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DATA PROTECTION NOTICE

 

Last updated 7 April 2022

As a trusted client, the protection of your personal data is important to the BNP Paribas Group (the “Group”).  

We have revised our Data Protection Notice to improve transparency and provide further information on our processing of your personal data, including but not limited to personal data processing in the context of: 

  • commercial prospection; and 
  • anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and international sanctions (freezing of   assets) 

 

Introduction 

We take the protection of your personal data very seriously; accordingly, the Group has adopted strong data protection principles in its Personal Data Protection Charter available at  https://group.bnpparibas/uploads/file/bnpparibas_personal_data_privacy_charter.pdf.

BNP Paribas Commercial Finance Limited ("we" “our”), as a controller, is responsible for collecting and processing your personal data in relation to our activities. 

Our business is to help all of our customers: small and medium-sized enterprises; large companies; multi-national groups and institutional investors, in all of their activities relating to their commercial objectives and projects, by providing appropriate financing solutions.  

The purpose of this Data Protection Notice is to inform you of: the personal data we collect about you; the reasons why we use and share such data; how long we keep the data; what your rights are (as to the control and management of your data) and how you can exercise your personal data rights.  

Further information may be provided where necessary at the time of collection of your personal data.

 

  1. ARE YOU SUBJECT TO THIS NOTICE? 

This Data Protection Notice applies to you (“you”) if you are:

  • one of our customers or in a contractual relationship with us (e.g., as a guarantor); 
  • a person interested in our products or services when you provide us with your personal data (in a branch, on our websites and applications, during events or sponsorship operations) so that we can contact you.
  • an employee, consultant, contractor or beneficial owner of a client; or
  • an employee, consultant, contractor or beneficial owner of a prospective client.

Additionally, in certain circumstances, we may collect information from you about individuals who do not have a direct relationship with us. This may happen, for instance, when you provide us information about your:

  • Staff (employees, contractors, consultants);
  • Successors and right holders;
  • Co-borrowers / guarantors;
  • Legal representatives (power of attorney);
  • Beneficiaries of your payment transactions;
  • Beneficiaries of your insurance contracts or policies and trusts;
  • Landlords;
  • Ultimate beneficial owners;
  • Debtors (e.g. in case of bankruptcy); and
  • Company shareholders.

The Data Protection Notice will apply to each individual referred to above if we receive their personal data in the circumstances described above.
When you provide us with third party personal data (including but not limited to that listed above) please ensure you inform such third parties about the disclosure of their personal data and invite them to read this Data Protection Notice.  We will use our reasonable endeavours to do the same when possible (e.g., when we have the person's contact details).

 

  1. HOW CAN YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR PERSONNAL DATA PROCESSING? 

You have rights which allow you to exercise real control over your personal data and how we process it.    

If you wish to exercise the rights listed below, please submit a request by: (i) mailing a letter to the following address: Brockbourne House, 77 Mt Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8BS or (ii) sending an email to our data protection team at gdprcomfinuk@bnpparibas.com with evidence of your identity (e.g. a scan/copy of your passport or driving licence) where required.

If you have any questions relating to our use of your personal data under this Data Protection Notice, please contact our Data Protection Officer at the following address gdprcomfinuk@bnpparibas.com. 

 

1. You can request access to your personal data 

We will provide you with a copy of your personal data promptly upon request, together with information relating to its processing. 

Your right of access to your personal data may, in some cases, be limited by applicable law and/or regulation. For example regulations relating to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism prohibits us from giving you direct access to your personal data processed for this purpose. In this case, you must exercise your right of access with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”), which may request the data from us. 

 

2. You can ask for the correction of your personal data 

Where you consider that your personal data is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request that we modify or complete such personal data. In some cases you may be required to provide supporting documentation. 

 

3. You can request the deletion of your personal data 

If you wish, you may request the deletion of your personal data, to the extent permitted by law. 

 

4. You can object to the processing of your personal data based on legitimate interests 

If you do not agree with a processing activity based on a legitimate interest, you can object to it, on grounds relating to your particular situation, by informing us precisely of the processing activity involved and the reasons for your objection. We will cease processing your personal data unless there are compelling legitimate grounds for doing so or it is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. 

 

5. You can object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes 

You have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes, including profiling, insofar as it is linked to such direct marketing. 

 

6. You can suspend the use of your personal data  

If you query the accuracy of the personal data we use we will review and/or verify the accuracy of the personal data.   If you object to the personal data we process we will review the basis of the processing.  You may request that we suspend the use of your personal data while we review your query or objection. 

