To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Banque Populaire Méditerranée in Monaco, its director, Sabine Calba, discusses the specific characteristics of the Monegasque market, the institution’s strategic choices and its vision of a universal, people-focused and sustainable bank.
We are very proud to have built a truly universal bank here, capable of meeting all needs: private individuals, professionals, corporate clients and private banking. We owe this positioning to the vision of my predecessors and our gradual expansion through several acquisitions, including the landmark purchase of Banco Atlantico in 2004. Today, we have 1,350 corporate clients and 650 private and individual clients. This is the result of constant commitment in the field.
Corporate banking remains very important, of course. Two out of ten companies in Monaco are our clients. But we have broadened our spectrum. We want to be the bank for all Monegasques, including civil servants, private individuals and professionals. That is our strength: offering a comprehensive approach, with technical expertise and a product range tailored to each segment.
It is a unique market in many ways. There is a strong appetite for financial management, an investment culture that is less prevalent in France. The clientele is also much more internationally oriented, which requires us to mobilise more experts. And then, here, the standards are very high: clients want the best, right away. But it’s stimulating.
We don’t try to be better in one segment, we want to do well across the board. Most of our competitors are highly specialised. We offer a comprehensive approach. A client may come to us for property financing and leave with comprehensive wealth management support. This universal positioning is a real added value.
Absolutely. Here, the ecological transition is being integrated more quickly than elsewhere, thanks in particular to the financial culture I mentioned earlier. Our clients are diversifying their portfolios by incorporating CSR criteria, often with conviction. We ourselves are working on the creation of a fund dedicated to the Principality’s ecological transition. This is a strategic focus for us.
Firstly, through our physical presence: we have 20 employees on site who know our clients and the economic fabric. Secondly, through our responsiveness and proximity: here, we see each other, we talk to each other, we drop in at the branch. And finally, through concrete decisions, such as switching our IT systems to the BPCE group’s secure system. This guarantees fluidity, security and autonomous management of all customer profiles.
Not for a second. We have a long-term vision, which is part of our cooperative DNA. It’s easy to be there during good times. But it’s in difficult times that you have to prove your commitment. We never considered leaving. This long-term approach is what makes the difference. We embrace our role as a player in the region.
More than ever. Our bank belongs to its member-customers. That changes everything. It commits us to serving, to remaining consistent, to investing for the long term. In Monaco, that is particularly valuable. It takes time to gain trust and build lasting relationships with local players and institutions.
An undeniable asset. Working here is a dream come true. It’s a mark of prestige. Yes, there are access constraints, especially during rush hour. But honestly, we don’t have any particular difficulty attracting talent, as long as we are demanding in terms of skills. Because I need experts, highly skilled people who are capable of responding to complex requests.
Not so much in terms of innovation itself, but in terms of its quality. In Monaco, as elsewhere, our customers want fluidity and anticipation. But they value human relationships. Innovation, yes. But without ever sacrificing relationships. It’s this alchemy that we cultivate, with the support of the BPCE group and the agility of our organisation.
