Strategy
French Banks Ink Back-Office, IT Collaboration

The Paris-based groups would, if the agreement wins regulatory approval, reach an arrangement under which back-office and related IT work shifts to a subsidiary of Indosuez Wealth Management.
  Societe
  Generale has inked a deal with Indosuez
  Wealth Management subsidiary Azqore to execute back-office
  operations and a chunk of the IT services of SocGen's private
  banking international entities.
  
  The agreement, if approved by regulators, would cover Societe
  Generale Private Banking in Luxembourg, Monaco and Switzerland
  and the Kleinwort Hambros, based in London.
  
  “In a profession facing major transformations and an increasingly
  demanding environment, this agreement will enable us to offer our
  clients enhanced services while improving the performance of our
  international private banking business model,” Patrick Folléa,
  head of Societe Generale Private Banking, said. “By leveraging
  the knowledge and technological expertise of Azqore, we will
  focus entirely on managing our long-term relationships with our
  clients which is our core role as private bankers.”
  
  The agreement must be approved by competent bodies and regulatory
  authorities. Once allowed, the back-office and related IT
  services will shift to Azqore for the Societe Generale entities;
  it will happen in several stages, starting from 2022.
  
  Jacques Prost, chairman of Azqore and group CEO of Indosuez
  Wealth Management, said: “This agreement aligns with Crédit
  Agricole Group's strategy to pool its industrial platforms with
  prestigious partners in the finance sector.” (Crédit Agricole is
  the parent of Indosuez Wealth Management.)
  
  “It also furthers the goal of Indosuez Wealth Management and
  Capgemini, as shareholders of Azqore, to develop an
  industry-leading provider of IT and banking outsourcing services
  for wealth management,” Prost said.