The Ultimate Guide to Opening a Bank Account in France

Discover how to open a French bank account, what documents you need, and which banks are best for you if you're a resident or non-resident.

Jale

3 minute read

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Updated on 17 May 2024

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Living

When you’re moving to France, one of the first things you’ll have to do is open a bank account to receive your salary, pay your bills, buy groceries, etc. But opening a bank account as an expat sounds complicated if you don’t know what documents you need and what the process looks like. On top of that, most bank employees carry out the process in French.

But fear not, we got you covered. With our guide, you’ll learn everything you need to open a bank account in France as an expat.

Yes, it’s possible to open a bank account in France as a foreigner. But what kind of account you can open depends on whether you’re a resident or a non-resident.

If you’ve been living in France for more than 183 days on a valid visa, and you pay taxes, then you can open the following bank accounts:

1. Compte courant (current account) is a standard bank account for everyday transactions such as receiving a salary, paying utilities, shopping, etc.
2. Livret (general savings/deposit account) is savings account for depositing funds with restricted withdrawals and higher interest rates. There’re 2 options: a Livret A account, in which you can benefit from tax-free savings but with heavy withdrawal restrictions or a Livret B taxed deposit account with fewer withdrawals restrictions.
3. Compte a Terme (term accounts) is a type of savings account where you deposit money for a fixed term. Banks offer great interest rates, depending on how much you’re depositing and for how long.

In France, it's obligatory to have a French bank account as soon as you receive a salary. Since proof of address is needed for this, booking your place before arriving in France is a clever decision.

Requirements for opening a bank account in France as a resident

Each bank requires different documents, but generally, you’ll need the followings:

1. Passport
2. Residence permit
3. Proof of address
4. Proof of employment for employees and proof of enrollment in a French education institution for students (student card)

The best banks in France for expats

As a resident, you’ll have many banks to choose from, making it a difficult decision. For instance, Société Générale is one of the most popular banks, with more than 29 million customers globally. Yet, it’s not exactly expat friendly since it asks for many documents.

So if you’re looking for the best banks in France for expats, we would advise opening an account at:

1. BNP Paribas, which has a discount on subscriptions for young people between ages 18 and 24.
2. Crédit Agricole, one of France's biggest banks, requires only proof of identity and address.
3. Société Générale, offers discounts, cashback and many more benefits.

If you don’t live in France for more than 183 days in a year and aren’t a tax resident, then you’re allowed to open a compte non-resident account (non-resident account). This is a simple current account for everyday usage.

With a non-resident bank account, you’ll have more limitations on cash withdrawals, payments, and transferring funds. Also, some banks might ask you to have the minimum deposit in your account at all times and pay higher subscription fees.

What are the requirements to open a bank account in France for non-residents?

1. Passport
2. Visa
3. Proof of employment for employees and proof of enrollment in a French education institution for students (student card)
4. Bank statements from your previous bank
5. Address in the country you’re resident

The best banks to open an account in as a non-resident in France

Most traditional banks don’t open accounts for non-residents. And those who do will ask you to have money in your account and pay substantial subscription fees. So the most convenient way to open a French bank account for non-residents is through online banks like Wise and Nickel.

They generelly require proof of income and address. But Nickel requires you to be a citizen of one of the EU countries and have €20 on the account annually.

Additionally, international banks like BNP Paribas have simple processes for non-residents.

Traditional brick-and-mortar French banks only allow residents to open bank accounts online. In most cases, banks also require extra fees for opening a bank account online. Alternatively, you can use online banks like the ones mentioned above.

Below you can find the list of the best banks to open online French bank account and their score on different categories.

French banks generally offer online banking, checkbooks, international money transfers, and automated bill payments as standard services.

The cost of opening a bank account in France differs for every bank. Some banks, such as BNP Paribas, offer a discount for students and young adults. But on average, expect to pay €2.00 and €5.00 per month for the subscription and €40 to €150 one-off for extra benefits such as credit cards.

If you’re a non-resident, most banks will ask for a minimum deposit to open an account. Depending on the bank, this amount will change, but this amount could be as high as €10,500 or as low as €200.

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