You must first make a standard request to open a bank account .

If the bank refuses to open an account for you or if it does not respond to you within 15 days after your request , you can then call the Banque de France, the "bank of banks".

You need the following documents:

• If the bank refuses to open an account for you: letter of refusal to open an account with the bank logo,
• If the bank has not replied 15 days after your request: proof of your request to open an account (acknowledgment of receipt of the registered letter sent to the bank or receipt of hand deposit of your request, with the date clearly visible)
• Completed account entitlement request form, available by clicking here
• Identity document with valid photograph
  (see the list of accepted documents > Article 1, section “ A. – For a natural person ”)
• Proof of address less than 3 months old (Internet, telephone, electricity, water, gas bill, rent receipt or property title)
• Proof of accommodation, if you are staying with someone (with proof of identity of the person staying with you)

You can ask the bank which refused to open an account to send your file directly to the Banque de France.

The first step is to scan all the documents.
> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “ Scan a document”.

Then, you have to go to the Banque de France website and create an account or log in with FranceConnect.
> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Connect to a site with FranceConnect” .

Go to your personal space, and click on “Account rights – Individual – submission of a request”.

Then download all the documents and wait for the response from the Banque de France in your personal space.

You can also go to a Banque de France counter to submit your file.

To do this, first find the counter closest to you: click here , write your postal code and check “right to account”.

You can also send your file by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt to this address:

Banque de France
TSA 5012075035
Paris Cedex 01

Once it has received your complete application, the Banque de France designates a bank branch which is obliged to agree to open an account for you.

This designation is valid for 6 months.

The Banque de France will inform you by mail or in your personal space of the name and contact details of the designated bank agency.

3 days after its designation, this bank must give you the list of documents necessary to open the account.

You must contact the bank to make an appointment and bring all the documents.

As soon as your account is opened, you can benefit from basic banking services free of charge:

• have a bank card,
• a RIB (bank identity statement),
• cash checks and bank transfers,
• remotely consult your account balance, etc.