FBF management report 2025

The French Banking Federation publishes its annual report “The banking industry in 2025“, which highlights the actions and great challenges of the sector. True to their values of proximity, solidity and usefulness, French banks continue to act positively and provide solutions for a sustainable environment, a digital transition that offers the best of technology and a more cohesive society.

Proximity

In an uncertain economic environment and a complex political context, French banks are robust, actively serving their customers and financing the economy.

They are committed to maintaining their proximity to customers and delivering high-quality services for a reasonable price. The banking model in France combines a strong local presence with multi-channel banking services. These complementary channels allow them to propose a diversified, innovative offering accessible to all and tailored to customers’ needs. Banks adapt their products and services to changing uses while protecting customers and their data. In this respect, the industry is continuing its fraud prevention initiatives with a new communication campaign involving the public authorities.

Commitment

Banks’ close relationship with their customers allows them to provide appropriate responses to customers facing difficulties. Strong measures are in place and significant progress has been made to identify vulnerable customers and limit their fees for banking incidents.

French banks are among the country’s largest private employers and are also strongly committed to professional integration, employment and the attractiveness of positions in banking. Each year, they invest to train their employees and anticipate the skills of the future, particularly in technology, as artificial intelligence is transforming banking businesses.

Banks help their customers manage their green transition and are increasingly channelling capital flows to contribute to and accelerate the energy and environmental transition.

Sovereignty

Simplification is essential to preserve European sovereignty and strengthen banks’ ability to support companies. As the competitiveness gap between Europe, the United States and Asia is widening, and the implementation of Basel III since 1 January 2025 is locking up billions of euros in capital that could be used to finance the European economy, the industry regrets that the recommendations regarding the Savings and Investment Union have yet to be implemented in practice. In this context, the banking profession has made clear proposals for easing the prudential constraints on banks, which would improve their financing capacity, ensure fair competition with other countries and regions and eliminate unnecessary gold-plating and complexity.

The payments sector is emblematic of this issue. As well as having established the CB (Cartes Bancaires) Group in France, which ensures the sovereignty of domestic payments, French banks are also heavily engaged in developing private pan-European solutions capable of ensuring European sovereignty in cross-border payments without relying on a central bank digital currency. As the ECB pursues its retail digital euro project, positioning it as a response to stablecoins, French banks are promoting the development of a wholesale digital euro that would further facilitate interbank transactions and payment flows.

A vital role

Faced with these challenges, the course is clear. True to their values of proximity, solidity and usefulness, banks continue to act positively and provide solutions for a sustainable environment, a digital transition that offers the best of technology and a more cohesive society. Today, more than ever, they play a vital national role in serving the economy, local areas and citizens.

In the contents of this 2025 annual report:

Influence

The French Banking Federation (FBF) is the professional organisation representing all French and foreign banks established in France. With its 101 territorial committees, its numerous partnerships and its involvement in multiple institutions, its influence extends throughout France, Europe and internationaly.

Financing

As major players in financing the economy, French banks support individuals and businesses by facilitating their projects and investments. They are actively committed to the environmental transition of the economy and are stepping up alongside their customers to develop the defence industry.

Proximity

French banks have made the bold choice to preserve their local banking model. The usefulness of this model in customers’ daily lives and its effectiveness in ensuring banking inclusion for all are widely recognised. The banking sector is also a major employer committed to professional integration and skills development.

Sovereignty

The banking profession calls for a regulatory framework adapted to the challenges of innovation, security and long-term growth of the European economy. Europe will only achieve full strategic autonomy if it is competitive.