Applying for an account

The right to an account enables people who do not have a bank account and are unable to open one to open a deposit account (with basic services) with a bank designated by the Banque de France. This procedure can also be applied for if you only have a joint account or if your account is in the process of being cancelled.

In all cases, you must be able to prove that a bank has refused to open an account for you.
This procedure applies to both private and business accounts. It also applies to legal entities (companies, associations, etc.) that are unable to open an account.

Conditions for entitlement to the account

You must :

Be domiciled in France, regardless of nationality, or be French and reside abroad, or be of foreign nationality and reside legally in a European Union country other than France;
Do not have an individual account in your own name (or an account in the process of being closed);
You have been refused an account by a bank.

How do you go about it?

On line : create an account on the Banque de France website or connect via France Connect
By post: the complete file to be sent to the Banque de France

Documents to be supplied

Certificate of refusal to open an account issued by a bank, or equivalent
Banque de France intervention request form - Exercising the right to a deposit account for a natural person completed
Valid official identity document
Proof of address (less than three months old) (in some cases, additional documents may be required, particularly if you are a contractor or representative of a legal entity).

Contacts

By telephone 3414
Or by post to
BANQUE DE FRANCE Overindebtedness
TSA 41217
75035 Paris Cedex 01

Local social action centre (CCAS)