Published on 16/02/2017
Our History
Founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 1864 “to promote the development of trade and industry in France”, Societe Generale has fully embraced its role of supporting companies’ development. Today, Societe Generale continues to cultivate this entrepreneurial spirit as we build our future together.
A little bit of history unearthed!
Ever since it was founded in 1864, Societe Generale has left its mark on the urban landscape. And, occasionally, remnants of its past turn up in unexpected places… A web user recently contacted us to inform us of a surprising discovery. Whilst walking through central Paris, at the corner of rue du Bac and rue de Lille on the Left Bank, they noticed some remains of a Societe Generale bank branch unearthed during renovation work on the building.
Societe Generale’s first news bulletin
In October 1952, Societe Generale published the first issue of its in-house new bulletin. The creation of Siège & Agences was inspired by a dual concern: to provide executives with certain elements of general news and information that could make their daily duties easier, and to enable people to better know the Group. What did employees find in it?
School for Porter, back to the school benches!
In 1934, Societe Generale created a school to ‘perfect’ its porters. Training was already becoming a trademark and a pillar of its corporate culture. Aged 14 on average, the porters were recruited with their parents’ consent once they had obtained their primary education certificate. In the majority of cases, this was their first experience of active life.
75th anniversary of the D-Day landings
To mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, discover the history of the Saint-Lô branch thanks to exclusive archives.
Preserving our heritage
For over 20 years, the Societe Generale Historical Archives department has made its comprehensive and diverse collections of written, photographic and audiovisual archives available to researchers. These archives promote our rich and varied heritage, concerning our history as well as the economy in France and around the world. Created in 2005, the Historical Mission aims to preserve and enhance the Group’s historical heritage, notably by supporting scientific research.
The Societe Generale logo evolves
From its first monograms to the red and black square, passing via the Pasquier logo, Societe Generale’s visual identity has evolved over time in response to ever-changing requirements in terms of communication and visibility. The “SG” monogram first made its appearance at the end of the 19th century.