BNP Paribas was formed in 2000 when BNP and Paribas, two previously separate entities, merged. its presence is across 68 countries through a staff of more than 193,000, of which nearly 148,000 are in Europe. Today, the company offers financing, investment, protection, and savings solutions and deals with two key areas of business: retail banking and services, and corporate and institutional banking. The company’s US corporate headquarters are located in New York City. The Banker magazine named BNP Paribas the winner in four global categories in its annual Investment Banking Awards for 2020: Investment Bank of the Year for Sustainable FIG financing, Investment Bank of the Year for Sustainability-linked Loans, Investment Bank of the Year for Social Bonds, and Investment Bank of the Year for IPOs.