French Bank Account After Moving Abroad 2026: BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole and LCL Compared
Quick answer: Major French banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, LCL, La Banque Postale) usually let EU/EEA residents keep their account after emigration with an updated address and tax status. Outside the EU (UK after Brexit, Switzerland, USA), conditions tighten — FATCA in particular is a barrier for US addresses. Keeping the account 1-2 years simplifies final tax filings and outgoing transfers.
Key takeaways
- Update address before move.
- Mobile banking works worldwide.
- SEPA in EUR stays free.
- FATCA complicates US addresses.
- Keep account 1-2 years for tax wrap-up.
The 2026 bank-account dilemma for French expatriates
French banks have become significantly more restrictive about non-resident accounts since the implementation of FATCA (US-France inter-governmental agreement, 2014) and the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS, in force in France since 2017). Combined with anti-money-laundering reinforcement under the 2022 LCB-FT regulation, many traditional banks now charge higher fees, demand additional documentation, or simply close accounts of clients who declare a foreign address.
The good news: French law (Article L 312-1 of the Code Monétaire et Financier) guarantees the right to a basic bank account (droit au compte) for any French national, regardless of residency — enforceable via the Banque de France’s mediator. So you cannot be denied an account, but you can be steered toward more expensive non-resident packages.
Bank-by-bank policy comparison 2026
| Bank | Non-resident policy | Monthly fee | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas | ”Esprit Libre Non-résident” | €20-30 | SEPA + SWIFT included, multi-currency option, 24/7 EN support |
| Société Générale | ”Sobrio Non-résident” | €18-25 | Free SEPA, dedicated international advisor, FX margins 0.6% |
| Crédit Agricole | ”Compte à Composer International” | €15-22 | Regional caisses vary; Britline (UK clients) offers lower fees |
| LCL | ”LCL à l’International” | €18-28 | Strong online banking; works with most expatriate fund providers |
| HSBC France | Closed to new non-resident clients in 2024 | — | Existing clients moved to MyBNPF account |
| Boursorama Banque | Welcome (some destinations) | €0 | Free Visa card, but excludes USA, Canada, Australia, China |
| Fortuneo | Welcome (limited) | €0 | Free for EU residents only since 2024 |
What changes when you declare a foreign address
Tax reporting (FATCA/CRS). The bank automatically reports your account balances and interest to the French tax authority (DGFiP), which transmits to your country of residence. Make sure your tax-residence declaration on the bank’s KYC form is consistent with your filings — discrepancies trigger audits.
Loss of certain products. Non-residents lose access to: Livret A, LDDS, LEP (regulated savings — closed automatically). PEL and CEL remain but accrue interest at the regulatory rate without further deposits in some cases. PEA can be retained with adjusted tax treatment. Life insurance contracts remain but are taxed under the non-resident regime.
Mortgage acceleration risk. Most French mortgage contracts include a clause requiring you to remain a French tax resident, or risk acceleration of the loan. In practice, banks rarely enforce this if you continue paying — but officially renegotiate the clause via an avenant before leaving. Budget €100-300 in administrative fees.
Online banking access. Major banks now require strong customer authentication (SCA) under PSD2 with a French phone number for SMS. If you change to a foreign number, request migration to an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Pass Sécurité) before departure to avoid lock-out.
Should you keep your French account?
Keep it if you plan to: receive French income (rent, dividends, pension), pay French expenses (taxe foncière, mortgage, utilities at a residence you keep), return to France within 5 years, maintain a Plan d’Épargne Logement or PEA, send money to family in France via SEPA. The annual cost (€200-400) is usually justified if any of these apply.
Close it if you have: definitively settled abroad with no French income, no remaining property or investments in France, and access to a competitive multi-currency neobank like Wise, Revolut, or N26. Closure is free under Article L 312-1-1 CMF if the account has been open more than 12 months. Provide the bank with a notarised closure request, redeem the chequebook and cards, transfer the balance.
Multi-currency alternatives for expats
Wise (formerly TransferWise). EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, JPY and 50+ currencies in one account. SEPA-compatible. FX margins 0.4-0.7% on major pairs. Annual cost: free, transactions only. Best for international transfers and salary in foreign currency.
Revolut. Premium plan (€7.99/month) offers free SEPA + SWIFT, 5 free ATM withdrawals abroad, virtual cards. Lithuanian banking licence (deposit guarantee €100,000). Good for travelling expats but not yet a complete substitute for a French account when dealing with French institutions.
N26. German-licensed bank, full IBAN starting with DE. Standard account free, Smart €4.90/month. Excellent SEPA performance but limited service for non-EU residents.
Practical pre-departure banking checklist
Day -60: Notify your bank of upcoming move. Request non-resident package quotation. Update KYC documentation. Request migration to authenticator-app SCA.
Day -30: Open complementary multi-currency account (Wise/Revolut). Set up SEPA direct debits for all recurring payments to ensure no service interruption.
Day -14: Cancel auto-debits for services you will no longer use. Stop credit card chargebacks for foreign-only providers. Update contact details (email, phone) with the bank.
Day 0: Move date. Update bank’s residence address via online banking AND confirm by registered post (Article L 312-1 CMF requires both).
Day +30: Confirm the address change processed correctly. Verify new fee structure on first month’s statement. Test SEPA and SWIFT transfers between French and foreign accounts.
Day +90: Review whether to maintain the French account. Negotiate fee reductions if balance >€10,000. Migrate or close as appropriate.
FAQ
Can the bank close my account on EU emigration?
Not automatically — EU rules guarantee access to a basic payment account.
USA address?
Often restricted because of FATCA reporting obligations on French banks.
Non-resident fees?
Vary by bank — compare with your adviser before departure.
Existing mortgage?
Stays in place, but notify the bank of your tax residence change.
Livret A as non-resident?
Kept under the existing cap; French taxation applies subject to treaty.
Can my French bank close my account just because I moved abroad?
Not unilaterally without notice. Article L 312-1-1 CMF requires 60 days written notice for closure of a current account, with reasons. If denied an account, you can invoke the droit au compte via the Banque de France, which assigns a bank to you within 24 hours. However, the bank can move you to a more expensive non-resident package — that is legal.
Will my French Livret A and LDDS be closed automatically?
Yes — Livret A, LDDS, and LEP are reserved for French tax residents under Article L 221-3 CMF. The bank will close them within 30-60 days of receiving your foreign address declaration. The balance is transferred to a savings account with standard interest. Open a similar tax-advantaged product in your destination country.
Do I have to declare my French bank account in my new country of residence?
Yes — most jurisdictions require declaration of foreign accounts above certain thresholds (€50,000 in many EU countries, $10,000 in the US under FBAR). The CRS automatic exchange means your destination tax authority already has the data. Declare proactively to avoid penalties.
Can I open a new French bank account from abroad?
Yes — most major banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole) accept remote opening with notarised ID and proof of foreign address. Boursorama and Fortuneo are restricted to certain countries. Budget 4-8 weeks for KYC clearance. You may need to visit a branch in person on first return to France for activation.
Update your address and tax status with the bank before leaving France.
Flyto Relocation handles your international move from France. Get a free quote.
See also: All France moving guides.