How to Bank as an American in France: A Simple 3-Step Process

Dylan St. Cyr
Oct 22
3 min read

Are you wondering how to bank as an American in France? Moving to France is exciting, but banking can get confusing if you’re unprepared. Here’s a simple 3-step process to banking in France as an American:

Step 1: Keep a U.S. Bank That Accepts Foreign Addresses

A big problem many U.S. expats face is that U.S. banks won’t let you update your account with a French address. However, there are a few exceptions:

Chase will allow you to keep your checking and savings accounts, as well as your credit cards, with remote access to your account through their online portal. Note, this must be set up before moving to France.
State Department Federal Credit Union is a banking solution built for overseas Americans that’s available if you become a member of the American Citizens Abroad association. (approx. $70/year)

Step 2: Pick An Online Multi-Curency Account Before Moving to France

Wise: Easy to set up in the U.S., no visa or French address required. However, you’ll usually get a Belgian IBAN, which can be problematic for certain French financial institutions.
Revolut: Works like a French bank account with a French IBAN, but you’ll need your visa and proof of address. If you already have those before leaving, you can open it early.

Both Wise and Revolut are great for converting dollars to euros at competitive rates, especially for smaller amounts. You only need one! Choose the one that matches your situation so you don’t overcomplicate things.

Bonus: Wise and Revolut are also great for sending money to friends or moving smaller amounts of money between accounts quickly — sometimes instantly. Traditional French banks, on the other hand, often take 3–5 business days to process transfers.

Step 3: After You’re Settled in France

Once you have your French address, we recommend opening a traditional French bank account. This makes it easier to:

Pay rent, utilities, and insurance, as some of your expenses may not accept online banks
Take out a loan for a property or car purchase
Withdraw cash locally
Additional proof that you’ve settled in France when you apply for a French visa or visa renewal

When choosing a French bank, two things should be at the top of your list:

Proximity: pick a branch close to where you live. In France, banking is very regional and you’ll likely visit your local branch more often than you would in the U.S.
Experience with Americans: find bankers who are used to working with U.S. clients. They’ll better understand cross-border issues and the unique needs of expats as there are many bank products that you will want to avoid. Stay away from PFICs (Passive Foreign Investment Companies) and don’t get caught in the assurance vie trap!

Common banks to look at:

Quick Recap

Stage	Action	Key Point
Before Your Move	Pick one online bank: Wise or Revolut, depending on visa/address.	Don’t overcomplicate — one is enough. Both are good for currency conversion.
Once Settled	Open a local French bank account.	Prioritize proximity and bankers familiar with U.S. expats and cross-border needs.
Keep it simple	Use Wise/Revolut for fast transfers; add a French bank for daily life.	Balance speed + local access.

Thinking of moving to France?

Dunhill Financial is here to help U.S. expats living in Europe with their finances, offering investment strategies designed for European residents. We also work with a team of cross-border experts to offer a full suite of services, including financial, tax, and estate planning. Don't hesitate to reach out to Dunhill and schedule a free consultation with one of our cross-border financial advisors today.

DUNHILL FINANCIAL, LLC IS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISER. INFORMATION PRESENTED IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT INTEND TO MAKE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION FOR THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF ANY SPECIFIC SECURITIES, INVESTMENTS, OR INVESTMENT STRATEGIES. INVESTMENTS INVOLVE RISK AND UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ARE NOT GUARANTEED. BE SURE TO FIRST CONSULT WITH A QUALIFIED FINANCIAL ADVISER AND/OR TAX PROFESSIONAL BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY STRATEGY DISCUSSED HEREIN.