 

7. You have rights against an automated decision 

You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning you or otherwise significantly affects you.  However, we may automate such a decision if it is necessary for the entering into or performance of a contract between us, authorised by law or regulation or if you have given your explicit consent. 

In any event, you have the right to challenge the decision, express your views and/or request the intervention of a competent person to review the decision. 

 

8. You can withdraw your consent 

If you have given your consent to the processing of your personal data, you can withdraw this consent at any time. 

 

9. You can request the portability of part of your personal data 

You may request a copy of the personal data that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. Where technically feasible, you may request that we transmit this copy to a third party. 

 

  1.  How to file a complaint with the ICO  

In addition to the rights mentioned above, you may lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority, the ICO, at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 0303 123 1113.  Further details are found at https://ico.org.uk

 

  1.  WHY AND ON WHICH LEGAL BASIS DO WE USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA? 

In this section we explain why we process your personal data and the legal basis for doing so. 

 

3.1   Your personal data is processed to comply with our various legal and/or regulatory obligations 

Your personal data is processed, where necessary, to enable us to comply with the laws and/or regulations to which we are subject, including banking and financial regulations.  

 

3.1.1         We use your personal data to: 

  • monitor operations and transactions to identify those which deviate from the normal routine/patterns (e.g., when you withdraw a large sum of money in a country other than your place of residence); 
  • prevent and detect money laundering and financing of terrorism and comply with regulations relating to sanctions and embargoes through Know Your Customer (“kyc”) processes (to identify you, verify your identity, screen your details against sanctions lists and determine your profile);
  • monitor and report risks (financial, credit, legal, compliance or reputational risks etc.) that the Group could incur in the context of its activities; 
  • record, in compliance with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID 2”), communications in any form relating to, at the very least, transactions performed within proprietary trading and the provision of services relating to clients’ orders, in particular their receipt, transmission and execution.
  • assess the appropriateness and suitability of the investment services provided to each client in compliance with the Markets in Financial Instruments regulations (MiFID 2); 
  • assist the fight against tax fraud and fulfil tax control and notification obligations; 
  • record transactions for accounting purposes; 
  • prevent, detect and report risks related to Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable development; 
  • detect and prevent bribery; 
  • detect and manage suspicious orders and transactions;
  • comply with the provisions applicable to trust service providers issuing electronic signature certificates; 
  • exchange and report different operations, transactions or orders or reply to an official request from duly authorized local or foreign financial, tax, administrative, criminal or judicial authorities, arbitrators or mediators, law enforcement, state agencies or public bodies. 

 

3.1.2         We also process your personal data for anti-money laundering and countering of the financing of terrorism purposes 

As part of a banking group, we must have a robust system of anti-money laundering and countering of terrorism financing (AML/TF) in each of our entities managed centrally, as well as a system for applying local, European and international sanctions.  

In this context, we are joint controllers with BNP Paribas SA, the parent company of the Group (the term "We" in this section also includes BNP Paribas SA).  

The processing activities performed to meet these legal obligations are detailed in Appendix 1.  

 

3.2   Your personal data is processed to perform a contract to which you are a party or pre-contractual measures taken at your request 


Your personal data is processed when it is necessary to enter into or perform a contract to: 

  • define your credit risk and your reimbursement capacity; 
  • evaluate (e.g., on the basis of your credit risk score) if we can offer you a product or service and under which conditions (e.g., price); 
  • provide you with the products and services subscribed to under the applicable contract; 
  • manage existing debts (identification of customers with unpaid debts); 
  • respond to your requests and assist you; 

 

3.3   Your personal data is processed to fulfil our legitimate interest or that of a third party  

Where we base a processing activity on legitimate interest, we balance that interest against your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms to ensure that there is a fair balance between them. If you would like more information about the legitimate interest pursued by a processing activity, please contact us using the contact details provided in section 9 “HOW TO CONTACT US” below. 

 

3.3.1       In the course of our business as a financial institution, we use your personal data to: 

  • manage the risks to which we are exposed: 

o we keep evidence of operations or transactions, including in electronic evidence; 

o we monitor your transactions to manage, prevent and detect fraud; 

o we carry out the collection of debts; 

o we manage legal claims and defence our position in the event of litigation; 

o we develop individual statistical models in order to help define your creditworthiness.  

