Openning a local bank account
Opening a French bank account is a pre-requisite to carrying out everyday transactions (receiving your salary, paying rent and bills, shopping, etc.).
To open an individual or joint bank account, you will need to present a valid photo identification and proof of address in France.
You may be asked to provide any of the following documents:
- Passport, and Residence permit
- Proof of address (an electricity, gas, water or landline bill, or a declaration that you are being housed free of charge signed by the person providing you with accommodation, together with a copy of one of their bills and their photo ID)
- Proof of income: pay slip or tax notice
- Foreign tax identification number
If a bank rejects your application to open an account, it must provide grounds for its decision. In such cases, you may appeal to the Banque de France, which will assign you a bank.
You will find below a list of banks available in the Alpes-Maritimes:
Banque Populaire, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Caisse d’Epargne, CIC, Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel, HSBC, La Banque Postale, LCL, Société Générale.
Useful links
- Welcome to France: https://www.welcometofrance.com/en/opening-a-bank-account
- Banque Populaire : https://www.banquepopulaire.fr/
- Barclays Bank : https://www.barclays.co.uk/
- BNP Paribas : https://mabanque.bnpparibas/
- Caisse d’Epargne : https://www.caisse-epargne.fr/cote-d-azur/particuliers
- CIC : https://www.cic.fr/en/
- Crédit Agricole : https://www.credit-agricole.fr/
- Crédit Mutuel : https://www.creditmutuel.fr/home/index.html
- HSBC : https://www.hsbc.fr/en-fr/
- Banque Postale : https://www.labanquepostale.fr/
- LCL : https://www.lcl.fr/
- Société Générale : https://particuliers.societegenerale.fr/