Paris, 30 November 2005 BNP Paribas, the Banque Populaire group, the Crédit Agricole group and Société Générale have taken note of today's decision by the CECEI, France's banking authority, to license Banque Postale. These banks consider that the creation of Banque Postale introduces significant competitive distortion, particularly as regards the marketing of the Livret A passbook and the pension expenses borne by Banque Postale.

Accordingly, they have decided to lodge a joint complaint with the European Commission.