Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- French banks have increased lending to companies and are playing their role in supporting the economy, Societe Generale SA Chief Executive Officer Frederic Oudea said, refuting criticism of banks by candidates in France’s presidential elections.

“We are able to distinguish between political rhetoric and reality,” he said on RTL Radio.

Forcing retail banks to divest their investment banking units “is a bad idea,” he said.

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