Living
Bank Accounts
Depending upon what you’re accustomed to, banking in France (as with most other service-based industries) may not be a pleasant experience. If you’re used to friendly service and eager-to-help tellers and bank managers it is likely that you’ll be frustrated and, at times, enraged in your new Parisian bank. The notion that the customer is always right is, quite literally, a foreign one.
French banks dominate the banking landscape. The only major international player is Barclays. In addition to the major privately owned banks in France, the French post office (La Poste) provides full banking services and is, in fact, the nation’s most popular bank. La Poste has the advantage of being able to provide services everywhere there’s a post office, which is to say in nearly every village, town and city in France. Their hours are better, but bear in mind that the queues at Parisian post offices are notoriously long and slow.
To open a bank account in France you will need to provide your passport, your carte de séjour, and proof of address such as a bill. Make sure that the bill includes your full name and address.
The most common, and useful, account is a standard checking account. You’ll be granted a chequebook, a debit card (carte bleue) and a book of RIBs (relevé d’identité bancaire) forms that provide all the codes associated with your account, bank and branch. When setting up any kind of account, including gas, telephone and television, you will be asked for an RIB. This form allows the service provider to deduct money directly from your account and it also allows an employer to deposit money directly into your account. This is standard practice in France and nearly all regular transactions are executed this way. Depending upon your bank and the specific details of your account, you may have a minimum balance. Certain banks provide overdraft insurance while others will penalise you seriously. If you don’t have a residence visa you may still get a bank account but you will not be given a debit card or provided with overdraft insurance. It is common to charge an annual fee for your debit card.
Nearly all banks provide internet and telephone banking, and given the standards of customer service in Paris it is a good idea to find a bank which provides the most thorough internet capabilities.
Banking hours in France are generally 09:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday. Some branches will close for an hour or even two for lunch. Some banks are open on Sundays.
French banks dominate the banking landscape. The only major international player is Barclays. In addition to the major privately owned banks in France, the French post office (La Poste) provides full banking services and is, in fact, the nation’s most popular bank. La Poste has the advantage of being able to provide services everywhere there’s a post office, which is to say in nearly every village, town and city in France. Their hours are better, but bear in mind that the queues at Parisian post offices are notoriously long and slow.
To open a bank account in France you will need to provide your passport, your carte de séjour, and proof of address such as a bill. Make sure that the bill includes your full name and address.
The most common, and useful, account is a standard checking account. You’ll be granted a chequebook, a debit card (carte bleue) and a book of RIBs (relevé d’identité bancaire) forms that provide all the codes associated with your account, bank and branch. When setting up any kind of account, including gas, telephone and television, you will be asked for an RIB. This form allows the service provider to deduct money directly from your account and it also allows an employer to deposit money directly into your account. This is standard practice in France and nearly all regular transactions are executed this way. Depending upon your bank and the specific details of your account, you may have a minimum balance. Certain banks provide overdraft insurance while others will penalise you seriously. If you don’t have a residence visa you may still get a bank account but you will not be given a debit card or provided with overdraft insurance. It is common to charge an annual fee for your debit card.
Nearly all banks provide internet and telephone banking, and given the standards of customer service in Paris it is a good idea to find a bank which provides the most thorough internet capabilities.
Banking hours in France are generally 09:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday. Some branches will close for an hour or even two for lunch. Some banks are open on Sundays.
