Whic bank for day-to-day banking?

[Rob G]

We're in the process of buying a house in Normandy (76) and will be moving over there in due course. Our mortgage provider is arranging for a current account to be opened with BNP Paribas for the mortgage payments - they obviously have an arrangement with BNP for such situations. I need to decide whether to use BNP Paribas for all our day-to-banking once we move over, or whether to go for a different bank.

I've had a quick browse through BNP's detailed tariff (accessed through their website), and as I suspected, there are all kinds of charges for all kinds of transactions. I was wondering whether anyone could advise me from experience which banks offer best value for money in terms of transaction charges?

Also I noted that BNP Paribas are very strict when it comes to overdrafts - you can negotiate a facility allowing you to go overdrawn by a small amount but only by a limited number of days per month; if you go beyond this, you get hit with quite heavy charges. Is this approach common to all banks, or are there banks who offer a more flexible approach? If so, how do they compare on day-to-day transaction charges?

Grateful for any useful advice or experience.

Rob

[zeb]

Can't help you with comparisons but surely if you are using two banks, you will have two lots of bank charges. All French banks charge, even La Poste who we are with as other recommended them, but we actually like using our local La Poste for all our transactions, debit cards etc as the office (only open in the mornings) was under threat of closing down. Saves driving to nearest town to do our banking (we have a business and have to pay cheques in regularly). I have a gold card (don't know why as my husband hasn't and we only have one account!) but it gives an automatic 500euro overdraft if we ever need it.

[Jc]

All banks expect you to stay in credit or will charge you a lot if you don't;there are nosuch things as cheque guarantee cards-if you write a cheque once without sufficient funds(unless already organized)your account will be suspended-do it twice-you no longer have an account and go on an all-bank blacklist.

 

Having said that,I've been with Credit Lyonnaise for 17 years and have never found them anything but helpful and the only charges I've had were to send me chequebooks by registered post(to UK).

[BJSLIV]

The important thing is to have a branch that is easy to get to. It makes life so much easier for picking up chequebooks, cards, paying in cheques etc etc. The second thing especially if you will not be 100% resident in France is an account with free, or cheap, online banking. If BNP meet these requirements then stick with them, as the charges are much of a muchness with all the banks. If they don't, then choose a convenient local branch that seems friendly and welcoming.

You can then close the BNP account, incidentally this is something which French banks often charge for, as they do for inactive accounts. You don't need two accounts as you can pay your mortgage form any bank by standing order.

Why make life complicated remembering  to top up two accounts etc etc.