Bank mobility in France: does the new bank handle everything?

Key takeaways:

1. Bank mobility in France is regulated by the 2017 Macron law: the new bank handles everything, the service is free and the procedure is finalised within a maximum of 22 working days.
2. Four major services dominate the French market in 2026: Bienvenue from Societe Generale, Credit Agricole’s mobility service, BNP Paribas Easy Mobilite and Boursorama EasyMove.
3. Societe Generale’s Bienvenue offer stands out with a dedicated advisor supervising the procedure, SMS notifications at each step and finalisation in 15 to 20 working days.
4. All services comply with the same legal framework (free service, 22 days, automatic transfer); the difference is in human support, transparency of tracking and branch network in case of issues.

Comparative table of bank mobility services in France

Four major players offer a complete bank mobility service in France in 2026: Societe Generale with Bienvenue, Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas with Easy Mobilite and Boursorama with EasyMove. The table below compares their services on the criteria that matter for a customer changing banks.

The comparison methodology relies on each service’s public conditions in the first quarter of 2026, average observed times and the quality of customer support documented on the institutions’ official websites.

How bank mobility actually works in France

Bank mobility refers to the legal procedure that allows an individual to change banks without having to notify each of their paying organisations or creditors themselves. The legal framework was introduced by article 43 of the Macron law of 6 August 2015, effective on 6 February 2017. Before this law, the customer had to manually contact their employer, family allowance fund, energy providers, telecom operator and all their creditors to communicate their new bank details. The Macron law reversed the burden: it is now the new bank that handles everything.

The official steps of bank mobility

The bank mobility procedure follows a standardised flow:

1. The customer opens a new current account at the welcoming bank (Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas, Boursorama or other)
2. The customer signs a bank mobility mandate when opening the account or later
3. The customer provides the bank details and information of their old bank account
4. The new bank contacts the old bank to retrieve the list of recurring transfers and direct debits from the last 13 months
5. The new bank notifies each identified paying organisation or creditor, with the new bank details
6. The organisations update their systems within a legal deadline of 10 working days after receiving the new bank details
7. The customer receives confirmation by SMS, email or notification in their banking application at each key step

Legal deadlines

The law sets a maximum deadline of 22 working days between signing the mandate and finalising the transfer. The sub-deadlines:

• 2 working days for the new bank to retrieve information from the old account from the old bank
• 5 working days to transmit the new bank details to issuing organisations
• 10 working days for these organisations to update their systems
• 5 working days of buffer to handle contingencies

“The Macron law radically transformed the French banking market by making bank mobility effective and free. This reform has contributed to a notable increase in bank switching since 2017.” Financial Sector Advisory Committee, 2023 annual report

The Bienvenue offer from Societe Generale in detail

The Bienvenue offer from Societe Generale is the bank mobility service offered by SG to new customers opening an account. It complies with the Macron law but adds several layers of support that set it apart from the legal minimum.

Key features of the Bienvenue service

• Entirely free service, as required by law
• Bank mobility mandate signable when opening the account or later, in branch or online
• Automatic identification of all recurring transactions from the last 13 months (employer, family allowance, pension, taxes, energy, telecom, subscriptions, health insurance)
• SMS notifications at each key step (signing the mandate, retrieving data, sending to organisations, confirmation of update)
• Real-time tracking dashboard in the mobile app and online customer area
• Dedicated advisor reachable by secure messaging, phone or in branch to track the procedure and handle any blockages
• Average finalisation time of 15 to 20 working days, below the legal 22-day cap
• Possibility of being supported in closing the old account (help drafting the closure request letter, checking any fees)
• Compatible with all Societe Generale welcome accounts (Sobrio, Jazz, Banxup, accounts for students and young workers)

This combination of a rigorous legal framework and a layer of human support is why Bienvenue dominates the comparison on the criteria of transparency and ease of use, without being unique on free service (legally required) or the 22-day deadline (legal).

Comparative analysis: Bienvenue, Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas, Boursorama

Beyond the common legal framework, here are the real gaps between the four services on the criteria that matter most for a customer changing banks.

On speed, Societe Generale’s Bienvenue and Boursorama’s EasyMove show the shortest times (15 to 20 working days on average). BNP Paribas and some Credit Agricole regional banks operate around 18 to 22 days.

