wars. New […]
15
09
Barter, cash, contactless: a brief history of payment services and solutions
How to buy, sell and pay your debts? Almost as old as humanity itself, the […]
15
09
Roland-Garros and BNP Paribas, a win-win partnership
As tennis enthusiasts all know, BNP Paribas is an emblematic partner of Roland-Garros. The group […]
24
06
The Perilous Mission of a Paris Banker during the ‘Phoney War’
by Hélène Bhys, Historia How Jacques Allier, a senior banker at Paribas, managed to […]
22
06
Alexis Rostand: a skilful and prudent administrator
Alexis Rostand (1844-1919), a leading figure in the history of French banking, was renowned for […]
22
06
Bank and customer, an increasingly personalised service
The history of banks is also the history of how they serve their customers. The […]
22
06
A History quiz
“Quizz Histoire Eco” – what is it? A game available on internet and a mobile […]
22
06
The forerunners of BNP Paribas and the stock market crash of 1929
In France in 1930 not all banks were equal when facing the consequences of the […]
22
06
The arrival of women in banking
Up until the 1880s, bank employees were exclusively male. But the creation of new administrative […]
22
06
Banks top the bill
Preferring discretion and a low profile, banks took their time before beginning to use advertising […]
08
06
A strong branch network in Tunisia since 1894
The Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris (CNEP) and Banque Nationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie […]
08
06
BNP Paribas Group businesses in the Netherlands for 150 years
The history of BNP Paribas in the Netherlands goes back a long way and starts […]
08
06
More than 150 years in India
BNP Paribas shares a long history with India. The Bank was established in Calcutta in […]
05
06
From bold venture to regional hub: BNP Paribas in the Gulf States
The history of BNP Paribas in the Gulf States highlights the pioneering strategy pursued by […]
05
06
In Australia since 1881
The Comptoir d’Escompte de Paris set up establishments in Melbourne and Sydney in 1881 to […]
