In Brief

• Any foreigner legally residing in France can open an individual bank account.
• Opening the account is free according to official data.
• The bank can refuse to open the account without justification but must inform you of the possibility to contact the Banque de France.
• The account holder is solely responsible for debts and payment incidents related to their account.

Who Can Take the Steps

To open an individual bank account, you must be of legal age or an emancipated minor. If you are a non-emancipated minor or a protected adult, you must obtain permission from your legal representatives.

You can open an individual account in France if you are a foreign national and legally reside in the territory. Specific conditions, such as age restrictions or minimum deposits, may apply when opening a savings account, plan, or book. It is recommended to inquire directly with your bank to know these specific terms.

All types of bank accounts can be individual, including current accounts, savings accounts or books, as well as securities accounts.

Steps

1. Present an ID: You must provide an official identification document with a photograph. Accepted documents include a national identity card, passport, EU residence card, or any other residence permit. A driver's license may be accepted only if the photo leaves no doubt about your identity.

2. Prove Your Address: You must prove your address by providing one of the following documents: a tax notice, a rent receipt, a water or electricity bill, or a certificate of residence if you do not have a stable home. If you are staying with someone, the bank may require a certificate of accommodation. A template for the accommodation certificate is available to facilitate this process.

3. Deposit Your Signature: You must deposit your signature with the bank, which will be recorded in their files. If you grant a power of attorney on the account, the person benefiting from this power of attorney must also deposit their signature.

4. Sign the Agreement or Contract: If the bank accepts your request, it will inform you of the terms of use. For a current account, you sign the bank account agreement, which contains the rules for opening, operating, and closing the account. For other types of accounts (savings, securities), you sign a specific contract.

Documents

The mandatory documents to complete your file are:

• An official identification document with a photograph (ID card, passport, EU residence card, other residence permit, or driver's license if the photo is conclusive).
• A recent proof of address (tax notice, rent receipt, water or electricity bill).
• A certificate of residence if you do not have a stable home.
• A certificate of accommodation if you are hosted by a third party.

Cost

Opening the account is free. However, the bank may charge you fees for managing your account, known as account maintenance fees. The precise details of these fees must be included in the pricing information provided by the banking institution.

Deadlines

In the event of account closure at your initiative, the bank will close the account within a maximum of 30 days from your closure request and the return of payment means. In practice, this deadline is usually 10 days.

If you change banks, you can benefit from the free mobility assistance service. Within 5 days from your closure request, the bank will provide you with a summary of automatic transactions carried out over the last 13 months. For direct debit payments, creditors have a period of 10 days to take your new banking details into account.

When the bank decides to close the account on its initiative, it must respect a notice period of 2 months. It is not obliged to justify its decision.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not confuse balance and closure: Withdrawing deposited funds does not close the account. The account is settled but not closed, which may incur fees for inactive accounts. You must send a formal termination request.
• Keep a provision: When closing at your initiative, remember to keep a sufficient provision in your account. This will allow the bank to settle ongoing transactions, particularly issued checks, and thus avoid payment incidents.
• Return payment means: You must return or destroy all payment means provided to you (cards, checkbooks) before the effective closure.
• Management of standing orders: Standing transfer or direct debit orders are canceled on the date the termination letter is received. Ensure you have informed your usual contacts of your new details if necessary.
• Refusal to open: If the bank refuses to open your account, it must inform you of the possibility to contact the Banque de France to exercise your right to an account. You can contact the reception and information office of the Banque de France corresponding to your place of residence.

Identification of the Holder

The account title includes your first name and last name, preceded by Mr. or Ms. If you are married, you can choose to open the account in your family name or your usage name (your wife's name, your husband's name, or hyphenated name). The bank verifies that the usage name appears on your identification document. It is important to note that if you are a single female client, the bank cannot impose the use of the term "Miss." In cases of guardianship or curatorship, the mention "under guardianship" or "under curatorship," followed by the name of the guardian or curator, is added to the account title.

Use of the Account

You are the only one who can perform the following operations on your individual bank account: deposit and withdraw funds, as well as use the payment means associated with the account. However, these operations can be carried out by another person if you grant them power of attorney. You are solely responsible for debts and payment incidents related to your bank account. This means that the bank must address you to regularize the situation in case of financial issues.

Official Source

The information contained in this guide is extracted exclusively from the official sheet "Individual Bank Account" published on the service-public.fr website and verified on April 29, 2025, by the Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister). For any updates or additional information, please consult the direct source: Fiche service-public.fr.