Leading Sub-Custodian Financial Institutions in Western Europe for the Year 2025

In a recent announcement, BNP Paribas has been honoured as the regional winner for Western Europe in securities services. This recognition comes following a rigorous evaluation process by an editorial board, which took into account market research, input from expert sources, and entry information provided by the banks themselves.

The selection process for this accolade also evaluated BNP Paribas's knowledge of local markets, regulations, and practices. This expertise is evident in the bank's NeoLink digital custody platform, which delivers a complete, simple, and customizable range of services to its clients.

One of the key features of BNP Paribas's NeoLink platform is its connectivity, offering greater transparency along the transaction lifecycle. This includes real-time post-trade workflows and faster data availability. The platform also provides transparency, performance, and risk analytics, as well as reporting features, thanks to the bank's new post-trade data-management service launched in partnership with NeoXam.

BNP Paribas's open architecture strategy further enhances the platform's capabilities by integrating client-portfolio management systems with its middle- and back-office services. This integration allows for a seamless flow of data, improving efficiency and reducing potential errors.

The bank has also implemented a segregated account structure for efficient settlement, linking client accounts to a single cash account in each country it serves. This strategy provides direct and standardized data connectivity between BNP's global fund-accounting systems and Bloomberg Asset and Investment Manager.

In addition to these advancements, BNP Paribas has expanded its centralized booking model, enabling clients to engage with a single legal entity in the Paris office for services across multiple markets, with access to seven European CSDs. This move aims to simplify operations and provide a more streamlined service to clients.

BNP Paribas is also the country winner in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, demonstrating its consistent performance across various markets. The editorial board's decision to honour BNP Paribas as a top performer in securities services considered factors such as customer relations, quality of service, technology platforms, and post-settlement operations.

Moreover, BNP Paribas is an active member of the EU industry task force on T+1 implementation, committing to a seamless transition for the industry and its clients with the move to a T+1 settlement cycle in the EU. The bank also collaborates with regulators in every country it operates to advance custody infrastructure and advocate for clients.

This recognition is a testament to BNP Paribas's commitment to delivering innovative and efficient services to its clients, maintaining its position as a leader in the securities services industry.

Leading Sub-Custodian Financial Institutions in Western Europe for the Year 2025