Have French banks really increased their salaries?

As we reported several times earlier this year, most banks have substantially increased their salaries - doubling them in some cases. RBS finally followed in April - increasing its salaries to up to 300k in its global banking and markets division.

But what about French banks? Most aren't known for paying particularly generously. Have they increased salaries in line with rivals?

Yes. But not all of them.

Headhunters say BNP Paribas has "definitely" increased its front office salaries in London. MD salaries there have reportedly been hiked to anything from 250-310k, putting it in line with its best paying rivals. VP-level salaries at BNP have allegedly been hiked to 180-240k.

There's less certainty about salaries at SocGen, although the verdict appears to be that they have been increased, albeit not by as much. One headhunter says he recently came across a London-based MD in the front office on 150k - up from 120k previously.

Meanwhile, Credit Agricole is said not to have raised its salaries at all.

BNP Paribas declined to comment and SocGen and Credit Agricole did npt return our calls.