 

  • enhance cyber security, manage our platforms and websites, and ensure business continuity. 
  • enhance the automation and efficiency of our operational processes and customer services (e.g., automatic filling of complaints, tracking of your requests and improvement of your satisfaction based on personal data collected during our interactions with you such as phone recordings, e-mails or chats). 
  • carry out financial operations such as debt portfolio sales, securitizations, financing or refinancing of the Group. 
  • conduct statistical studies and develop predictive and descriptive models for: 
  • commercial purposes: to identify the products and services that could best meet your needs, to create new offers or identify new trends among our customers, to develop our commercial policy taking into account our customers' preferences 
  • compliance purposes (e.g., anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism) and risk management;. 
  • anti-fraud purposes. 

 

 

3.3.2         We use your personal data to send you commercial offers by electronic means, post and phone 

As part of the BNP Paribas Group, we want to be able to offer you access to the full range of products and services that best meet your needs. 

Once you are a customer and unless you object, we may send you offers electronically for our products and services and those of the Group provided these are similar to those you have already subscribed to.  

We will ensure that these commercial offers relate to products or services that are relevant to your needs and complementary to those you already have to ensure that our respective interests are balanced. 

 

We may also send you, by phone and post, unless you object, offers concerning our products and services as well as those of the Group and our trusted partners. 

 

3.3.3         We analyse your personal data to perform standard profiling to personalize our products and offers 

To enhance your experience and satisfaction, we need to determine to which customer group you belong. For this purpose, we build a standard profile from relevant data that we select from the following information: 

- what you have directly communicated to us during our interactions with you or when you subscribe to a product or service; 

- resulting from your use of our products or services such as those related to your accounts including the balance of your accounts, regular or atypical movements, the use of your card abroad as well as the automatic categorization of your transaction data (e.g., the distribution of your expenses and your receipts by category as is visible in your customer area); 

- from your use of our various channels: websites and applications (e.g., if you are digitally aware, if you prefer a customer journey to subscribe to a product, or service with more autonomy (selfcare)); 

 

Unless you object, we will perform this customization based on standard profiling. If you consent, we may go further to better meet your specific needs by offering you products and services tailored to you.

 

3.4    Your personal data are processed if you have given your consent 

For some processing of personal data, we will give you specific information and ask for your consent. Of course, you can withhold your consent or, if given, withdraw your consent at any time. 

In particular, we ask for your consent for: 

  • tailor-made customization of our offers and products or services based on more sophisticated profiling to anticipate your needs and behaviours; 
  • any electronic offer for products and services not similar to those you have subscribed to or for products and services from our trusted partners; 
  • personalization of our offers, products and services based on your account data at other banks; 
  • use of your navigation data (cookies) for commercial purposes or to enhance the knowledge of your profile. 

You may be asked for further consent to process your personal data where necessary. 

 

  1. WHAT TYPES OF PERSONAL DATA DO WE COLLECT?  

We collect and use your personal data meaning any information that identifies or, together with other information, can be used to identify you. 

Depending, among others, on the types of product or service we provide to you and the interactions we have with you, we collect various types of personal data about you, including: 

  • identification information (e.g. full name, identity (e.g. copy passport, driving licence), nationality, place and date of birth, gender, photograph);
  • contact information private or professional (e.g. postal and e-mail address, phone number etc.);
  • family situation (e.g. marital status, number and age of children etc.);
  • economic, financial and tax information (e.g. tax ID, tax status, income and others revenues, value of your assets);
  • education and employment information (e.g. level of education, employment, employer’s name, remuneration);
  • banking and financial information (e.g. bank account details, products and services owned and used, credit card number, money transfers, assets, declared investor profile, credit history, any defaults in making payments);
  • transaction data (including full beneficiary names, address and transaction details including communications on bank transfers of the underlying transaction);
  • data relating to your habits and preferences (data which relates to your use of our products and services);
  • data from your interactions with us: our branches (contact reports), our internet websites, our apps, our social media pages (connection and tracking data such as cookies, connection to online services, IP address), meetings, calls, chats, emails, interviews, phone conversations; 
  • video protection (including CCTV) and geolocation data (e.g. showing locations of withdrawals or payments, for security reasons, or to identify the location of the nearest branch or service suppliers for you etc.);
  • information about your device (including MAC address, technical specifications and uniquely identifying data); and
  • login credentials used to connect to BNP Paribas’ website and apps.


We may collect sensitive data such as health data, biometric data, or data relating to criminal offences, subject to compliance with the strict conditions set out in data protection regulations. 

Please note that you are not required to provide any of the personal data that we request. However, your failure to do so may result in us being unable to open or maintain your account or to provide you with services.

 

  1. WHO DO WE COLLECT PERSONAL DATA FROM? 

We collect personal data directly from you; however, we may also collect personal data from other sources. 

