Current account (compte courant)

Typical documents:

  1. Passport or national ID
  2. Proof of address (justificatif de domicile)
  3. Employment contract or income statement

Bank groups

  • Traditional: BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole
  • Online: Boursorama, Fortuneo, ING, Monabanq
  • Neobanks: Revolut, N26, BoursoBank
Tip

Online banks often drop fees and pay better savings rates, but service is remote-only.

Main taxes

  • Impôt sur le revenu: withheld monthly
  • Taxe foncière: property owners
  • Taxe d’habitation: phasing out for main homes
  • TVA: 20% standard, 10% reduced, 5.5% super-reduced

International transfers

  • Wise: strong FX rates
  • Revolut: free tiers with limits
  • SEPA: free inside the euro area
Watch out

Declare foreign accounts to the French tax authority to avoid penalties.

Saving and investing

  • Livret A: regulated savings
  • Assurance-vie: tax-advantaged wrapper after eight years
  • PEA: European equities, tax relief after five years
  • ETF / PEA-PME: SME-focused plans

Go deeper

Bank account & RIB

Proof of address is standard; the RIB lists IBAN/BIC and is requested everywhere. If refused an account, use the right to an account via Banque de France.

Livret A

Regulated tax-free savings with a legal cap; interest rate is revised—verify on Banque de France / Ministry pages.

PFU, PEA, assurance-vie

Default flat rate on investment income; PEA for European equities with benefits after five years; life insurance wrappers—read AMF product explainers.

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Banking & payments

French IBAN

SEPA transfers, direct debits, and cards; compare student packages.

Fees

Watch FX and cash-deposit rules if you move money internationally.

Income tax

Withholding at source

Monthly PAYE adjusts via your tax rate; you still file an annual return.

Online space

Use your personal tax account for declarations and messages.

Banking & markets

Banque de France

Payment incidents, basic banking right, and mediation pathways.

AMF

Investor protection and crypto-asset warnings.

Consumer affairs

Unfair trading and many consumer disputes are handled by the DGCCRF.

Post-arrival checklist

EU/EEA

  1. Address registration & tax filing
  2. Bank + mobile
  3. CPAM if you settle long-term

Non-EU

  1. Valid residence permit
  2. Banking aligned with your visa
  3. CAF if you qualify for housing aid
Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Trusted sources we used for this content

Official French and EU portals: Eurostat, service-public.fr, impots.gouv.fr, Ameli, OFII, Urssaf, and the Foreign Ministry. Always confirm amounts on the competent site.