Credit Agricole - Request for Information

[Alex H]

We have had an account with the local Credit Agricole for about 4 years and have recently been asked for a copy of our passports, a copy of a tax form or payslip or a document containing what I assume to mean our National Insurance numbers.

Anyone else had this? (We live in the UK)

I'm tempted to ignore it and see what happens [:)]

[mint]

I think it's just an identity check exercise.

The UK banks do it too.  They send letters out asking for id, proof of address and, sometimes, a signature.

Don't know what they can do if you choose to ignore it.  But, banks are a dirty word with many people at the moment so just keep quiet, TP.

[Will]

It's all part of a Europe-wide exercise that requires all banks to have, and keep updated, information on overseas clients. Nothing to worry about, unless one is a conspiracy theorist.

 

[Cendrillon]

Tandem Pilot

It happened to us recently and as others have said it is standard procedure.

They will send a reminder if you do not send what they ask for. Just send them copies of your passport, a recent utilities bill and you will probably hear no more.

[woody234]

the french banks are clamping down on fraud and terorism so you must send them a copy of your passport, but its okay for the banks to lend money to  US companies with subprime debt, apparently a trader called jerome lost credit agricole 4-9billion euros according to the bbc website, i bet jerome didnt give them a copy of his passport

[Ron Avery]

According to the BBC and other news outlets its Caisse d'Epargne that has the trading problem, not Credite Agricole.

[grandjean]

Ron is correct that Caisse d'Epargne is in trouble but CA has also lost nearly $7 billion due to the sub-prime crisis. It is however one of the Eurobanks that has now agreed to start lending to each other.

[AnOther]

A recent thread on the subject

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1404335/ShowPost.aspx