The crisis facing the world is a collective test from which we will emerge only through great solidarity

The crisis facing the world is a collective test from which we will emerge only through great solidarity – a solidarity that is unwavering and that involves all of us.

As it is a public-health problem, the work of the medical profession and researchers is essential. But all of us have a duty to contribute, through our personal behaviour, to containing the epidemic. And each of us can also help, through our professional action, to reduce the scale of the shock to society.

As bankers we have a special responsibility: to ensure the continuity of financial activity while helping professional clients and businesses navigate the crisis, and also by helping many individuals adapt to unexpected difficulties. This is why banking activity is classed under French law as one of ‘vital importance', and which must remain operational and above all accessible in moments of crisis like that we are currently going through.

All over the world, BNP Paribas teams have rallied together with extraordinary dedication and discipline. To all of you, I want to express my admiration and pride. Thank you!

In order to carry out their work and ensure continuity of essential services, many of our employees must continue to go into the workplace: to our branches, our customer service centres, our trading floors and IT centres. And in order to protect our teams more effectively, and reflecting the recommendations of health authorities, we are deploying sanitary, hygiene and precautionary measures everywhere. We are monitoring and adapting these measures regularly.

At BNP Paribas our employees are devising solutions to address unprecedented difficulties faced by their clients. They continue to welcome those who need to come into a branch, and have adapted opening hours and appointment times. They have also taken health precautions. Customer service teams assisting customers on a remote basis and in call centres have been strengthened. Finally, our IT teams are fully committed to ensuring service continuity. Thanks to these efforts, individual customers are being offered personalised solutions to meet the needs of each situation, whether it is postponing a loan repayment, obtaining credit, or managing their savings and payment methods.

For businesses, the shock can be severe, notably for SMEs or professional clients. We have therefore taken steps to help and provide them with the best possible support. Measures include postponing repayments, making cash management easier and more flexible, and speeding up financing.

Finally, we are also contributing in the areas of science, health and solidarity. We answered the Pasteur Institute's call to help it start research into a vaccine. Before containment began, we delivered protective masks to French hospitals. We are doing the same in Italy, a country which we all know is suffering particularly hard; more than 2 million masks will have been distributed. Arval, our automobile-leasing business, is placing vehicles at the disposition of medical personnel. The current situation is also creating emergencies for those who are most vulnerable. That is why we have delivered 20,000 restaurant tickets to the French NGO “Samu social” and given 600 PCs and mobile phones to enable disadvantaged high-school students to continue their education at home. And in France, Italy and Belgium the bank is matching donations from employees to help those in need as well as support some hospital departments.

We are living a moment of truth in our relationship with our clients and the world around us. We will all, individually and collectively, rise to this challenge because our bank is solid, both financially and in terms of its values, because of its great capacity to adapt and, finally and above all, because of our teams, who are showing an exemplary commitment to helping the millions of people who are in need of us all.