Who is Societe Generale?

A European leader in financial services forover 150 years, Societe Generale is built onthree complementary businesses: French Retail Banking, International Retail Banking and Financial Services and Global Banking and Investor Solutions.

Why did Société Générale change its name?

Because the Société Générale de Belgique predated its French namesake and had a dominant position in the national market, Société Générale agreed to create a bank with a different name, the Société Française de Banque et de Dépôts headquartered in Paris but entirely dedicated to operations in Belgium.

Who was the first chairman of Société Générale?

Its full name was Société Générale pour favoriser le développement du commerce et de l'industrie en France ("General Company to Support the Development of Commerce and Industry in France"). The bank's first chairman was the prominent industrialist Eugène Schneider, followed by Edward Charles Blount.