Opening a Bank Account in France: Compte Courant, RIB and Droit au Compte
Llandora·Updated 2026-10-14
⚠️ Disclaimer: For general information only — not tax, financial, legal, or medical advice. Figures may be outdated or incorrect; tax rules change frequently. Verify important decisions with the CRA/IRS or a qualified professional (for health topics, a licensed healthcare provider). You use this information at your own risk.
The short answer
A French bank account is the key that unlocks everything else: your salary gets paid into it, your rent leaves from it, and your health reimbursements (Assurance Maladie) need its RIB. The standard product is the compte courant (current account), identified by its RIB (relevé d'identité bancaire) carrying your IBAN. If a bank refuses you, French law gives you a fallback: the droit au compte procedure through the Banque de France.
What you need to open an account
Banks must verify your identity and address (anti-money-laundering rules), so expect to provide:
ID: passport, or national ID card for EU citizens.
Proof of address (justificatif de domicile): less than 3 months old — electricity bill, rent receipt, or home insurance certificate in your name.
Proof of legal stay: visa or titre de séjour for non-EU newcomers (some banks accept a long-stay visa; others insist on the residence permit).
The chicken-and-egg problem: landlords want a French bank account, banks want a French address. Newcomers typically solve this with an attestation d'hébergement (a signed hosting statement from whoever houses you, plus a copy of their ID and one of their bills), an employer-provided housing certificate, or a first rent receipt. Online banks are generally more flexible about the format.
The compte courant and the RIB
The compte courant is the everyday current account: salary in, direct debits (prélèvements) out, debit card attached. On opening, you receive a RIB — the slip showing your IBAN and BIC. You will hand out RIB copies constantly: to your employer, your landlord, the tax office, and the CPAM for health reimbursements. SEPA transfers within the eurozone are free; instant transfers are now standard at most banks.
Cards: the default is a debit card (carte à débit immédiat). Deferred-debit cards (débit différé, charged once a month) usually require minimum income or savings thresholds.
Droit au compte: if a bank refuses you
A bank is legally free to refuse to open an account — but it must then tell you about the droit au compte procedure. Any person residing in France without a deposit account can invoke it:
Get a written refusal letter from the bank (or prove it ignored your request for 15 days, which counts as refusal).
File with the Banque de France — online, at a branch counter, or by post — with the refusal letter, the completed request form, valid ID, and proof of address under 3 months old.
The Banque de France designates a bank within 24 hours of receiving your complete file; that bank must open an account with free basic banking services (transfers, direct debits, a systematically-authorized payment card). The designation letter is valid 6 months.
The procedure is free. It is also open to French citizens abroad and EU residents legally living in another member state.
Online banks and néobanques (2026)
France's online banks are the fastest route for newcomers — fully remote onboarding, English-language apps in some cases, and near-zero fees:
BoursoBank (formerly Boursorama, Société Générale group): the market leader with over 9 million clients in 2026. The standard account is free provided you make at least one card payment per month (otherwise €5–9/month depending on the card). The Welcome card has no income requirement. For freelancers, Bourso Business offers a free professional account (you must already hold a personal BoursoBank account; limited to micro-enterprises, EI/EIRL, SASU and EURL).
Shine: the reference néobanque for freelancers and auto-entrepreneurs. Shine Free at €0/month (basic Mastercard, 5 transfers/month, invoicing tools included); paid tiers from around €9–11/month for unlimited operations.
Revolut, N26 and similar: quick to open, but they issue non-French IBANs (Lithuanian, German...). Note that some French employers and landlords still resist non-FR IBANs — refusing them is illegal (IBAN discrimination is banned by EU regulation), but in practice a French IBAN saves friction.
Practical tip: open the account as soon as you have any proof of address, even temporary. You can change the address later from the app.
What it costs
Traditional branch banks typically charge €22–25/year just for account maintenance, plus card fees. Online banks charge €0 for maintenance and standard cards under the usage conditions above. Wire transfers in euros (SEPA) are free everywhere; watch out for foreign-exchange markups if you move money from outside the eurozone — a multi-currency account or a broker is usually cheaper than a bank's retail rate.
Price levels in this article reflect 2026; banks may adjust fees at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I open an account before I have a permanent address?
A: Usually yes, with an attestation d'hébergement (host's statement + their ID + one of their bills) or employer housing proof. Online banks are the most flexible.
Q: A bank refused me. What now?
A: Ask for the written refusal letter, then file a droit au compte request with the Banque de France. It will designate a bank within 24 hours of your complete file, and the procedure is free.
Q: What is a RIB and why does everyone ask for it?
A: The RIB (relevé d'identité bancaire) is the slip with your IBAN/BIC. Employers, landlords, the tax office and the CPAM all need it to pay you or debit you.
Q: Are online banks safe for a newcomer?
A: BoursoBank is a licensed French bank (deposit guarantee applies). Néobanques like Shine partner with licensed institutions — check that your deposits are covered before keeping large balances.
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