We sometimes collect data from public sources: 

  • publications/databases made available by official authorities or third parties (e.g., the Official Journal of the French Republic, the Trade and Companies Register, databases managed by the supervisory authorities of the financial sector); 
  • websites/social media pages of legal entities or business clients containing information that you have disclosed (e.g., your own website or social media page); 
  • public information such as that published in the press. 

We also collect personal data from third parties: 

  • from other Group entities;  
  • from our customers (companies or individuals);  
  • from our business partners;  
  • from service providers of payment initiation and account aggregators (service providers of account information);  
  • from third parties such as credit reference agencies and fraud prevention agencies; 
  • from data brokers who are responsible for ensuring that they collect relevant information in a lawful manner. 

 

  1. WHO DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL DATA WITH AND WHY? 


a. With BNP Paribas Group's entities  

As a member of the BNP Paribas Group, we work closely with the Group's other companies worldwide. Your personal data may therefore be shared between Group entities, where necessary, to: 

  • comply with our various legal and regulatory obligations described above; 
  • fulfil our legitimate interests which are:  
  • to manage, prevent, detect fraud; 
  • conduct statistical studies and develop predictive and descriptive models for business, security, compliance, risk management and anti-fraud purposes; 
  • enhance the reliability of certain data about you held by other Group entities 
  • offer you access to all of the Group's products and services that best meet your needs and wishes.  This may include, for example, personal data being accessed and/or stored in: jurisdictions where investments are held; jurisdictions in which and through which transactions are effected; and jurisdictions from which you regularly receive or transmit information about your investments or your business with BNP Paribas; 
  • customize the content and prices of products and services.

 

b. With recipients outside the BNP Paribas Group and processors 

In order to fulfil some of the purposes described in this Data Protection Notice, we may, where necessary, share your personal data with: 

  • processors which perform services on our behalf (e.g., IT services, logistics, printing services, telecommunication, debt collection, advisory and distribution and marketing). 
  • banking and commercial partners, independent agents, intermediaries or brokers, financial institutions, counterparties, trade repositories with which we have a relationship if such transmission is required to allow us to provide you with the services and products or execute our contractual obligations or transactions (e.g., banks, correspondent banks, depositaries, custodians, issuers of securities, paying agents, exchange platforms, insurance companies, payment system operators, issuers or payment card intermediaries, mutual guarantee companies or financial guarantee institutions);  
  • credit reference agencies;
  • local or foreign financial, tax, administrative, criminal or judicial authorities, arbitrators or mediators, public authorities or institutions (e.g., the Banque de France, Caisse des dépôts et des Consignations), to which we, or any member of the Group, are required to disclose pursuant to: 
  • their request; 
  • our defence, action or proceeding; 
  • complying with a regulation or a recommendation issued from a competent authority applying to us or any member of the BNP Paribas Group; 
  • service providers or third party payment providers (information on your bank accounts), for the purposes of providing a payment initiation or account information service if you have consented to the transfer of your personal data to that third party; 
  • certain regulated professions such as lawyers, notaries, or auditors when needed under specific circumstances (litigation, audit, etc.) as well as to our insurers or to an actual or proposed purchaser of the companies or businesses of the Group or our insurers. 

 

  1. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS OF PERSONAL DATA 

In case of international transfers originating from: (i) the European Economic Area (“EEA”) to a non-EEA country, the transfer of your personal data may take place where the European Commission has recognised a non-EEA country; or (ii) the United Kingdom (“UK”) to a third country, the transfer of your personal data may take place where the UK Government has recognised the third country, as providing an adequate level of data protection.  In such cases your personal data may be transferred on this basis. 

For transfers to: (i) non-EEA countries where the level of protection has not been recognized as adequate by the European Commission; or (ii) third countries where the level of protection has not been recognized as adequate by the UK Government; we will either rely on a derogation applicable to the specific situation (e.g., if the transfer is necessary to perform our contract with you, such as when making an international payment) or implement one of the following safeguards to ensure the protection of your personal data: 

  • Standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission or the UK Government (as applicable); 
  • Binding corporate rules.  

To obtain a copy of these safeguards or details on where they are available, you can send a written request as set out in gdprcomfinuk@bnpparibas.com.

 

  1. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR PERSONAL DATA? 

