Opening a bank account in France

IF you are staying in France for any length of time you will want to open a bank account. It is not a difficult task and the French banking system is quick and efficient, requiring very little on your part.

A simple current account, compte de cheques or compte courant, can be opened with proof of identity, such as a passport, address details, a phone number if you have one and €20 to deposit straight away.

I took along a recent print out of my UK account, my UK cheque book, birth certificate and even four passport photographs – I did not need them.

You will receive your cheque book, which are used all the time in France, as well as a debit card with a PIN number about a week later.

The French system requires you to provide a form of photo ID when writing a cheque and you will be asked to enter your PIN number if you use your card.

And remember never go overdrawn, you will be blacklisted if you do not put funds into your account within 30 days.

Internet banking is also available on many accounts, but there is often a monthly charge or a charge every time you access your details, check your paperwork.

Comments

[Tom Higham]

For those of you looking to transfer money abroad for reasons such as a property purchases, or if you are emigrating then there is a way to save vast sums of money against using your bank. Currency brokers specialise in foreign exchange and are able to acheive the best rates of exchange available in the market. Even if you are just looking for some straight forward advice I would be pleased to help. I understand that transferring money abroad can appear to be a complex issue but it is possible to make it a simple, cost saving and stress free process.

If you would like any help or advice about this please feel free to visit the following website: www.currencies.co.uk or alternatively give me a call on 0800 328 5884.

I hope that this information helps.

Tom Higham

[A Canadian]

I thought the proof of address condition meant that one must have an address in France. Given your post, it seems you got away with just using a UK address? So, in principle, I could just show up on my next trip to France and use my Canadian passport and some proof of my Canadian address to open an account?

[Craig McGinty]

Hi A Canadian
I'm afraid your French address is required.
Regards
Craig

[Nick Brooker]

A colleague of mine is in the process of opening two bank accounts with French Banks whilst still resident in the UK. In his situation, an address in France is not required.

For BNP Paribas he just had to produce his passport, a UK Bank statement and a letter from his bank confirming the length and status of his account in the UK. He also had to deposit a minimum of 30 Euros. The account is registered at his UK address.

For HSBC, he had to produce all of the above together with a Utility Bill. However, because he lives with his parents and the utility bill is in his father's name, he had to produce a copy of the details in his father's passport and a signed statement from his father confirming that he lived with his parents. Again, the account is registered at his UK address.

Why two bank accounts? He intends to buy a property in France and has been offered a substantial mortgage facility with BNP Paribas. He currently banks with HSBC in the UK and through HSBC France, he will be able to manage on-line transfers between his UK and French bank accounts.

[Mrs. H.J.Eatwell]

We had terrible problems with CA/Britline, advertised as ideal for ex-pats, all staff English etc. They wanted mountains of documents, all counter-signed by responsible person,sent across to them. When we arrived my daughter (whose mobile phone number we'd unfortunately given them)kept getting lengthy and extremely expensive calls from them asking unnecessary and pointless questions they could have asked earlier. They then called to say could they do a 10minute 'interview' with me! You need an account before you get the all-important RIB,without which you can't get a phone. It just went on and on... Eventually we moved to Credit Mutuel, no problems at all. Forget about Britline, just make sure your bank has an English speaker if you're not fluent.

[Nick Brooker]

BEWARE!

As I've written above, my colleague had no problem in both opening accounts and securing a very good mortgage with French banks. He also has nominal monthly charges on both accounts.

I wish I could say the same for myself. I haven't had any problem opening an account with HSBC France but they have been so incompetent and greedy that as soon as I meet with my 'personal banking assistant', I shall be closing the account.

I drew a cheque for a nominal £100 on an English bank to open the account. They immediately took a fee of 3.25 € for the privilege of processing a cheque, plus 10% of the cheque value because it was drawn on a foreign bank account amounting to 14 €, plus an exchange commission fee of 13 €, plus a monthly account charge for a non-resident of 6.70€ and, to add insult to injury, an automatic charge of 21.50 € for being overdrawn on the account because they had opened the account before the cheque had cleared.

I received the cheque book but no bank card so I have not even been able to use the account. The £100 exchanged to 148.52 € and the credit balance (shown on-line) is now only 89.97 €; already they have 'stolen' nearly 40% of the amount I deposited.

To think I was planning on transferring a few thousand pounds per year to this account for day to day expenses whilst living over there. It won't be with HSBC France, that's for certain.

[James Smith]

Let me know hw i can process my bank account with france bank

[James Smith]

Let me know hw i can process my bank account with france bank

[Craig McGinty]

Hi James, not exactly sure if you mean a UK account, if so you will be able to transfer money between the two but it can be very expensive.

Depending upon the amount you might be better dealing with a currency broker, who are usually much cheaper.

Hope this helps, Craig

[Dharamvir Nagpal]

Dear Sir,

I have got knowlege about to open a bank account in France but When i visited a Bar Clay Bank then they asked to me for electricity bill in india i have show them but they have refusted to me to open a bank account in Paris and with your suggestion I will try to an other bank to open my bank account in Paris.

With regards.

Dharamvir Nagpal
The Chief news reporter/editor
www.raajradio.com
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75018 Paris