Bank transfer

Verified 09 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You want to pay your expenses by transferring the amounts directly from account to account, without using a payment method (credit card, check, etc.)? You can make a bank transfer. Here are the rules to use it.

You can instruct your bank to transfer money from your account to another account.

You can make a transfer to other people's accounts or to your own accounts (including your savings accounts: booklets, life insuranceetc.).

It can be made to an account managed abroad and in a currency other than the euro.

It exists 2 types of transfers :

  • A transfer is said punctual if the order is issued for a single transaction
  • A transfer is said permanent (or automatic) if the order is given in writing or by internet and that it is repeated at regular frequency. The order is established for a fixed or indefinite period. You can cancel it at any time by mail or directly online depending on the online services offered by your bank.

Please note

The transfer is the ordinary means of payment of wages.

A transfer can be made in euro or in another currency

One SEPA wire transfer is performed in euro in the countries of the SEPA zone.

One international transfer is carried out in a other currency outside the SEPA zone.

The order to make a transfer can be given at the counter of your bank, by mail or by internet, depending on your account agreement.

Please note

According to the banks, a validation period for a new beneficiary is necessary before setting up an internet transfer.

You must provide the following information:

  • Account number to debit
  • Transaction Amount
  • Date of execution
  • Bank account details (BIC, IBAN) to be credited.

Your account information is recorded on your Rib.

To secure the transaction, your bank must verify that the name of the transfer beneficiary corresponds to the bank account information communicated with the IBAN. This device is called Recipient Audit or VoP (Verification of Payee).

Please note

Your creditor cannot require you to transfer to a bank account domiciled in France.

In some countries, bank details appear on account statements.

The bank cannot make a transfer without your consent.

YesHowever, the amount of a bank transfer can be capped. This maximum amount is set by your account agreement.

Bank registration: transaction date

The operation date is the date a debit or credit transaction is recorded by your bank.

If the transfer order is passed at a time close to the end of the business day, it will be considered as received the next business day.

If the time of receipt is not a working day (for example in the case of an order placed via the internet), the transfer order is considered to be received on the next working day.

Transfer of funds to the beneficiary's account

The delivery time of the transfer to the beneficiary's account is variable. It depends in particular on the domicile in France or abroad of this account.

In general, the transfer is made between 24 and 48 hours after its registration by the bank.

You can also make a instant bank transfer. The funds are then immediately available in the beneficiary's account.

Starting point for interest calculation: value date

The value date is used for interest calculations. It is used for example if you transfer money to a savings account or to calculate the duration of a overdraft.

Example :

Interest on savings accounts is calculated according to the fortnight rule.

If you make a transfer on your booklet A between 1er and on the 15th of the month, the interest due will be calculated from the 16th. If the transfer is made between the 16th and the 31st of the month, the interest due will be calculated from 1er of the following month.

In the euro area countries, one instant bank transfer cannot be charged at a higher rate than a traditional bank transfer.

In France, bank transfer is free.

The execution of each payment transaction is notified to the holders of the two accounts concerned (account credited and account debited).

You can agree with your bank on the means and frequency of notifications (emails, SMS, account statements, etc.).

Deadlines

To dispute a transfer, you must send a letter to your bank.

You can use the following template:

Dispute a transaction on your account statement

The time limit for contesting depends on why you are contesting the transfer.

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The amount of the transfer exceeds the planned amount

You must report this to your bank within 8 weeks after the debit date.

Transfers not authorized or not executed correctly

The time limit varies depending on whether the bank of the payment beneficiary is located in the European Union, in the European Economic Area (EEA) or outside.

In the European Union or the European Economic Area

You must report this to your bank within 13 months after the debit date.

Outside the European Union or the European Economic Area

You must report this to your bank within 70 days after the debit date.

This period may be extended by contract but not exceeding 120 days.

Warning  

these deadlines do not apply if the bank has not provided you or has not made available to you the information relating to this payment transaction (account statement).

Solutions in case of failure of the challenge

If your challenge does not succeed, you can appeal to the banking ombudsman.

If the mediator's intervention has not settled the dispute, you can civil courts for 5 years from the date of execution of the operation.

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