The company's installation in the city in 2017 was strategic: the quality of the local workforce, the foreign language skills, the proximity to France and the multicultural environment created the ideal conditions for growth. What started with a few hundred employees quickly exceeded all expectations. Today, Porto hosts a multicultural team of more than 2,500 professionals from 40 nationalities, representing one of the most relevant international talent centers within Groupe BPCE, one of the largest French banking groups.

The Portuguese operation has consolidated itself as a Centre of Excellence in technology and banking, supported by a human resources policy that focuses on continuous training, innovation, and well-being. Programs such as reskilling academies, Tech Dojos, partnerships with universities, or sustainability initiatives such as Climate School and Natixis Urban Garden, reinforce a culture of development and social responsibility. The impact is also economic: in 2023, turnover in Porto reached around 133 million euros, confirming the relevance of the operation at a global level.

This success has been based on a clear digitalization and artificial intelligence strategy, which allows automating repetitive processes and freeing up teams for more value-added functions. Porto has thus become a banking technology cluster, with the ability to attract talent and contribute to Natixis' international competitiveness.

Groupe BPCE's commitment to Portugal is not limited, however, to the north of the country. After acquiring Novo Banco for 6.4 billion euros, the French group is now preparing to open its first office in Lisbon, expanding its national presence and reinforcing Portugal's role as a key market in the European context. The new operation in the capital will be complementary to the center of Porto, with a focus on innovation, talent recruitment, and integration with Novo Banco's network, which remains with more than 4,000 employees and almost 300 branches.

Thus, between Porto and Lisbon, Portugal is positioned as a laboratory of innovation and growth for technology banking and fintech, attracting talent, capital, and innovative ideas. While Porto asserts itself as a global reference in the digital transformation of banking, Lisbon gains prominence as the group's new strategic hub and center of operations in southern Europe. Together, the two cities show how Portugal can be an engine of the future for Natixis, BPCE and the international financial sector.

Disclaimer: This article has been written with the assistance of AI.