If I reside in France, do not have a deposit account with a credit institution and a bank refuses to open such an account for me, I can benefit from the right to an account procedure implemented by the Banque de France, including, for example, if I am "listed with the Banque de France" or over-indebted.
To implement this procedure, you must be able to prove that you have first tried to open an account with at least one bank and have been refused this opening. Indeed, a bank has the right to refuse me the opening of a bank account, but it must provide me free of charge and without delay with a certificate of refusal to open an account.
In practice, to benefit from the right to an account:
1. I put together a file made up of:
- From the certificate of refusal to open an account issued by a bank in my name (or, where applicable, the acknowledgement of receipt of the registered letter or proof of hand delivery of the account opening request dating back more than fifteen days),
- From the completed right to an account application form. It can be found here on the Banque de France website or requested at a Banque de France reception point,
- A copy of a valid official identity document,
- A copy of proof of address (less than three months old).
2. I submit my file to the Bank of France
- On the website: www.banque-france.fr (individuals area / contact section)
- By post: Banque de France - TSA 50120 - 75035 Paris Cedex 01
- At a Banque de France reception point in my department (note, I must make an appointment before going there, by telephone on 34 14 or on the Internet)
The Banque de France will then designate, within 24 hours of receiving my complete file, a bank which will be required to open an account for me free of charge with basic banking services.
The designated bank will send me, within 3 days of receipt of the designation, a list of supporting documents to be provided for opening the account as well as the name and contact details of the branch concerned.
I then contact the designated bank (by telephone or by going to the counter), I set an appointment to which I go physically with the requested documents, in order to proceed with the opening of my account.