Documents
Opening a French bank account and getting your RIB
ouverture de compte bancaire et relevé d'identité bancaire (RIB)
A current account at a French bank, and the RIB that comes with it: a standardised document identifying the account and its holder through its IBAN and BIC codes.
In practice yes. Salary, rent, benefits and reimbursements are paid by transfer, and a RIB is what you hand over so the money reaches you.
Early on. If a bank does not answer within 15 days, that counts as a refusal and opens the droit au compte.
At a bank of your choice. If you are refused, the Banque de France designates one that must open a basic account for you.
Under the droit au compte, the Banque de France designates a bank within 1 working day, and the designated bank opens the account within 3 working days of receiving your documents.
The droit au compte and the basic banking services that come with it are free.
- You sign a convention de compte, which sets out the rules for opening, running and closing the account.
- Your RIB carries the IBAN and BIC you give to anyone paying into, or debiting from, the account.