Groupe BPCE invests in a common technological platform for the Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne banks

Supported by all of Groupe BPCE’s senior managers, this project to create a common technological platform for the Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne banks will enable the regional banks to respond ever-more closely to customer expectations, by offering increasingly personalized services, together with the highest level of technical quality. The initiative responds to key challenges such as the modernization of payments, the digitalization of uses, the development of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. At the same time, employees will enjoy an improved day-to-day experience that facilitates their advisory role.

After a year of preparatory work involving the Banque Populaire banks, the Caisse d’Epargne banks and BPCE’s business lines, the technical solution retained for the platform will be based on an enhanced layer of the IT system currently used by the Caisse d’Epargne banks. The new infrastructure would form the IT backbone for the retail banking and insurance businesses of tomorrow and would be simpler to maintain and update. The retail banking and insurance business lines would therefore reap the benefit of greater investment capability, geared to serving their growth ambitions in France.

Planned for implementation over four years, the project will safeguard the quality of service and innovation enjoyed by all Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne customers. The specifics of each banking network will be fully accounted for in order to protect their identities and singularities.

The program will be managed by Ludovic Favarette, previously Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique, in charge of Resources & Transformation. He joins the BPCE Executive Committee and will report to Laurent Benatar, Chief Executive Officer, Technology & Operations.

The project will be presented for consultation to the employee representative bodies of the different entities concerned.

For Nicolas Namias, CEO of BPCE: “The launch of a common technological platform for the Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne banks is a structural project perfectly consistent with our VISION 2030 strategic plan and our aim of accelerating development of our retail banking business in France. By unifying our IT systems, we will increase our solidity and flexibility, while enhancing our ability to satisfy our customers’ expectations. Employees of our retail banking and insurance business lines will benefit from the latest advances, particularly in terms of artificial intelligence. By lowering the cost of technological developments and shortening time to market for new products and services, the platform will represent a major step forward, illustrating our ability to develop joint solutions while leveraging the singularity of our two Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne networks that constitute the wealth of our Group.”