Closing a French Bank Account Under UK Deputyship: Key Steps and Required Documents

A practical guide for UK deputies on closing a French bank account, required documents, and how Stone King can assist with cross-border banking issues.

Q: I am deputy for property affairs for my elderly father and have for some time been trying to close his French bank account and get the balance transferred to his UK bank. I need help however, as I’m not quite sure what the bank requires me to do.

A: First, you should check that the bank account is active, assuming it is you should try to access the funds. It is worth noting that emptying funds out of a bank account and no longer using it is not sufficient to close it – you must officially make a request for your bank to close it for you. Often, this must be done through a letter, signed with a wet signature and sent by registered post.

If acting on behalf of a person for whom you are authorised to act as a deputy to manage their financial affairs, further documentation is often requested. This could include:

– A copy of a photo identity card of the person holding the account and its certified French translation
– A copy of the UK court order appointing a deputy for property and affairs and its certified French translation
– A copy of a proof of address of the account holder (if the person is in a care home in the UK, then the copy of a recent invoice on letter headed paper showing the address of the establishment) is often sufficient.
– A copy of a UK bank statement of the account holder to where the balance of the French account should be transferred, with the wet signature of their deputy on it.
– A completed and signed copy of the French bank’s “self-certification for tax purposes” (each bank has got their own template, available from its website).

The procedure can be slow, and some banks are particularly difficult when recognising overseas power of attorneys or deputyship orders, and you may need to appoint a bilingual agent to act as intermediary between you and the bank if you do not speak French.

At Stone King, we can help you with such administrative issues in liaising with the relevant French authorities to help you transfer funds from a French bank account to a UK one and close it. Often, the barrier of the language makes it extra complicated for a non-native to understand the official documents issued by banking institutions, complete and submit the relevant forms. Entrusting a native French speaker with a real knowledge of the culture and etiquette as a ‘go-between’ to liaise between you and the French agents can save you a lot of time and energy and can prove quicker and more efficient than trying to deal with the French administration yourself.

If you are interested in finding out more about closing bank accounts in France or making Wills to cover assets in the UK and in France and would like help analyzing the options available to you, please contact the international and cross-border team at Stone King LLP either by calling +44(0)1225 337599 or by emailing [email protected]

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