Bâtiment National Societe Generale Bank

INTERNATIONAL RETAIL BANKING

Across 37 countries and France’s Overseas Departments and Territories, Société Générale's International Retail banking network has developed and adapted its universal banking to suit local contexts and cultures.

International Retail Banking

International Retail banking is a key growth driver for Societe Generale Group whose carefully targeted development strategy focuses on those regions that offer the highest potential.
At the end of 2010, the network served a diversified customer base made up of individuals, self-employed professionals, businesses, institutional investors and associations in 41 different locations, including 36 countries and France’s Overseas Departments and Territories (4 subsidiaries).

Societe Generale's International Retail Banking arm is devoted to developing and diversifying the bank's retail networks across Africa (market share of over 20% in seven countries), the Middle East and France's Overseas Departments and Territories.
Its goal is to transpose the successful business model behind its networks in France by adapting it to the individual characteristics of each local market.
The Group's investments to date rank it amongst the leading retail banks in five major geographic regions:
  • Central and Eastern Europe
  • Mediterranean Basin
  • West Africa and Madagascar
  • French Overseas Departments and Territories
  • East Asia
The division offers 13 million customers (individuals, businesses, institutional investors and associations) a full range of banking products and services.
Firmly integrated within the industry and culture of each of the countries in which they are present, Societe Generale's retail banks are almost always perceived as national banks and are a market reference: Komercni Banka is the 3rd largest bank in the Czech Republic, BRD is Romania's leading retail banking network, SGMA is the 4th largest private bank in Morocco, NSGB is the 2nd largest private bank in Egypt and SGBCI is the largest private bank in Ivory Coast.
Their core aim: to promote progress and new initiatives that serve both the environment and local communities.

Finance and the environment

Environmental and Social Risk has been high on the agenda for Societe Generale since 2008 following its signing of the Equator Principles in 2007.
In 2009 and 2010, several "green" loans were granted by Group subsidiaries.
The bank's aim is to proactively support all types of "green" financing projects including the Group’s own projects: the opening of a “green” branch in Polynesia and a new head office with solar panel roofing in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) were two highlights in 2010.

Financial inclusion

An intrinsic part of the local economic and social fabric of the countries in which they operate, Societe Generale's retail branches offer their customers the industry's very best products and services that are specifically adapted to suit their individual needs.
In seeking out new customers, they contribute to the number of banking products and services available to and used by local communities in countries where the level of "financial inclusion" is still low. In fact, the innovative products and services they frequently launch on their domestic markets also make them a source of positive competition for clients, particularly when it comes to quality.
Societe Generale's networks outside France are committed to deploying the specific expertise needed in financing very small, medium and micro-businesses which are vital for the economic and social development of emerging and transitional countries. Microfinance remained a priority in 2010, with the Group investing in and granting loans to microfinance institutions in emerging countries and supporting the work of various associations.
Moreover, their microfinance and made-to-measure products and services for migrant bank customers developed in partnership with the Group’s network in France place several International Retail Banking subsidiaries in a league of their own.