BANKING

Overview
The purpose of this page is to provide information about banking in France and a list of resources on banks and finances.

Quick Overview of the French Financial System
Banks in France are businesses that are allowed to receive deposits, collect savings, offer and manage methods of payment (bills, cheques and payment cards), make loans and investments.

There are several types of banks in France: commercial banks, which are held by shareholders and listed on the stock-exchange, and credit unions, cooperative financial institutions held by their members. There is also La Banque postale, a subsidiary of the national postal service.

Brick and Mortar Banks
Brick and mortar banks have physical locations, branches, where clients can conduct their business. Among them, you will find:
 * Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône-Alpes
 * BNP Paribas
 * Caisse d'Épargne, regional bank
 * CIC, which is part of the Crédit Mutuel Group which means clients can deposit money at any Crédit Mutuel or CIC atm.
 * Crédit Agricole Centre-est, regional bank
 * Crédit Mutuel
 * HSBC
 * La Banque Postale
 * LCL
 * Société Générale. Some expats have reported this bank does not accept American clients.

Online Banks
Brick and mortar banks tend to have high fees. If you can forgo having a physical location to conduct your business, than online banks can be an interesting option. Among them, you will find:
 * BforBank
 * Boursorama Banque. No fees. If you can deposit a certain amount when opening you account you get a free gold card. They have interesting offers for loans. In addition, they have offers whereby if one of their client sponsors you, you can receive a certain amount of money (between 80 € - 180 €).
 * Fortuneo
 * Hello bank!, which is owned by BNP Paribas
 * ING Direct
 * Monabanq
 * N26
 * Revolut
 * Transferwise, which provides a borderless bank account with which clients can get a card

Tips on Choosing a Financial Institution
Here is a list of tips when it comes to choosing where to open a bank account:
 * check if any bank in your country of origin has an agreement with a French bank. This could make procedures simpler on your end.
 * determine what you need and compare fees between banks
 * if you are an American citizen, check which banks and branches will accept you beforehand

Useful Resources
Here is a list of resources that can assist you in choosing a bank:
 * Finance pour tous (translated as Finances for All), a website which promotes financial education in France and provides information on personal finances, including banking
 * Mes questions d'argent (translated as My Questions About Money), a portal which provides information on budgeting, finances and the economy