We will retain your personal data for the longer of: (i) the period required by applicable law; or (ii) such other period necessary for us to meet our operational obligations, such as: proper account maintenance, facilitating client relationship management, and responding to legal claims or regulatory requests. Most personal data collected in relation to a specified client is kept for the duration of the contractual relationship with such client plus a specified number of years after the end of the contractual relationship or as otherwise required by applicable law. If you would like further information on the period for which your personal data will be stored or the criteria used to determine that period please contact us at the address given under section 9 below.

 

  1. HOW TO CONTACT US

    If you have any questions relating to our use of your personal data under this Data Protection Notice, or if you would like a copy of this Data Protection Notice in your native language, please contact our Data Protection Office at gdprcomfinuk@bnpparibas.com.  

  2. HOW TO FOLLOW THE EVOLUTION OF THIS DATA PROTECTION NOTICE 

In a world where technologies are constantly evolving, we regularly review this Data Protection Notice and update it as required. 

 

We invite you to review the latest version of this document online, and we will inform you of any significant amendments through our website or through our standard communication channels. 

 

 

Appendix 1

Processing of personal data to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism

We are part of the BNP Paribas banking Group (“Group”) that must adopt and maintain programmes in respect of: (i) anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); (ii) anti-corruption; and (iii) international Sanctions (i.e., any economic or trade sanctions, including associated laws, regulations, restrictive measures, embargoes, and asset freezing measures that are enacted, administered, imposed, or enforced by the French Republic, the European Union, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and any competent authority in territories where BNP Paribas Group is established) ((i) to (iii) together the “Programmes”).  The Programmes, which extend to all Group entities are managed, in part, centrally. 

In this context, we act as joint controllers together with BNP Paribas SA, the parent company of the BNP Paribas Group (the terms “we” and “our” when used in this appendix therefore also cover BNP Paribas SA).

To comply with our legal obligations relating to the Programmes, we carry out the processing operations listed below:

-          A Know Your Customer (KYC) programme reasonably designed to identify, verify and update the identity of our customers, including where applicable, their respective beneficial owners and proxy holders;

-          Enhanced due diligence for high-risk clients, Politically Exposed Persons or “PEPs” (PEPs are persons defined by the regulations who, due to their function or position (political, jurisdictional or administrative), are more exposed to these risks), and for situations of increased risk;

-          Written policies, procedures and controls reasonably designed to ensure that we do not establish or maintain relationships with shell banks;

-          A policy, based on the internal assessment of risks and of the economic situation, to generally not process or otherwise engage, regardless of the currency, in activity or business:

  • for, on behalf of, or for the benefit of any individual, entity or organisation subject to Sanctions by the French Republic, the European Union, the United States, the United Nations, or, in certain cases, other local sanctions in territories where the Group operates;
  • involving directly or indirectly sanctioned territories, including but not limited to Crimea/Sevastopol, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, or Syria;
  • involving financial institutions or territories which could be connected to or controlled by terrorist organisations, recognised as such by the relevant authorities in France, the European Union, the U.S. or the United Nations.

    -          Customer database screening and transaction filtering reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws;

    -          Systems and processes designed to detect and report suspicious activity to the relevant regulatory authorities;

    -          A compliance programme reasonably designed to prevent and detect bribery, corruption and unlawful influence pursuant to the French “Sapin II” Law, the U.S FCPA, and the UK Bribery Act.

     

    In this context, we make use of:

    • services provided by external providers that maintain updated lists of PEPs such as Dow Jones Factiva (provided by Dow Jones & Company, Inc.) and the World-Check service (provided by REFINITIV, REFINITIV US LLC and London Bank of Exchanges);
    • public information available in the press on facts related to money laundering, the financing of terrorism or corruption;
    • knowledge of a risky behaviour or situation (existence of a suspicious transaction report or equivalent) that can be identified at the Group level.

      We carry out these checks when you enter into a relationship with us, but also throughout the relationship we have with you, both on yourself and on the transactions you carry out. At the end of the relationship and if you have been the subject of an alert, this information will be stored in order to identify you and to adapt our controls if you enter into a new relationship with a Group entity, or in the context of a transaction to which you are a party. 

      In order to comply with our legal obligations, we exchange information collected for AML/CFT, anti-corruption or international Sanctions purposes between Group entities. When your data is exchanged with countries outside: (i) the European Economic Area that do not provide an adequate level of protection, the transfers are governed by the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses; and (ii) the UK that do not provide an adequate level of protection, the transfers are governed by standard contractual clauses approved by the UK government. When additional data are collected and exchanged in order to comply with the regulations of non-EU countries or the UK, this processing is necessary for our legitimate interest, which is to enable the Group and its entities to comply with their legal obligations and to avoid local penalties.

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