This is good news for all those who find themselves without a bank account every year. A decree, published on March 13, simplifies the “right to an account” procedure. The latter, established in 1984, aims to guarantee the opening of basic banking services to all, in a logic of inclusion. As soon as a customer is denied access to a deposit account, he can contact the Banque de France. “About 30,000 people come to us every year. Among them, most do it because their account was closed at the initiative of their bank,” says Mark Beguery, director of personal services at the Banque de France.
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Any person residing in France and any French living abroad can claim it. And this, even if the applicant is banned from banking or registered in the credit repayment incident file. To start the procedure, the consumer must submit – online, by post, or at a counter (1) – proof of identity and address, as well as the refusal letter from the banking establishment.
The status of “banking ban” is not a reason for exclusion
New brought by the decree, from June 13, the customer will be able, if he has not obtained an answer within fifteen days, directly to seize the Bank of France. Only condition: provide proof of the request. “It’s a way to overcome a recurring difficulty encountered by a minority of people in obtaining the refusal letter. But the rule remains that the bank must provide this document without delay,” support Mark Beguery.
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Once seized, the Banque de France designates, within one working day, a new establishment. The latter will now have to contact the consumer within three days and indicate to him the necessary documents to provide. The designated bank must therefore open an account for the client. “She can only oppose it if she does not obtain all the supporting documents. The status of banking ban is not a reason for refusal”, says the expert. New bonds well received by the French Banking Federation which ensures “having worked with the Banque de France and the public authorities to find the best possible adaptations, so that the system is even simpler for customers”.
If within the framework of a procedure of “right to the account” the banking services are free, they remain limited – no authorization of overdraft, nor checkbook for example. The objective is for the customer to rectify his situation and then claim a standard account, paying this time.