The Central Branch vault

Opened in 1912, the Central Branch is a true architectural masterpiece. A monument to maximum security, it allowed the bank to convey the image of a solid, prosperous and welcoming establishment.

A unique architecture

Located at 29 Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, the Central Branch was a ‘banking palace' of the Belle Époque. Today the Central Branch still retains its original character, to the great pleasure of clients and employees alike. The basement contains the strong rooms, in an original design combining comfort and the state-of-the-art protective measures of the era.

All in steel, they are laid out on four levels, the lowest being 11 metres below the ground. An impressive circular door, clad in shiny steel with gold and silver highlights, guards the only entrance. It is the only model of its kind in the world. The architect Jacques Hermant drew inspiration from a study period in New York.

A design that combines comfort and security

Designed by locksmiths Fichet, the piece was constructed in the Creusot iron foundry, transported by train to the Gare de la Villette, and then brought to Boulevard Haussmann on a dray pulled by a team of nine horses. The diameter of the exterior circular door is 2.76 metres. It weighs 18 tonnes and its armour plating is 40 centimetres thick. An access drum connects it to a second reinforced door, which has two rectangular hinged panels and weighs 11 tonnes. A grill completes the apparatus.

Inside, the vault contains 399 strong rooms, accounting for a total of 8,134 safety deposit boxes and 22 safes! All the safes and ceilings are covered in polished steel with copper and bronze highlights. The walls are covered in moulding plaster reinforced with vegetable fibres. The original furniture has been preserved and is available for clients' use. Finally, the strong room lift and staircase were made of steel by Roux-Combaluzier, a company that became famous for its construction of two of the Eiffel Tower's lifts. These architectural treasures continue to be a constant source of interest, and which bear witness, through the ages, to the architectural ambition of the Group.

© Societe Generale Historical Archives