[Bevdeforges]

Have you already identified the house you are planning on buying? I only ask because the process generally takes at least 3 months after the offer to purchase has been accepted.

As far as opening a bank , you may be limited to a "non-resident " until you are actually resident in . I'm not sure what the current "restrictions" are on a non-resident but opening a bank of any type in generally requires that you be present in and that you take an appointment to go through the formalities (part of the Know Your Customer protocols among other regulations).

Banking in is largely controlled at the branch level - and while there are policies within a given bank that apply to all branches in , the current bank manager can make or break your perception of "customer service". Depending on where you are in the house buying process, you may be able to manage by transferring deposits to the notaire from your US bank, perhaps using an exchange and transfer service (i.e. to avoid excessive exchange and/or bank transfer fees).

 

[Bevdeforges]

To be honest, when we say that French banks vary by branch, that's a serious statement. I was with one French bank for years - and it was (and still is, to some extent) reputed to be very easy to deal with. But it all depends on the manager at the moment. The best way to find your initial bank in is to simply go in, talk to the folks there and book an appointment to open an based on the "vibe" you get.

After you're settled in, you can look into switching to one of the many online banks (where you normally need to be transferring from a French bricks and mortar bank). The bank you are switching to has to help you make the move (for free) - at least to the extent of transferring all your French based direct bank payments and direct deposits. (You have to do your US Social Security and set up any other foreign automatic transfers - in or out - yourself. But online, it's pretty easy to do.)

That's the one gold star standard way to avoid all the branch hassles for good. But generally speaking, you cannot transact business at a different branch of the same brand of bank. Going online puts paid to that "issue" once and for all. (But it used to cost about 20€ to close an , even just in one branch to transfer your to another branch of the same bank.)

 

[Bevdeforges]

The third line (in bold type) might explain my current difficulties with La Banque Postale. I was born in the US but long since have renounced by citizenship. But: I have given official (US) written proof of my total disconnect with the US, and my subsequent UK naturalisation. If this is the issue then I might as well go to another bank.

French rules and laws aren't as nitpicky (word for word) as things seem to be these days in the US. If you have renounced, just give them a copy of your CLN (at least for the Banque Postale). You may also want to offer them a prepared and signed W8-BEN when you show them your CLN. (Do NOT hand over your original CLN - there appears to be no way to obtain any sort of certified copy of the thing. Nor do they seem to maintain any central data base other than publication of your name in the official Journal of Congress or whatever it's called.)

 

[Bevdeforges]

It used to be (and may still be the case) that you need to have been turned down two or three times by a local bank before the Banque de will step in to require a bank to open an for you. Just be aware that it is a very restricted .

Also, worst possible case, consider your first French bank to be "temporary" - say, for the first year or maybe 18 months - until you get to the point that you can qualify for an online bank . Hello Bank, Monabanq, Boursorama, etc. A few of the most popular "international" online banks aren't actually based in and may be problematic for regular transfers, but look into them as the situation is changing all the time. And an online bank will give you certain privileges with local brick and mortar banks (say, cash withdrawals, depositing check or cash receipts, etc.) and otherwise offer just about all the usual services through their website, including investments, loans, online counselors, etc. For non-native French speakers, this can be an advantage if you are adept at using a translation software.

 

[Bevdeforges]

Normally, the utility bill requirement is to prove your residence address - so basically only required if you're going for a regular resident . (Hence the comment about some bills only being issued annually - that's how it works here in .)

 

[Bevdeforges]

The main point of my post was to warn people not to opt for the option of the Banque de .

Point taken - though it's important to know that a non-resident bank , while much lest restricted than a Banque de mandated "basic" , is also somewhat restricted in available services.

 

[Bevdeforges]

What I have found online is that non-resident s may charge higher fees and/or limit your ability to withdraw cash, or limit the number of payments or transfers you can make with the (usually per month). Some banks also require a minimum balance in a non-resident at all times. This varies by bank - just to ask when you open the .

 

[Bevdeforges]

Hello Bev. Is there then any good reason to apply for a non-resident bank while a resident of ? And then change the non-resident to a resident later as suggested above? Or is it better to make appointments at a number of banks and ask to open a resident ?

As far as I'm concerned, no. Once you are resident in (i.e. after you arrive on your long-stay visa), it makes no sense to try to open a "non-resident" . Granted, setting up a regular bank can seem like a difficult task, but you need to develop a sense of what the banks are looking for and do your best to find a bank that is willing to take you on.

 

[Bevdeforges]

But you can't open an online from the get-go. You have to transfer in from a bricks and mortar bank.

It all has to do with the KYC (no, not Kentucky Fried Chicken - Know Your Customer - rules, which are pretty much international at this point). That s for the "dossier" of documents you need to open a bank these days. To prove you aren't a money launderer nor a tax evader, the bank has to see you face to face with a piece of photo i.d., yadda, yadda, yadda. With the online banks, they apparently can rely on your previous bank identity proof as long as it was a French bank duly ed or whatever with the Banque de .

When searching for a bank on arrival, it helps if you know what the banks are looking for (especially the need to have some regular source of income that will be direct deposited into your new - and proof of some sort as to how much it will be). You may have to make the regular transfer yourself from your Wise to your French bank (I don't think Wise does regular outgoing transfers like that) if, for example, you're using your US based IRA . If you've been receiving US SS for a few months, show them you're aware that can (and will) be transferred to a direct deposit via the US Consulate's FBU. As with fonctionnaires, do what you can to make their job easy for them. Heck, if you have to, bring a filled out W9 form with you.