French finance community offers messages of support as bankers among those killed and wounded

Much like it did after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January, the French financial services community has been slow to offer support to the victims of Friday night's attacks, some of whom worked in the industry

The big French banks were among those posting messages on their internet sites. "In light of the dramatic events that unfolded Friday night in the Paris area, Societe Generale would like to express its support to the victims, the injured and their families," says SocGen, adding that its management team has set up a, "crisis cell to implement the security measures decided by the French government."

"We have learned with great sadness that one of our BNP Paribas colleagues was among those killed during the attack at the Bataclan concert hall," says BNP Paribas CEO Jean-Laurent Bonnafé in a separate message on BNP's website.  Bonnafé says two other BNP staff were wounded and that the bank has 'mobilised teams' to improve security.

Under the hashtag #NousSommesParis, the French finance community is also expressing its support on social media. BPI Finance, the French public investment fund, has been among those tweeting messages of support.  So too has Caisse Des Depots, the French commercial bank. Marc Fiorentino, a former derivatives trader at Citi and BAML who now heads up Euroland corporate, a body promoting financial services in France, has been among those tweeting condolences. Alban Jarry, director of the Solvency II program at insurance firm La Mutuelle Générale, has also been tweeting his support.