When you move to the French Riviera, one of the first things you will need to do is open a bank account. Here is a quick guide on what steps you will have to follow to become the proud holder of a French bank account. Depending on your banking needs, you can choose from a mainstream High Street bank or an Online-only bank.
High Street Banks or Online-only Banks
Before deciding on a bank, make sure you do your research as they all offer different benefits such as discounts or cashback. In the end, the most important factor may be to choose a bank which has a branch close to where you live on the French Riviera.
Once you have made a shortlist of two or three banks, it’s a good idea to drop in at your local branch and ask to set up a meeting about opening a bank account. If your French language skills are limited, find out which members of staff speak English or take a French friend along with you.
Here are the names of a few of the French banks you will come across on the Côte d’Azur.
- Société Générale
- Axa Banque
- BNP Paribas
- Crédit Agricole
- Caisse d‘Epargne (CE)
- Banque Populaire (BP)
- Crédit Mutuel
And finally, also check out CCF (Credit Commercial de France), which completed the acquisition of HSBC’s retail banking activities in France in January 2024. Most of their staff are fluent in English which makes customer service easier.
Documents needed to open a bank account
- A passport or some other proof of identity
- A residence permit or visa (for non-EU passport holders)
- A proof of address in France (recent utilities bill or local tax bill)
- Your last income tax return
Depending on the bank, they may also ask you for your current employment status.
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a mainstream bank, there are also various online-only banks such as Wise, Fortuneo Banque, Hello bank, BoursoBank, Revolut and Monabanq.
For more information on all the different online offerings, please visit: https://www.moneyvox.fr/banque-en-ligne/
