2. Which French Bank?

1. 2.1. French Banks
   2.2. International/Offshore Banking
   2.3. Online Banks
   2.4. Which Bank?

2.4. Which French Bank?

In our previous pages we reviewed the banking structure in France, but there is no clear answer as to what is the best value or most suitable bank for expats.

One of the difficulities in making a comparison between them is the regional structure that operates in some banks, leading to different offers and types of services in different parts of the country.

All we can say with a high degree of certainty is that French banks are amongst the safest in the world.

In coming to your decision about the choice of a French bank, you need to decide the services that are most important to you and to compare their offers.

In particular:

• How important is a local branch near your home?
• How satisfied are you with the level of customer service in the bank?
• How important is a national branch network to you?
• How important is a bilingual service to you?
• What does the bank charge for particular services?
• What levels of interest do they offer on deposit accounts?
• Will they grant you a mortgage?
• How good are their online facilities?
• Do they offer overdraft facilities to non-residents?

As we develop these pages we will try to offer more guidance to help you make the choice, but we would like to hear of your own experiences, so do please tell us of them in our Forum, or contact us at editor@french-property.com