Bank account

Opening a bank account in France

If you stay in France more than 3 months, you can open an account in a bank.  The formalities are straightforward, you will just need to show your passport, residence card and proof of domicile in France.

A bank account in France in your name: a necessity
An international bank card is not really sufficient to live in France longer than 3 months. As a student, you will be living like the French on a daily basis, you may be receiving student accommodation financial help, be covered by the student social security scheme, perhaps you will find a job…

You need a bank account in your name for several reasons:

• the student accommodation financial help and social security payments are made by automatic transfer directly into a bank account;
• salaries are paid by cheque or automatic transfer, never in cash;
• you may need a chequebook to pay your rent and electricity bills. You can also opt to pay by direct debit or by bank card.

In France, the usual means of payment are:

• bank blue card (Carte Bleue) for purchases in shops;
• cheque or direct debit for gas, electricity, etc.;
• cash for small amounts.

How can I open a bank account?

It is very easy: you just need to make an appointment to open an account in the bank of your choice. To open the account, you will need to show:

• ID (passport or identity card);
• your residence card;
• proof of domicile: this is a document on which your name and address is indicated. It can be a receipt for payment of rent, telephone bill, gas or electricity bill.

When you open the account, you must deposit at least 15 €.

Once the account is open, you will receive a chequebook (about ten days afterwards - usually this is free of charge) and a bank card (you will have to pay between 15 and 40 € for this)

Managing your account: be careful about going overdrawn!
If you spend more than you have in your account, you will have to pay overdraft fees (called “agios”) which are usually very high.

If you lose your card or chequebook
Contact your bank as soon as possible to stop payments. If the bank is closed, call the number indicated in your contract to inform them of the loss or theft. Contact the bank again as soon as it is open to confirm the stop payment order and return the document you received duly signed.

BNP – SMENO partnership: exclusive banking advantages!
If you are studying in the Nord-Pas de Calais départements or in Picardy or Normandy: take advantage of the SMENO - BNP Paribas bank special offer for opening a bank account: you will get 40 € credited to your account and a number of free bank services.
To find out more and see all the conditions