J.P. Morgan Becomes Principal Member of Cartes Bancaires CB, France’s Leading Payment Network

Rhea-AI Summary

J.P. Morgan becomes the first U.S. bank to join France's leading payment network, Cartes Bancaires CB, aiming to offer merchant clients access to the French payment system by the end of 2024. The move is set to provide competitive transaction costs and enhance local processing performance for French debit and credit card transactions.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The strategic move by J.P. Morgan to become a principal member of Cartes Bancaires CB represents a significant development in the European payments industry. This initiative will likely enhance J.P. Morgan's competitive position in the European market, particularly in France, by offering direct access to the leading payment system in the region. With 15 billion CB transactions annually, the potential for increased transaction volume is substantial. Furthermore, the ability to offer competitive transaction costs and improved local processing performance may attract new merchant clients, while potentially increasing customer loyalty through a more seamless payment experience.

From a market perspective, this development could be an indicator of J.P. Morgan's long-term commitment to expanding its international payments infrastructure. This expansion aligns with the broader industry trend towards globalization of payment systems and the growing importance of having a diverse range of payment options available to consumers. By processing over $1 trillion of payments daily in EMEA and nearly $10 trillion globally, J.P. Morgan demonstrates the scale of its operations and the significance of its role in the payments market. This move could potentially lead to increased market share and influence in the European payments landscape.

Financial Analyst

The announcement by J.P. Morgan to join Cartes Bancaires CB as a principal member has direct financial implications for the bank and its stakeholders. By facilitating access to France's primary payment network, J.P. Morgan is poised to capture a larger share of the payment processing market, which could translate into higher revenue streams from merchant services. As the first U.S. bank to hold this status, it may enjoy a 'first-mover' advantage in the region, potentially leading to a stronger foothold in the European payments sector.

Investors and analysts should monitor the progress of this initiative closely, as the ability to offer lower transaction costs and high-performance local processing could improve J.P. Morgan's profit margins in the merchant acquiring segment. It is also essential to consider the cost implications of such an expansion, including the investments required to integrate with the CB network and any regulatory compliance costs. These factors will play a crucial role in assessing the long-term profitability and return on investment of this strategic move.

Economist

Entering into a principal membership with Cartes Bancaires CB is not only a business move for J.P. Morgan but also an economic indicator of the interconnectedness of financial markets. This partnership could facilitate smoother transactions for consumers and businesses, potentially boosting economic activity by reducing friction in payments. Furthermore, the emphasis on innovation, inclusion and security reflects a broader economic shift towards digitalization and the need for secure, efficient payment systems in a modern economy.

The expansion of J.P. Morgan's services in the European market may also have implications for employment and investment in the region. As the firm grows its presence in France, it could contribute to job creation and economic growth. Additionally, this move might encourage other U.S. financial institutions to explore similar opportunities, potentially increasing competition and fostering a more dynamic European payments market.

• J.P. Morgan plans to support the French payment method for merchant clients by end of 2024
• First U.S. bank to hold principal membership

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- J.P. Morgan announced today that it has been granted approval to become a principal member of France’s leading payments network, Cartes Bancaires CB, with the intention to offer merchant clients access to the French payment network by the end of 2024.

J.P. Morgan was granted the license to become the first U.S. bank to be a principal member of Cartes Bancaires CB on 15 February 2024.

Cartes Bancaires CB is the leading payment system in France with 15 billion CB transactions per year by card or mobile phone. J.P. Morgan intends to offer merchant clients acquiring services of Cartes Bancaires CB payment transactions by the end of 2024, which aims to provide competitive transaction costs and leading local processing performance for French debit and credit card transactions. The Cartes Bancaires CB network ultimately aims to provide customers with a seamless and safe shopping experience.

Ludovic Houri, co-Head of EMEA Payments & Commerce Solutions, J.P. Morgan said, “Our North Star is to enable our merchant clients to offer their customers a varied choice of payment options to suit their needs. Membership of Cartes Bancaires CB will help us take this to a whole new level in Europe and France in particular. It is also a huge honour to become a principal member of Cartes Bancaires CB. We are excited to participate in the strategic direction of the scheme by supporting its continued expansion and development, helping maintain its long history of providing secure and efficient payments to its users.”

