VIVRE SA VILLE

Support, proximity, performance. These three words could summarize the DNA of Banque Populaire Méditerranée. It is true that while the COVID epidemic lasts, companies are constrained by the lack of visibility, “but La Banque Populaire Méditerranée,” explains Sabine Calba, “has more than pulled its weight when it comes to distributing the guaranteed government loan. This fits perfectly with what we are – a retail bank that supports its customers and its territory. The proof is that Banque Populaire has been the leading bank for SMEs in France for more than ten years (KANTAR study). This is the result of a culture of close involvement by managers and employees with all our customers, both corporate and private. The crisis has generated deep-seated changes. “Working remotely was a real challenge, but customers adapted very quickly, as did we. Today we maintain proximity, and we mix digital and face-to-face services. Our customers have a growing need for immediacy; we can satisfy them by inviting them, for example, to choose the mode of meeting with their account manager. It makes for greater comfort, and data will play a key role in this new type of relationship. In 2021, the bank was able to control risks through a support detection system where customers in difficulty were approached as a priority. “These discussions, these relationships of trust allow us to manage risks serenely. Proximity also means commitment to sustainability in its territory. “We are committed to green energy, short circuits, and protecting the oceans; we have been ‘the yachtsman’s bank’ for 30 years, and our link with the sea is very strong. The bank advises clients on their energy transition, and supports them with appropriate financing.” The results for 2021 have not yet been unveiled, but Sabine Calba confirms a good year, as the summer was very satisfactory for many clients. “We will soon unveil our strategic plan. It is the plan of a cooperative bank involved in its territory, geared towards performance, with our account managers as linchpins of a customer relationship developing through a digital-physical mix”. An agile bank. Tomorrow’s bank.

By Laurence Genevet