BNP Paribas in India


BNP Paribas was one of the first banks to start a dialogue with India in 1860 begining operations in Calcutta (renamed Kolkata). In those days, the Bank was known as the Comptoir National d'Escompte de Paris (CNEP). We have since then spread our branches to eight key metros & mini metros and widened and enriched our product repertoire. Today, BNP Paribas is the second oldest foreign bank on the Indian soil and is positioned amongst the leading corporate banks in India.

This historical association with India from her independence to liberalization has given BNP Paribas an unparalleled experience of the Indian economy as we have witnessed her grow at close quarters. Our integrity, consciousness and commitment to the business in India has bailed us out of the ‘cotton crisis' in 1865 and protected us from crashing during the depression of 1929-32 and again during the Second World War in 1940, and finally kept us away from the infamous scam of 1992.

Today, many of India's top Corporates – both domestic and multinationals bank on us to meet their specialized corporate banking requirements. Besides, through our Private Banking offer we have also built lasting relationships with select high networth individuals in the country.

While we are proud of our deep-rooted history in this country and the strong relationships that we have forged through our values we are continually changing to proactively prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.


Our goals

Becoming the preferred banker and a trusted partner of our customers.
Nurturing our employees with a rewarding and stimulating environment for personal and professional experience.
Providing value consistently for our shareholders through profitable development and management of risk inherent to our business activities.
Pledging ourselves to respect and maintain the highest standards of ethics and good corporate citizenship.
Insisting on sustained quality by being a proactive, technology driven and innovative bank.


Historical timeline of BNP Paribas in India

• 1860 - Comptoir National d'Escompte de Paris (CNEP) opens a branch in Calcutta (now Kolkata) at Fairlie Place



• 1862 - The Bombay (now Mumbai) branch opened at Rampart Row



• 1890 - Governor General of India passes the CNEP Act VII of 1890



• 1924 - Mumbai branch shifts in to new premises at Bombay House



• 1948 - The Calcutta branch, which had been closed since 1903, re-opens



• 1953 - Mumbai branch moves in to its own home in the French Bank Building,
  from where it operates to date



• 1960 - CNEP celebrates its centenary in India



• 1966 - CNEP and the BNCI merge giving birth to the BNP



• 1967 - Second branch opens in Kolkata at Posta Bazar



• 1968 - Branch network expands with new branches in Park Circus, Kolkata and Kalbadevi in Mumbai



• 1984 - New Delhi branch opens



• 1995 - Bangalore and Pune branches open



• 1996 - Ahmedabad branch opens



• 1998 - Chennai branch opens



• 2000 - The Bank celebrates 140 years in India and at BNP group level, becomes BNP Paribas; Processing Centre set up in Mumbai to integrate all back office operations



• 2001 - A Memorandum of Understanding is signed between Cardif and State Bank of India for a joint venture in life insurance



• 2005 - BNP Paribas India Solutions set up to provide off-shore IT solutions and as a Business Process Outsourcing Centre



• 2007 - BNP Paribas picks up a stake in Geojit marking its foray into retail broking
  - Second joint venture with Sundaram in the area of home loans
  - Arval India commences operations
  - Joint venture with SREI in the area of infrastructure equipment finance



• 2008 - BNP Paribas Securities India is set up
  BNP Paribas Real Estate comes into being



• 2009 - BNP Paribas increases stake in Geojit and company changes name to Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services
  - BNP Paribas Sundaram Global Securities Operations and Sundaram BNP Paribas and Services commence operations

Find out more about the BNP Paribas Group

Read the leaflet "2011 at a glance"