Shahrokh Moinian, Head of EMEA Payments, J.P. Morgan said, “This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the European and French payments markets. Our EMEA franchise has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and this is a major milestone in our growth journey and wider ambition to become Europe’s leading payments provider. The European payments landscape is rapidly evolving and our principal membership positions us perfectly to provide future innovations and efficiencies to our clients.”

J.P. Morgan’s EMEA Payments business now processes over $1 trillion of payments daily, and supports merchant acquiring to over 1,500 active European clients. Globally, J.P. Morgan Payments is market-leading, processing nearly $10 trillion in payments daily, operating in over 160 countries and over 120 currencies. J.P. Morgan Payments combines treasury services, trade & working capital, card and merchant services capabilities to help clients pay customers or employees, in different currencies, around the world.

Philippe Laulanie, CEO of Cartes Bancaires CB, said, “We are proud that J.P. Morgan has chosen to join CB, the leading domestic card and mobile payment network in France. CB and J.P. Morgan share the same values, those that have made our respective organisations successful: the values of economic efficiency, innovation, inclusion and security. The road that now opens before us will lead us to numerous projects, which will bring real added value to the entire CB community.”

J.P. Morgan has a long history in France, currently employing approximately 900 people – and that number continues to grow. Many of the firm’s lines of business have a presence in France, including being home to its continental European trading hub in Paris and an expanding commercial banking business.

For more information about J.P. Morgan Payments, visit https://www.jpmorgan.com/payments.

About J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank

J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank is a global leader across banking, markets and securities services. The world’s most important corporations, governments and institutions entrust us with their business in more than 100 countries. With $32.4 trillion of assets under custody and $660.8 billion in deposits, the Corporate & Investment Bank provides strategic advice, raises capital, manages risk and extends liquidity in markets around the world. Further information about J.P. Morgan is available at www.jpmorgan.com.

About Cartes Bancaires CB

Created in 1984 to implement a universal and interoperable card and mobile payment system as well as a cash withdrawal system in ATMs in France, the Cartes Bancaires CB, is the governing body of the CB card and mobile payment system. CB has more than 100 member banks and payment institutions located around the world. CB defines the global architecture of the system, the interbank rules and procedures and manages risks. CB also defines the technical and security standards and ensures that the products and services used in the CB system comply with the requirements of these standards. In addition, CB operates an information system, offering its members high-performance data-mining tools to fight against fraud.

In 2022, there were:

• 76 million CB cards in circulation
• 50,000 CB Cash Dispensers
• 2 million CB merchant contracts
• 15 billion CB transactions (including 7 billion in contactless mode), representing a volume of €685 billion
• 2 billion CB e-commerce transactions

More information on https://www.cartes-bancaires.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240304657806/en/

Media Contacts

J.P. Morgan

Richard Hillary, richard.hillary@jpmorgan.com, +44 207 742 2309

Anne Roppé, anne.roppe@jpmorgan.com, +33 1 40 15 47 71

Cartes Bancaires CB

Françoise Fanari - Cartes Bancaires CB Communications Director - francoise-fanari@cartes-bancaires.com

Havas Paris - Roxane Certner : 06 46 89 25 00 / Estelle Bleuze : 06 73 97 94 17 - giecb@havas.com

Source: JPMorgan Chase & Co.

FAQ

When did J.P. Morgan receive approval to become a principal member of Cartes Bancaires CB?

J.P. Morgan was granted the license on 15 February 2024.

What is the aim of J.P. Morgan offering merchant clients access to the French payment network by the end of 2024?

The aim is to provide competitive transaction costs and leading local processing performance for French debit and credit card transactions.

How many daily payments does J.P. Morgan's EMEA Payments business process?

J.P. Morgan's EMEA Payments business processes over $1 trillion of payments daily.

What is the global daily payment processing volume of J.P. Morgan Payments?

J.P. Morgan Payments processes nearly $10 trillion in payments daily globally.

How many active European clients does J.P. Morgan support with merchant acquiring services?

J.P. Morgan supports over 1,500 active European clients with merchant acquiring services.