What is the difference between bank transfer and direct debit?

Verified 24 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Bank transfer and direct debit are 2 secure transactions allowing a transfer of money from account to account.

The transfer is carried out by the person who pouring the money.

The sampling shall be carried out, with the agreement of the account holder, by the person who receives the money.

Money transfer can be punctual, i.e. made for a single transaction.

It can also be permanent (or automatic) if it is repeated at regular frequency. In this case, the beneficiary is always the same. The transfer of money permanent allows you to pay phone or electricity bills, for example.

The transfer of money can be made in euro or in another currency. If it is made in euro, it is transfer or sampling SEPA.

Please note

In France, transfer bank is free. The sampling may include fees. Rates are set by your account agreement.

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