French banks can be a bit bureaucratic and difficult to deal with, especially for foreigners. However, there are now a number of online banks that offer convenient account opening options. Once you have provided the required information, you will be able to open your bank account online in a matter of minutes. You will then receive a debit card and an IBAN number, which you can use to make and receive payments in France and abroad.
To open a French bank account, you often need a French telephone number and an official address, as well as a proof of income. But with new online banks and account providers such as Bunq and Monese, that are not based in France, you can open a bank account in France as a foreigner without stringent requirements.
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Can a foreigner open a bank account in France?
If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you can open a non-resident bank account in France. This can be useful for people who live outside of France but who need a French bank account for work, study, or other reasons.
However, traditional banks often have strict requirements for non-residents, such as minimum deposits and limits on withdrawals. virtual banks are a better option for non-residents, as they typically have fewer requirements and can be opened remotely.
Documents required to open bank account in France
To open a bank account in France online, you will typically need to provide documents for identification purposes. Documents required for opening a bank account in France include:
- Proof of identity (like a passport or driving license).
- Proof of address (a certified, translated copy of a utility bill).
- A valid visa, residence permit, or EU passport.
- Proof of employment (a certified, translated copy of an employment contract, or a student admission letter).
It is good to know that you do not need to open a French bank account if you already have a European-based bank account. Bank accounts in Europe operate mostly the same, and you can easily transfer money from one account to another, thanks to IBAN and the SEPA-zone.
Online Bank Accounts in France: Compare and Choose the Best One for You
Online bank accounts in France offer a number of advantages over traditional bank accounts, including lower fees, more convenient access, and innovative features. But with so many different online banks to choose from, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. Here are a few of the most popular virtual banks in France:
bunq
Like all virtual banks, bunq, based in the Netherlands, solves a lot of complications that you will have when trying to open a bank account at a main street bank. If you have the right documents (a passport), you can open a fully functional bunq account online in minutes (2.99 euro a month). Website and service in French, English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian.
All citizens of the EEA can open a bunq account with an International Bank Account Number (IBAN). Non-EEA-citizen residents of one of bunqs countries of operation (most European countries) can also open an account, but fewer IDs will be accepted. The best option is to use your passport.
Wise multicurrency account
If you are looking for a multicurrency account, Wise is a good option. In addition, you can transfer and receive funds at low competitive exchange rates at a small charge.
You can open a French IBAN as a foreign French resident, free of cost. You only require an ID, an address in France, and a phone. Only 2 withdrawals, totaling 200 Euro, are free each month (250 Euro from 03/01/2023). Above 200/250 Euro, it’ll cost 50 cents per withdrawal plus 1.75%. But no monthly fee. And receiving money is free.
Revolut
Revolut accepts customers who are residents of the European Economic Area (EEA, Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Revolut is a crypto-friendly bank that offers multi-currency accounts in 28 currencies, IBAN for personal accounts and business accounts, virtual cards, money transfer services, and crypto trading.
Monese
Monese is a British Online Bank. Even after BREXIT, it’s available for anyone living in the EEA or the UK. Monese offers a multicurrency digital bank with IBAN and supports SEPA payments. By default, it comes with a Belgium-based IBAN, but when registered, you can contact them via the app and directly ask for a French IBAN. Since the account is for free, and does not require visiting a bank, this is one of the easiest ways to get a bank account in France.
N26
N26 allows you to open a bank account with a French IBAN and with a French RIB.
N26 only asks for a valid ID and a valid address in France. The address is to send your bank card and mail to. They trust you’re a resident of France. Technically, you could use the address of a trusted (!) friend or family member living in France. No further certificates are required. You do need a smartphone for the identification video call.
There even is a free N26 bank account, but there might be a waiting list. That’s because the German banking authorities (BaFin), where N26 headquarters is stationed, have limited their growth to 50k new customers per month. With the free N26 Standard account, you get a virtual card for all your online payments. N26 paid bank accounts cost 4.90 Euro a month and up.
Best Banks in France
The following are some main street banks that you might consider while opening a bank account.
1. Britline
You can open a bank account with Britline Bank before moving to France.
It is also possible to manage the account using your phone in English. They have provided all the bank charges on the internet in English.
2. BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas Bank is among the largest banks in France, and it has many distributors. In most French banks, prices are related to usage in the sense that when you take more services, you pay less.
The bank has low costs for student accounts and more savings and investment services. It offers current accounts and savings account. They have products for customers between 18–24 years.
3. La Banque Postale
La Banque Postale Bank operates through services that are offered by the post office. They also have many agencies that do banking services such as paying bills.
The application for opening a bank account is made in French, and you might need to have a friend who can take you through the process. You might also need to hire an interpreter to help you in the process.
4. ING Direct
ING Direct Bank is one of the best online banks in France. You must live in France to have the account opened.
The application is available in French. They provide services with free debit cards at different charges depending on the service.
Important things to note
Opening an online bank account in France is a great way for foreigners to manage their finances and to save money on fees and exchange rates. It also allows you to get French IBAN and French RIB, as is the case with N26.
It is important to note that those banks accounts do not come without any restrictions. Most of them require monthly minimum deposits and there are other charges for using bank cards, account handling fees and SMS balance updates.
This post is also available in de_DE.