France

[lilypoppyfre]

I would like to open a bank account in France as I now make regulat trips over there. When I tried last year, bringing with me recent accounts from my bank in England, with my passport, an Income tax letter, and a recent gas bill, I was told that as my gas bill was in my husbands name, it was not acceptable. Does anyone know exactly what is required to open an account over there ?

[coccinelle]

It depends on the bank you want to open your account with. If you tell me I'll tell you what they recquire.
They always need a passport or identity card with photo and a domestic bill with your name and address on it dated at most 3 months from your application, any will do such as electricity, gas, telephone, rates, etc. The majority of French couples put domestic bills in both names. If you have a mobile phone account in your name that should do.

[MikaJ]

You should be able to open the bank account with your pass and a bill on your name. However, France is a complicated country. I lived in France for about a year and the bank requested ID, french address and bill on my name from the french address. At another bank they asked also payslips. Try several banks since they have different policies.

[lilypoppyfre]

thank you mikaj and ladybird. I am goimg next week and shall report. I didn't realize that different banks have different criteria....so many thanks. I have an account in Belgium, where my mother still lives but that wasn't enough for the French....