French banking group Société Générale has added as many as 1,300 staff to its corporate and investment banking unit over the last 12 months after a recruitment drive to boost the division. The bank has increased headcount by more than a third across all its businesses.

Société Générale said it had hired 14,671 staff over the last 12 months, a 39% increase on hiring levels in 2005. The group employed 120,000 employees as of December 31.