Bank account in france

[dominique375]

Hi all i'm going over to France next week to start the process of my move, my main reason for going to france is to open a bank account, Question is what do i need to take with me for this i.e Proof of identification,

Thanks in advance

Brian

[La Vette]

All banks have their own regulations so you will just have to be prepared.  Take as much as you can i.e. your passport is a must, your UK bank account details to show you are you are already considered worthy of an account, proof of your UK address (if still applicable) such as telephone, council tax bill.  If you are in the process of renting or buying in France anything to prove that fact ie rental agreement, invoice for gas, electric etc.  If you have not got that far yet just tell them when you have your meeting to open your account what your intentions are.  Also you may have to make an appointment rather than just walk in and be seen so dont waste any time before going into the bank.  Just like banks in the UK they will want your business but they also have to follow the anti-money laundering checks.  Most important, take some cash to put into the account.  If you are not yet living here you will probably only get a cheque account with a cheque book but no card (carte bancaire) which are more like credit cards than cheque guarentee cards.

That is just a little of my own experience and I am sure others will come on and give you the benefit of theirs.

[Ron Avery]

Already covered and recently, have a  read of :

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/961059/ShowPost.aspx

[Benjamin]

[quote user="La Vette"]

 If you are not yet living here you will probably only get a cheque account with a cheque book but no card (carte bancaire) which are more like credit cards than cheque guarentee cards.

That is just a little of my own experience and I am sure others will come on and give you the benefit of theirs.

[/quote]

If this is the case then don't even think about opening an account with Credit Agricole Atlantique Vendée as our local branch went cashless last year. If you want to draw cash you have to pay their extortionate fees for a bank card.

 

[Ron Avery]

"If you want to draw cash you have to pay their extortionate fees for a bank card."

If it like CA Nord Midi-Pyrenees Benjamin, which is also going cashless that is just not true, you do not have to have a bank card to draw out cash.

 You can draw cash out with proof of your account , a cheque book for example and proof of identity, they then give you a card that you take to the machines in the foyer and draw out the cash, the machine keeps the card.

[Benjamin]

[quote user="Ron Avery"]

"If you want to draw cash you have to pay their extortionate fees for a bank card."

 You can draw cash out with proof of your account , a cheque book for example and proof of identity, they then give you a card that you take to the machines in the foyer and draw out the cash, the machine keeps the card.

[/quote]

Well I'm blowed[:D]

If that's the case up here then they've kept that pretty quiet. I've always wondered what all the French people who don't have cards do when they want cash.

Judging by the numbers in supermarkets who are still using cheque books to pay there must be quite a lot who do this.

I shan't be checking this out though as I'm just in the process of moving to AXA Bank.