BNP Paribas
BNP, which is highly exposed to mature European markets, is in the early stages of a plan to cut 2 billion euros in annual costs over the next three years and is set to launch a new Europe-wide online bank.
"Our employee levels will go down in France this year," Baudouin Prot told the bank's annual shareholder meeting.
BNP will present its plans to unions next month, Prot added.
Europe's banks are in a push to cut costs and rethink their business models as tougher regulations and a slowing economy rob them of traditional profit streams.
French banks including Societe Generale
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Analysts have said branch closures will be necessary to bring profitability rapidly in line with peers in the UK and Spain.