Residents in rural France affected by bank closures
Thousands of branches have closed in recent years as fewer people use brick and mortar services
In some departments close to 20% of branches have shut in the last 15 years
Henry St John/Shutterstock
Residents in rural areas of France are becoming increasingly worried over the difficulty of accessing banking services.
A spike in the number of physical branches closing, alongside a push for digitisation in the sector, is leaving many in less populous areas adrift and struggling to have basic banking needs met.
In some areas, the closure of an agency means residents need to travel several miles away to find their nearest branch, and it may not even be with the same banking operator they use.
It has been a problem for several years and has been highlighted by rural mayors in the past.
It is leading to fears that vulnerable people in these areas will face further difficulty in accessing basic – and necessary – banking services, and that the isolation of rural residents may lead to further political fallout.
Thousands of closures in recent years – and more to come
Around 6,000 bank branches have closed in France in the last 15 years, more than half of these (3,300) in the last five.
Some departments have seen up to 18% of their branches close (compared to 9% nationally), with the Grand Est and Pays de la Loire the hardest hit regions.
It means as of 2025, there are fewer than 36,000 physical branches in France, or around 52 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2010, it was 64 per 100,000.
This closure rate is only set to heighten in the coming years according to consumer watchdog UFC Que-Choisir.
Major banks including BNP Paribas (500 branches) and Société Générale (600) are set to continue the trend.
Banks point to lower attendance rates as the reason for these closures, but at the same time the Banque de France says physical branches are ‘indispensable’ for more important products such as mortgages or life insurance.
Only 10% of people in France visit their branch more than once per month, and over half of French people do not step into their local bank more than once per year.
The closures however leave certain groups of people vulnerable, particularly rural residents as well as the elderly who struggle to bank online.
It coincides with a drop in the number of ATMs in France, and withdrawal of other rural services, which can leave people in these areas feeling bereft.
Read more: Significant bank fee rise in France in 2025: how to compare and tips to save
Fears closures fuel populism
One example in the south of France is in Montirat (Tarn), where the closure of the Crédit Agricole branch in the town means the nearest nine communes are without any physical bank.
“It's annoying (...) It's not a good thing at all,” said one resident to media outlet BFMTV.
“It now takes me 40 minutes to go and deposit a cheque,” said another.
Local authorities tried desperately to keep the branch open – even writing a letter to the head of the bank – but to no avail.
“We fear that all this will fuel populism, as many of our citizens will feel neglected, especially in our rural areas,” said senator for the Tarn department Philippe Folliot.
What do you think about the level of banking services in your local area? Do you feel they are sufficient, or have services near you closed? Let us know what you think via feedback@connexionfrance.com
