The growing global marketplace requires businesses expanding overseas to deal with international banking in France. France banks offer business owners the security of working with both local banks in France and banks with familiar names.

France banking institutions provide clients with the ease of working with their US based banks. US based banks in France as well as other global banks in France gives customers piece of mind working on both sides of the pond.

International banking in France helps business owners expand easily to this growing global marketplace. France banks get commercial customers the products they need to establish successful businesses or expand global franchises to the French economy. Work with banks in France to:

1. Invest in the growing French economy through French commercial banks.

2. Understand the culture and climate of doing business in France.

3. Strengthen your business presence through France banks.

4. Establish your business as a competitor in the global marketplace.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a bank in France that is a correspondent of a US based bank

Using a bank you know and trust helps get your business expansion to France up and running smoothly and efficiently. Having ready access to both home and international bank accounts simultaneously gives you peace of mind that your finances and business transactions are secure.

I recommend: Citibank is a US based bank and international company offering banking in many countries around the world, including France. All Banks provides users with information on banks. They have branches throughout the world.

Use local commercial banking in France as a resource for community involvement

Working with a local France bank helps establish your business as a contributor to the local economy. A good relationship with a France banking institution gets you recognized as a trusted partner in progress in your business location.

I recommend: Banque De France and Deutsche Bank has locations and branches throughout the country to serve all your business needs.

Compare banks in France through trusted financial resources

Work closely with your home based bank to help get good investment information about commercial banking in France. Banking in any foreign country requires some self-education, so working with a banker you trust makes the learning curve less daunting.

I recommend: Both ABN AMRO and HSBC have branches in the US and abroad to meet your global business needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Do your homework about French culture before beginning a relationship with a local bank in France. Finding out what you need to know about etiquette and customs help keep you from offending anyone before ever getting started.
• •  Make sure when banking in France you have a well-qualified translator or someone in your financial institution that can help you with language barriers. Many people in France speak English, but it's always a good idea to have someone who can help you if you need it.

As the business world becomes ever more interconnected and traditional boundaries breakdown, banking in France and other countries becomes an attractive option for your business. If your company were to have offices in the country, it'd be much easier to bank in France then keeping your funds localized. However, there are always positives and negatives to every option. Knowing the banks in France basics can give your company a baseline for comparison that lets you make correct asset allocation decisions.

The banks France’s citizens and businesspersons utilize have not only different verbiage, but also a system that has processes that are dissimilar to their U.S. counterparts. One option is to use an international bank in France, which has offices in the United States. Either way, if you understand the banks in France basics, it'll give you a proper knowledge prior to any financing decision. However, before you make that decision, there are few items to consider, such as:

1. Examine the differences between U.S. and France banks.

2. Contact the largest global banks in France to better understand the basics of banking in this country.

3. Utilize U.S. institutions for a smooth transition to banking in France.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the differences between banks of France and the United States

While most banking systems have commonalities, there are certain issues such as terminology and processes that differ from U.S. banks. The terminology gap stems mostly from the language barrier, but it's something anyone that wants to bank in France must master to be effective. Then you have the different currency and monetary regulations for the local and global central banks in France, which make asset allocation a challenge.

I recommend: Examine the French banking guide published by Burlingame Interactive on its ExpatExchange website. This useful explains some of the differences between the French and U.S. systems and may answer many of the basic questions you have using banks in France. Study the monetary guide from Just Landed to understand the currency technology in the country. You may also want to check out its other sections on opening and account at a French bank, using the bank’s standard services and common French expressions used in France’s banking environment.

Speak to an international bank in France

The international banks that have branches in the U.S. as well as France can make the French banking experience much more advantageous. Sometimes these banks will offer incentives when you open an international account. At the very least, it'll streamline the process in that you won't need to use more than one bank, and as a consequence, incur different charges and account rules.

I recommend: Speak to a representative at Deutsche Bank or the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation for the international banking options available in France. The banking personnel at these institutions can answer most any question you have about French banking.

Utilize American based operations to assist with international banking in France

There are organizations that can help your company make the transition to banking in France. These associations will give you the perspective of other American companies that began banking in France. That way you don't have to reinvent the wheel, because others have been through this same process.

I recommend: Contact the American Chamber of Commerce in France to understand what challenges and opportunities are available through French banks. BuyUSA is another option that can guide you through the banking transition process.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you use French commercial banks, be sure to speak to current banking institutions. Often they'll have branches or at least partnerships with foreign banks that can make the asset transition much easier.

Banks in France are based on the euro. Banking in France, however, is slightly different than other European countries. Banks in France education and training is simply a matter of checking out the ample information on French banking before you begin using French banks.

Information on Banks in France can been found through government and business channels. Speaking with a French bank with branches in the US beforehand would give you a head start. Most important, however, is adjusting your behavior to that of the French culture. Learning the cultural ways of the French will give you a better banking experience.

1. The banks of France rely on checks more than the US or English banking systems.

2. Debit cards are used more than credit cards. Overdrawing your account has serious repercussions.

3. ATMs in France are plentiful.

4. Banking with a French bank is necessary for paying rent, utilities, mortgages and such.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use France banks for personal checking accounts

Personal checking accounts are necessary for living and working in France. There are some slight differences between our checking accounts. It is easier to use a French bank that has English speaking employees.

I recommend: Expatica is a good resource for educating yourself on France banks. The US Embassy is another resource for learning more about French banks. Its website also lists banks with English speaking employees and is great source for educating yourself on banking in France.

Learn more about business banking in France

If you have a business it's important to learn about corporate banking in France. There are differences in corporate banking -- from social mores to using the Euro. The French admire intelligence, so it's important to know what you're doing before using commercial French banks.

I recommend: Believe it or not, there is an American Chamber of Commerce in France. Here you can learn about French banks -- especially French commercial banks procedures. Communicaid is a consulting firm that offers a training program on French business and banking.

Get acquainted with the most important bank in France

The central bank of France and its history are important to understanding the banking system of France.

I recommend: Banque de France is France's central bank. Its website is in English. Its role is similar to that of the German banking system and different from the US banking system.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The French are very proud of their culture. Learning to speak French and making an effort to speak it will go a long way to increasing your experience in using a bank in France -- even if you're using US banks in France.