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.

Retail Banking outside France

Société Générale's Retail Banking Outside France business arm is devoted to developing and diversifying the bank's retail networks across Africa, 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
  • Africa
  • French Overseas Departments and Territories
  • Asia
These retail networks offer 13 million customers (individuals, businesses, institutional investors and associations) in 36 countries and France's Overseas Departments and Territories 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, Société Générale's retail banks are often 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. Today, the Group boasts a market share of over 20% in seven African countries.
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 was high on the agenda for Société Générale in 2008 following its signing of the Equator Principles in 2007.
In 2009, several "green" loans were granted by Group subsidiaries.
The bank's aim is to proactively support all types of "green" financing projects which will be a strategic priority for its Retail Banking Outside France division in 2010.
Financial inclusion
An intrinsic part of the local economic and social fabric of the countries in which they operate, Société Générale'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. Moreover, the innovative products and services they frequently launch on their domestic markets make them a source of positive competition for clients, particularly when it comes to quality.
Société Générale's networks outside France are committed to deploying the specific expertise needed in financing very small, small and micro-businesses which are vital for the economic and social development of emerging and transitional countries.
Finally, their microfinance and made-to-measure products and services for migrant bank customers rank them in a class of their own.