She was, is and will remain the place to be: Germany, this bridgehead of the BPCE banking group internationally

DÉCRYPTAGE – The parent company of Banques populaires and Caisses d’Épargne is focusing on its equipment financing subsidiary.

“It’s a real cultural change,” says Fabrice Gourgeonnet, general director of solutions and financial expertise (SEF) at BPCE. Historically deeply rooted in France, the banking group overseeing the Banque populaire, Caisse d’Épargne, and Natixis networks is rapidly internationalizing. “Two years ago, 94% of our NNP (net banking product, equivalent to turnover) was generated in France. Today, 30% of revenue comes from outside France,” specifies the executive. The reasons for this strategic shift are multiple. “We must address two challenges: find areas for growth and diversify, with the need to balance a model previously too focused on local banking in France,” justifies Fabrice Gourgeonnet.

The first step towards international diversification was taken in early 2025, with the acquisition of SGEF, a specialist in equipment financing…