Bank transfer

Verified 01 February 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

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

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

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

It may 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 via the Internet and is repeated at regular intervals. The order shall be established for a fixed or indefinite period. You can cancel it at any time by mail or directly on the internet depending on the online services offered by your bank.

Please note

the transfer is the ordinary means of payment of wages.

A transfer may be made in euro or another currency

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

One international transfer is performed in a other currency outside the SEPA area.

The order to make a transfer can be given at your bank's counter, by mail or via the Internet, depending on your account agreement.

Please note

according to the banks, a period of validation of a new beneficiary is necessary before an internet transfer is implemented.

You must provide the following information:

  • Account number to be debited
  • Transaction Amount
  • Run Date
  • Account banking details (BIC, IBAN) to be credited

Your account information is registered with your Rib.

Please note

your creditor cannot require you to make the 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.

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

There may be a charge for this operation. Rates are set by your account agreement.

Bank Registration: Transaction Date

The date of operation 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 working day, it shall be considered as received on the following working day.

If the time of receipt is not a working day (e.g. in the case of orders placed via the Internet), the transfer order shall be considered as received on the following working day.

Transfer of funds to the beneficiary's account

The time limit for receipt transfer to the beneficiary's account is variable. It depends in particular on whether the account is domiciled in France or abroad.

In general, the transfer is made between 24 and 48 hours after it has been registered by the bank.

You can also make a instant bank transfer. The funds are then immediately available on the beneficiary's account. You may be charged for this type of transfer.

Interest calculation starting point: 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 uncovered.

Example :

Interest on savings accounts is calculated on a fortnight basis.

If you make a transfer to 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 the 1ster of the following month.

The execution of each payment transaction shall be notified to the holders of the 2 accounts concerned (credited account and debited account).

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 his statement of account

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.

Transfer not authorized or executed incorrectly

The deadline 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 may not exceed 120 days.

Warning  

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

Solutions in case of failure of the challenge

If your challenge is unsuccessful, you can appeal to the banking ombudsman.

If the mediator's intervention did not resolve the dispute, you can enter the civil courts for 5 years from the date the operation was performed.

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