BNP Paribas SA $BNP.PA, France’s largest listed bank, is launching a major overhaul of its domestic retail operations. CEO Jean-Laurent Bonnafé is spearheading a plan to reduce the physical branch footprint in response to long-term structural inefficiencies and the accelerated shift toward digital banking. The first wave of this transformation includes the closure of approximately 80 retail branches in 2025, followed by an additional 120 closures in 2026. Over the longer term, BNP aims to shrink its physical network significantly while strengthening its digital and remote banking capabilities.

BNP Paribas $BNP.PA, the Eurozone’s largest bank by assets, has reported its Q1 2024 results, confirming the group’s confidence in achieving its annual targets despite a turbulent global backdrop and mounting challenges from the ongoing trade war. Net income for January–March 2024 reached 2.95 billion euros (equivalent to $3.34 billion), just a 4.9% decrease from the previous year, closely aligning with consensus forecasts of 2.94 billion euros.

In 2025, there has been a significant shift in investment preferences, with investors showing a stronger inclination towards hedge funds rather than returning to private equity. This change is largely due to the decline in the number of deals, as noted in a report from BNP Paribas (EPA BNP).