In France, a lot of banks are cooperative banks. While not everything is perfect, their attitude is way different than banks under different status. My bank was never involved in some money laundering scandal, investment scandal or other, and their customer service was always very good. They also tend to have a more "local" focus. For example, one of their saving account is used to finance local entrepreneur.
If you can find a cooperative bank, I would definitely advised that you try them.
This is true of “credit unions” in the US which are (probably?) similar as a legal structure. They exist as a service for a group or community - e.g. a union of policemen for example, or any citizen of a city.
Often their loan rates are generous, their fees low, and perhaps most importantly, they do not join into the blacklists that commercial banks use which prevent people from ever using a bank at all.
If you can qualify for a credit union I would definitely recommend that you try them.
If you can find a cooperative bank, I would definitely advised that you try them.