Top List of Banks in France
France is a country that is rich in history and culture. From art to food to fashion, France has many of the world’s most iconic brand names. With so much variety at hand, it can be hard to find the perfect bank for you. France’s banking system comprises over forty different banks, and this number just continues to grow. To help you with your decision, we have compiled a list of the top banks in France. These banks are considered some of the best globally, and they offer a wide range of different services. We hope this guide will help you find the perfect bank for your lifestyle!
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is a French bank headquartered in France and operating in more than 60 countries. The bank's total assets reached 2.488 trillion EUR at the end of June 2020. BNP Paribas employs over 190,000 people worldwide and has almost one-quarter of its employees in France.
The bank has offices in over 80 countries and branches on five continents. It serves 30 million customers through its four domestic markets: Retail Banking & Services, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Investment Solutions, and Financial Services.
The primary services offered by the bank are savings and loans products for individuals, consumer credit, asset management, and insurance products, as well as general corporate banking and financial services to companies, corporate institutions, institutional investors, and public bodies.
Societe Generale
Societe Generale is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Paris, France. One of the largest European economic groups, with 146,000 employees serving more than 30 million customers in 75 countries. As of 2020, it ranked as the third-largest bank in the eurozone by total assets; 1.788 trillion USD. The company's stock is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index.
Complete range of services: retail banking, specialized financial services, corporate & investment banking, asset management & services.
Credit Agricole Group
Credit Agricole Group is a French banking group, the world's third-largest bank by total assets and the fourth-largest by market capitalization. It is the leading retail bank in France and one of the top banks in Europe.
Total Assets: 1.768 trillion euros
Employees: 7,395
Branches: 7,200
It offers a full range of services: retail banking, insurance, real estate and asset management, corporate and investment banking services, securities brokerage, private equity, leasing, and factoring services.
Groupe BPCE
Groupe BPCE is the fourth-largest banking group in France. It is the product of the 2009 merger of two large French retail banking groups, Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne. The group has total assets of US$1.768 trillion and employs almost 100,344 people.
Retail Banking is made up of two networks: Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne. They provide individuals, professionals, businesses, and organizations with a full range of services: retail banking (current accounts, savings accounts, loans), mortgage loans, and specialized financial services (insurance, asset management).
Credit Mutuel-CIC Group
Credit Mutuel-CIC Group is one of the French central banks with 1,890 branches in France and abroad. The group has an international network that operates through its subsidiaries in Africa (Senegal, Cameroon, Togo), Europe (Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg), and North America (USA).
Total Assets: 790 billion EUR
Employees: 33,300
Credit Mutuel-CIC Group offers a wide range of services to individuals, small businesses, and large companies, including savings products, mortgages and loans, credit cards, insurance policies, retirement plans, investment funds, and all types of banking services.
Credit du Nord Société Anonyme
Credit du Nord Société Anonyme is a French banking group that owns several regional banks. Credit du Nord Société Anonyme, with its branches and subsidiaries, offers a full range of banking and financial services to individuals, professionals, businesses, and local authorities.
The Bank operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and Asset Management & Services. The Retail Banking segment provides services for individuals and professionals.
Total Assets: EUR 87.25 billion (2020)
Employees: 7000
Credit Mutuel
Credit Mutuel is a French mutualist bank with headquarters in Strasbourg, Alsace.
In numbers:
Total assets: €844 billion
Employees: 82,000
Services offered: retail banking, cooperative and mutual banking, corporate banking, investment banking, investment management, private equity, insurance.
Credit Cooperatif
Credit Cooperatif is an independent French cooperative bank of the Crédit Mutuel group. Its head office is in Paris at the Porte de Versailles and has a network of 65 business centers, two e-branches, and seven branches.
Its total assets were EUR 17.483 billion in France, while it had more than 2,419 employees and offered banking services to its 1 million customers.
Credit Cooperatif offers the most basic banking services in France: current accounts, savings accounts (including Livret A), mortgages and loans, credit cards, and insurance.
La Banque Postale
La Banque Postale is a public corporation. It is a subsidiary of La Poste, a public company operating under the supervision of the French government. The bank operates under its brand and is the only postal bank in France.
As of 31 December 2020, the total assets of La Banque Postale amounted to €737bn and more than 10,000 employees.
The Bank provides services for individuals and professionals (current accounts, savings products, and payment cards) and savings and investment products through its branch network and via its direct channel (telephone and internet).
AXA Banque
AXA Banque is a French company that offers banking services. As of 2020, it had total assets of around €858 billion. It had more than 120,869 employees in over 22 locations worldwide.
It offers insurance products to individuals and businesses, including life and health insurance and personal protection. It also provides retirement savings plans and other financial services such as investments and loans.
Banque Palatine
Banque Palatine is one of the largest banks in France, with over 1,200 employees serving 13 million retail customers and 17 billion euros in total assets. A subsidiary of the French Crédit Mutuel group, it is headquartered in Lyon and operates through over 50 branches, agencies, and third-party distribution channels across mainland France. The Bank serves retail customers through its Banque Populaire brand and small businesses under Caisse d'Epargne. It also offers asset management services through its subsidiary for private banking clients.
FAQs
Q: What are the largest banks in France?
A: The BNP Paribas Group is currently the most prominent French bank, with $2.4 trillion in assets. Crédit Agricole Group and Société Générale follow as the second and third largest banks, respectively. The BNP Paribas Group has acquired several other companies over the years, which has helped it grow its business and increase its profitability.
