I used to work for a bank that no longer exists: bpost bank. It was a bank that relied on the bpost branch network to maintain physical proximity with consumers across Belgium.

During that same period, a neobank called Nickel expanded incredibly fast across France, not with a digital-only strategy as most neobanks, but with a conscious choice to rely on human contact; not through its own branches but through what they called “buralistes” in France: tobacco and newspaper shops.

bpost bank was a joint venture between bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis, until it was fully acquired by BNP Paribas Fortis and later fully integrated into it. Today, BNP Paribas Fortis still uses bpost services for daily banking transactions with its clients.

Nickel, on the other hand, was taken over by BNP Paribas in 2017, 3 years after its go-live, and entered the Belgian market in 2022.

So when Nickel announced earlier this year that it would partner with bpost in Belgium, it felt like travelling back in time. Familiar ingredients, but in a different configuration. Enough to trigger my curiosity and schedule a conversation with Emmanuel Legras, CEO of Nickel Belgium, to unpack the logic behind the move.

A week after recording the podcast, the news broke that Nickel will support Wero as of early 2026. We did not discuss this explicitly, yet the decision resonates strongly with Nickel’s core values: universality, simplicity, usefulness and benevolence.

Physical proximity in a world obsessed with digital scale

While the banking sector continues to reduce its physical footprint, and neobanks usually avoid it altogether, Nickel has built, almost quietly, the largest physical access network for payment services in Belgium. Through independent retailers and now through bpost, Nickel is present where people already are.

Perhaps it is less about physical presence and more about local presence. Nickel does not ask customers to come to the bank; the bank comes to them. That kind of access still matters, and Nickel’s success proves it, not only in France, but in every market it enters.

This approach is particularly relevant for those who are underbanked, newly arrived, elderly, or simply more comfortable with cash. But it also appeals to customers who value proximity and human interaction in an increasingly abstract financial world.

What many institutions underestimate is that digital-first does not mean digital-only. Nickel positions itself as a human interface to digital payments. And in today’s banking landscape, that has become a differentiator rather than a constraint.

This model also connects to a broader industry debate around phygital banking, cash accessibility, and the consequences of widespread branch closures. As banks rethink their physical strategies, questions around last-mile banking, access to cash, and proximity to local communities are becoming increasingly urgent, particularly in the context of ageing populations and social inclusion. Nickel’s approach offers a pragmatic answer: not rebuilding branches, but repurposing existing local infrastructure to keep banking accessible where it still matters most.

Financial inclusion without creating a separate category

Nickel’s ambition is often framed around financial inclusion, but it is much more than that. Nickel assists people who find it difficult to access traditional banking. But it also serves very common use cases: a secondary account, controlled spending, e-commerce, and travel. This makes it, for many consumers, the platform of choice to manage their financial well-being as well.

Wero supports this approach. Integrating Wero enables Nickel to offer a full range of daily banking services that consumers expect from a neobank, connecting them with local communities.

More broadly, this approach reframes financial inclusion as a core banking responsibility rather than a peripheral initiative. Nickel embeds inclusion into everyday banking and payments, supporting financial well-being, responsible spending, and access to essential payment services. In an environment shaped by regulatory focus on consumer protection, access to basic accounts, and payment account accessibility, this model aligns commercial relevance with social impact, without turning inclusion into a standalone category.

Simplicity as a strategic constant, proven in execution

What stands out when listening to Emmanuel Legras is that Nickel’s simplicity is operationally enforced.

It starts with onboarding: opening a Nickel account takes minutes, in a physical location, with immediate usability. No complex product choices, no deferred activation, and no hidden upgrade path. From the outset, customers know exactly what Nickel is, and what it is not.

The same discipline applies to the product itself. Nickel deliberately excludes overdrafts and credit lines. They could make more money offering it, but they know that adding that extra complexity will harm more customers than it will benefit, especially in the journeys of financial inclusion and financial well-being. Customers cannot spend what they do not have, which reduces exposure to debt, disputes, and fraud, an often overlooked benefit of simplicity in payments.

Distribution follows the same logic. Nickel does not build branches. It relies on existing local networks: independent retailers and now bpost, where people already conduct everyday activities. This keeps the model scalable while preserving proximity and trust. But helps small shop owners who seek reinvention and relevance, as fewer people buy print newspapers and cigarettes.

Seen in this light, the upcoming Wero integration is fully consistent. It extends European reach without adding complexity for the customer. The innovation stays largely invisible: exactly where it should be.

In an industry where complexity tends to accumulate by default, Nickel shows that simplicity only works when it is defended at every design decision.

Complementarity inside a banking group

Within the BNP Paribas ecosystem, Nickel’s role is refreshingly clear. It does not try to replicate the full-service banking model of BNP Paribas Fortis. Instead, it complements it.

Nickel focuses on everyday access and payments. BNP Paribas Fortis focuses on long-term financial relationships. Through bpost, both propositions coexist, serving different moments in a customer’s financial life.

This kind of clarity is rare. Too often, banking groups struggle with internal overlap and strategic ambiguity. Nickel demonstrates that focus, when properly positioned, creates strength rather than fragmentation.

Closing reflection

Nickel’s story is not about speed or disruption. It is about relevance through consistency.

In an industry constantly chasing the next big thing, Nickel reminds us that some of the most durable models are built by doing fewer things and doing them exceptionally well. The partnership with bpost and the upcoming integration of Wero are not new directions. They are logical consequences of a strategy that has been coherent from the start.

Sometimes, progress looks a lot like history, just executed with better timing.

We are excited to announce that Emmanuel has confirmed to speak at our flagship event, The Banking Scene Conference 2026 Brussels on May 28 - join us there to hear more insights from him!

In the meanwhile, you can find the full interview below or you can follow on your favourite podcast platform here (don't forget to subscribe!).