The Bank in France

General information

Having a French bank account is almost essential, but not compulsory. You can only open a bank account when you arrive in France. There are many branches near the Campus: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, Banque Populaire, Caisse d'Epargne, etc. It is best to make an appointment with an adviser directly at the bank to open your account.

To open an account, you will need to : 

• A certificate of pre-registration at the University of Orléans, a certificate of enrolment or your student card from the University of Orléans if you have one.
• A photocopy of your passport or identity card. For students from outside Europe, a birth certificate may be required.
• A copy of your visa for non-European students
• Proof of residence in France 

A bank account generally gives you access to a bank card (for making payments or withdrawing cash from ATMs). The RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire) issued to you by the bank in France is often required for payments/transfers to your bank account (e.g. repayment of a deposit, salary payments, bill payments, etc.).

NB: you can also take out home insurance and civil liability insurance when you open your bank account.

For more information, see this booklet (page 39) : https://www.calameo.com/read/00560802966fc25be4adc