All students are allowed to open a bank account. It can very handy in your day-to-day life.
It can be very handy to have a bank account in France, in particular to pay for bills (electricity, telephone, rent) and subscriptions (transportation, Internet). It also allows you to receive a salary and to get reimbursed for healthcare expenses.
Compare what the different banks have to offer in terms of credit cards fees, international transfers and cash withdrawals abroad.
Three documents are needed to open a bank account:
-identification,
-proof of residence,
-proof of enrollment at a higher education institution or student card.
If you don't have long-term accommodation yet, you may be able to use the address of the International Relations Department of your institution.
After you open a bank account, you will get a credit card and a cheque book. With your Relevé d’Identité Bancaire (RIB - bank account information slip), you will be able to make monthly payments easily.
