The Paris branch belonged to the most important foreign branches of PKO SA. The outbreak of war in September 1939 faced it with a major crisis, leading to, among other things, the decision to put a ceiling on deposit withdrawals. Some assistance under these dfficult circumstances was provided by the Polish exile government. The German invasion of France resulted in a need to evacuate. However, part of the staff remained in the capital, while another part attempted to launch operations in Toulouse. Personal conflicts within the management made the situation even more entangled. In spite of the difficulties, the branch was not closed down, as the German occupational authorities wished, but attempted to continue its statutory activity, albeit on a limited scale. When the war was over, there were plans of changing the branch's legal status and turning it into a limited company under the French law. The plan was never implemented due to doubts voiced in this matter.