was France's ambition to develop its influence in South America, and BCI's desire to expand its access to the French financial market and leverage the rapid growth of Italian immigrant communities in South American countries. The initial ownership structure included BCI (43.3 percent), the Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas (BPPB, 17.6 percent), Société Générale (13.2 percent), and others.

The bank was established from