Societe Generale

Société Générale is one of the main European financial services companies and also maintains extensive activities in others parts of the world, its registered office on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, while its headquarters are in the Tours Societe Generale in the business district of La Defense and in the city of Nanterre, west of Paris. The three main divisions are Retrail Banking and Specialized Financial Services (particularly in France and Eastern Europe), Corporate and Investment Banking (Derivatives, Structured Finance and Euro Capital Markets) and Global Investment Management & Services.

Société Générale is one of the oldest banks in France. The original name was Société Générale pour favoriser le développement du commerce et de l'industrie en France (General Society to Support the Development of Commerce and Industry in France). Société Générale is often nicknamed SocGen in the international financial world.

The long term debt of the group is currently ranked A+ by S&P, Aa2 by Moody's and A+ by Fitch.

The 2007 financial results were sharply lower, affected by depreciations and a fraud of 4.9 billionof Euro.

Société Générale is the 3rd largest Corporate and Investment bank in the Eurozone by net banking income and the 6th largest French company by market capitalization, it employs 120,000 people, of which 75,000 in Europe, and maintains a presence in 80 countries. The bank is active in the finance, investment and asset management markets.

In France, Société Générale is active in retail banking with more than 2,700 branches (including its Crédit du Nord banking division).

SG CIB Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking, the Corporate and Investment Banking arm of the Société Générale Group, is the 3rd largest corporate and investment bank in the euro zone by net banking income. Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking serves corporates, financial institutions and investors in over 45 countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia, it provides value-added integrated financial solutions and is a reference bank in its three specialist areas: Euro Capital Markets, Derivatives and Structured Finance.

Fimat International Banque S.A. is a global brokerage and prime brokerage organization and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Société Générale Group. Fimat businesses involve a range of clearing and execution services on listed or OTC derivatives and cash products.

Fimat was created in 1986, following the creation of the Paris-based MATIF (Marché à Terme International de France), the French Futures and Options Exchange, in February 1986. In 2005 Fimat completed the acquisition of Cube Financial.

Merged in January 2008 with Calyon Financial to form Newedge. Newedge's holders are SG and Calyon.

For the average consumer without "investments", Société Générale is the best bank. They deposite your cash into your accounts IMMEDIATELY, unlike other banks like B of the West, who hold even cash deposits until 3pm and then process all the debits before they enter the credits. Personable employees who know you by name after one visit! Great!

I have had personal accounts with the Société Générale continuously since 2005. Over that time the service has been excellent and when I have needed help or advice they have been very supportive. I particular value the being able to drop into a branch to deal with people face to face. Perhaps my only criticism is the number of surveys and telephone questionnaires

Société Générale hires the best French graduates, even though it is generally agreed they pay less than their competitors. The academic level of the employees is quite high (In front office, mostly graduates from Polytechnique et Centrale). This company deliver very complex financial products, has an efficient IT infrastructure and in spite (or because ) of "l'affaire Kerviel" the security systems are quite developed.