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Société Générale is a Paris-based bank founded on May 4, 1864, by a group of industrialists and financiers. Napoleon III signed the bank's finding decree. The bank's mission has always been to "promote the development of trade and industry in France." The group has more than 117,000 members of staff in sixty-six countries.
The bank is built on three complementary core businesses:
- French retail banking encompassing the SG and Bourasama brands, both offering a full range of financial services with omnichannel products at the cutting edge of digital innovation.
- International retail banking, insurance, and financial services with networks in Africa, central and eastern Europe.
- Global banking and investor solutions offering expertise, key international locations, and integrated solutions.
Between 1870 and 1940, the bank increased from just 46 branches to 1,500. During the interwar period, the bank became the leading French credit institution in terms of deposits. By 1871, the bank opened its London branch, and on the night before World War I, it had a presence in fourteen countries. The network was then expanded by opening branches in New York, Buenos Aires, and Abidjan and Dakar.
The bank was nationalized by the French law of December 2, 1945, and played an active role in financing the reconstruction of the French territory.
In June 1987, Société Générale was privatized with a successful stock market launch, and shares were offered to the bank staff. By 1995, the bank expanded its retail banking networks by founding Fimatex, later known as Boursorama, a leading online bank. In 1997, it acquired Crédit du Nord.
