BPCE - 2018 Registration document

NON-FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT A range of services to meet the challenges facing our customers

An exemplary partnership with France Active On December 21, 2018, BPCE signed a partnership agreement with the solidarity-based finance provider France Active that will benefit both the Banque Populaire banks and the Caisses d’Epargne. Based on existing relationships between the two networks, this agreement harmonizes the terms of cooperation with France Active, which is also present across the country with its regional associations. It updates the terms of granting guarantees to back loans granted by the banks to finance eligible projects: entrepreneurs excluded from the labor market, women entrepreneurs, those active in priority neighborhoods, entities in the social and solidarity-based economy with a project having a major social impact in their local area. BPCE undertakes to steer eligible customers towards France Active for support and to increase the listing of the guarantee in its information systems.

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Banque Populaire initiatives The Banque Populaire banks have established close ties with networks that encourage business creation and economic organizations throughout the French regions, including ADIE (French association for the right to economic initiative), Initiative France, France Active, Réseau Entreprendre, BGE (formerly Boutiques de Gestion), etc. In line with their position, the Banque Populaire banks primarily direct their microfinance initiatives towards professional microloans. This year, with 28% of refinancing facilities granted to 5,595 beneficiaries, the Banque Populaire banks consolidated their position as Adie’s No. 1 microloan refinancing institution. The Banque Populaire banks also topped up start-up loans requiring no personal guarantees for young people set up by ADIE and with the Federation they co-financed the “I am an entrepreneur” (formerly CréaJeunes) program, and other initiatives for ADIE’s young beneficiaries. The Banque Populaire banks and their federation are also partners of Microloan Week. Additionally, the Banque Populaire banks and ADIE co-founded the “Créadie Jeune Banque Populaire” award, given out in the local regions and at a national level to young people developing entrepreneurial projects. At the end of 2018, Adie and the Banque Populaire banks renewed their three-year framework agreement in order to cement it over the long time. The FNBP, represented by its Chief Executive Officer, is a member of ADIE’s Board of Directors. In 2018, the Banque Populaire banks granted € 265 million in top-ups for start-up loans requiring no personal guarantees under the Initiative France program, and most of these banks have set up agreements with incubator France Active, generating € 38.3 million in secured loans. Crédit Coopératif is one of the top players in the personal microloan segment through its strong commitment to support networks (ADIE, the French Red Cross, Secours Catholique, Missions Locales, etc.) and a partnership between its subsidiary BTP Banque with Pro-BTP (a social protection agency for construction workers) to enable apprentices in the construction sector to buy a vehicle. Caisse d’Epargne initiatives In 2018, the Caisses d’Epargne consolidated their rank as the No. 1 bank for personal microloans (1) while also holding on to their leading position in the professional microloan segment. They are the only banks that offer support services adapted to the needs of microloan borrowers, via the Parcours Confiance association and the Créa-Sol microfinance institution. A total of 70 advisors are dedicated to this activity across France, alongside over 600 partners providing support for borrowers.

In 2018, 4,615 personal microloans and 1,311 professional microloans were issued by the Caisses d’Epargne, alongside 466 microloans via Créa-Sol. The Caisses d’Epargne play an active role in microloan development. At the national level, they are represented on the Steering and Supervisory Board of the Fonds de cohésion sociale (social cohesion fund). In 2018, the Caisses d’Epargne further rolled out the Mobilize véhicule neuf vehicle leasing solution (with option to buy) financed via their microloans, in partnership with Renault and the Entreprise et Pauvreté action tank, to enable persons in financial difficulty to lease a new vehicle at a cost suited to their budget. The Caisses d’Epargne and their Federation won an Overall Performance award for this project at the 2018 CSR Awards Night. The Caisses d’Epargne also rolled out a new cash management microloan with the support of the social cohesion fund, to allow individual customers to repay overdue loans and move on with their lives. Finally, the Caisses d’Epargne maintained their international commitments through their involvement in the European Microfinance Network (EMN), the European Savings Bank Group (ESBG) and Paris Europlace, which has set up a microfinance group. Playing a pivotal role in financial education Banque Populaire initiatives The Banque Populaire banks have invested in banking education, and some branches offer support to vulnerable customers. The bank’s employees or external partners provide training sessions to small groups of customers on topics such as budget management, using banking services and debt. Some banks also offer innovative budget education solutions in the form of guides, games, videos or interactive modules that are available for free on the bank’s website or the website reserved for the bank’s cooperative shareholders. These solutions are used as educational material and allow customers to better manage their budget while improving their overall understanding of the banking industry. Via their Federation they are also members of the Finances & Pédagogie association. Caisse d’Epargne initiatives Since its creation in 1957, Finances & Pédagogie has been supported by the Caisses d’Epargne. Through this partnership, 22 regional employees implemented a teaching program in 2018 covering all types of money management topics. This financial education project is mainly devoted to teaching young people and preparing them to seek employment, informing people in economically and financially unstable situations, and training social aid professionals. It is also open to non-profit volunteers and employees in the public or private sector.

Source: Fonds de cohésion sociale (social cohesion fund) (1)

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Registration document 2018

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