The French BNP PARIBAS (net results just shy of 3.8 billion EUR in 2003) is to spend 1.2 billion dollars (32.25 dollars per share) on American bank COMMUNITY FIRST (total shares of 5.5 billion dollars with net results of 75 million dollars), via its American subsidiary BANCWEST. The retail network of BNP PARIBAS will thus move from 350 to over 500 outlets in 18 States, managing some 3.4 million accounts.