Groupe BPCE, the 2nd largest banking institution in France with 8,000 branches and 36 million customers, focuses on its core commercial banking activities and develops synergies between the group’s different business lines. It works through the Banque Populaire banks and the Caisses d'Epargne and draws on the resources of the banks belonging to the BPCE International and Outre-mer network, Banque Palatine to enhance the range of products and services it offers. With Crédit Foncier, in particular, Groupe BPCE plays a major role in providing real estate financing solutions for individual customers, companies and property developers.