practical
Money and banking changes in France you may have missed in September 2026
Includes bank branch closures and overdraft checks
We review money and banking changes (and news items) which have been made in the past month that may affect residents of France.
More bank branches close
LCL is to close between 60 and 90 of its roughly 1,400 branches in France. It has already closed nearly 250 over the past five years.
The latest closures are expected to affect the Paris region, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Mediterranean areas first, but LCL has not yet said exactly which branches will close or when.
Société Générale is reportedly also closing 101 branches in 2026. It has already closed around 600 following the merger of its two French retail networks. BNP Paribas said it would close around 500 of its branches by 2030.
The trend is driven by changing customer habits, with more banking now carried out on websites and apps rather than in branches.
Revolut launches insurance
Neobank Revolut is now offering optional insurance for personal loan customers in France to protect against situations that could make repayments difficult.
The insurance, provided by MetLife, covers death, permanent disability, hospitalisation or job loss. It can be taken out when applying for a new loan or can be added by those who already have a Revolut loan.
Poor airport exchange rates
Tourists travelling through Paris airports are being warned to watch out for poor exchange rates offered by bureaux de change.
France 2 highlighted the issue, with reporters using hidden cameras to exchange €40 for 220 Moroccan dirhams. At the official exchange rate, they would have received about 427 dirhams.
Bureaux de change in central Paris were found to offer considerably better rates than those at the airports, highlighting how much rates and fees can vary between providers.
To avoid poor rates, check how much foreign currency you will actually receive before exchanging money, including any fees or commissions.
You could also use a bank card to withdraw cash from an ATM at your destination, although check your bank's fees first. Another option is to exchange money at a bank at your destination.
Overdraft checks tightened
Banks will have to check the finances of anyone applying for an overdraft from November 20, including for small amounts.
The change follows France’s implementation of new EU rules. Currently, checks are required for overdrafts of €200 or more, or those lasting more than a month.
Under the new rules, banks will assess income and outgoings for all new overdraft requests and applications to increase existing limits.
They will also have to provide clearer information about overdraft costs. Existing overdrafts agreed before November 20 will not be affected.
Around 38% of French account holders use an overdraft, according to a 2025 Cofidis survey.