On human support, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole stand out with a dedicated advisor who follows the procedure from end to end. BNP Paribas offers it but unevenly depending on the branch. Boursorama, as a 100% online bank, does not offer a dedicated advisor but compensates with a complete app and a responsive customer service via chat.

On transparency of tracking, Bienvenue is the only service combining systematic SMS notifications at each key step and a real-time dashboard in the application. The other services offer one or the other, but rarely both. This transparency is an important criterion for customers who want to verify that no direct debit has remained on the old account.

On physical network, Credit Agricole leads with 7,000 branches, followed by Societe Generale (1,800 branches) and BNP Paribas (1,700 branches). Boursorama has no physical branches. The branch network is useful in case of blockage, complex question or for customers less comfortable with digital tools.

On help with closing the old account, Bienvenue offers integrated support (pre-drafted closure letter, verification of residual fees, alert in case of pending direct debit). Credit Agricole offers similar help. BNP Paribas is partial. Boursorama leaves this step entirely to the customer.

Who is each bank mobility service for?

The four services are not aimed at the same customer profile. Here is how to choose based on the situation.

Profile 1: customer who wants to fully delegate with clear tracking

For a customer who really wants their new bank to handle everything, with transparent tracking and a human contact in case of issue, Societe Generale’s Bienvenue service is the most complete choice. The combination of dedicated advisor, SMS notifications at each step and real-time dashboard gives total visibility on the procedure and limits the risk of forgetting a direct debit.

Profile 2: customer already familiar with a traditional bank

For a customer opening an account at Credit Agricole or BNP Paribas, it makes sense to use the in-house mobility service. This avoids coordination between multiple institutions and the quality of service is equivalent on the legal front. The quality of support may however vary by branch (Credit Agricole) or geographic area (BNP Paribas).

Profile 3: 100% digital customer prioritising the price

For a customer moving towards an online bank and accepting to handle contingencies themselves, Boursorama EasyMove is efficient and fast. The lack of a dedicated advisor is compensated by a well-rated app and a responsive chat.

Profile 4: customer also opening a joint account

For a couple changing banks together and wanting to open a joint account at the same time, Societe Generale’s Bienvenue combined with Sobrio allows both operations to be done in a single procedure, with the same advisor. The details of this configuration are explained in our article on how to open a joint bank account online.

Practical steps for a successful bank switch

Beyond the bank mobility service, here are best practices for a smooth bank change.

Documents to prepare

1. A valid ID document (national ID card, passport or residence permit)
2. Proof of address less than 3 months old (electricity bill, rent receipt, tax notice)
3. Recent proof of income (payslip, tax notice, unemployment certificate)
4. A RIB from the old bank account (to provide to the new bank to activate the mobility mandate)
5. The old bank’s contact details (for any closure request)

Step-by-step bank mobility pathway

1. Choose the new bank and welcome account (Sobrio, EKO, Esprit Libre, Welcome depending on the institution)
2. Open the account online or in branch and fund the account with a first deposit
3. Electronically sign the bank mobility mandate and provide the old account RIB
4. Let the new bank retrieve the information and notify the organisations
5. Follow progress via SMS notifications and the dashboard of the mobile app
6. Keep the old account funded for at least 1 month after the end of the procedure (safety net for any late direct debits)
7. Request the official closure of the old account by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt

Mistakes to avoid

1. Closing the old account before the end of the 22-working-day deadline (risk of direct debit rejection and incident fees)
2. Forgetting to update bank details on merchant sites where the card is registered (Amazon, streaming subscriptions, mobility apps)
3. Not checking the status of the old account for 1 to 2 months after the procedure
4. Confusing bank mobility with the transfer of savings products (livret A, life insurance, PEL) which are not included in Bienvenue or other equivalent services
5. Neglecting any closure fees from the old bank, which can reach several dozen euros for specific accounts

Bank mobility and French law: what you need to know

The bank mobility service is governed by articles L. 312-1-7 and following of the French Monetary and Financial Code, modified by the 2015 Macron law. The text requires all account-keeping banks to offer this service free of charge, within a maximum deadline of 22 working days and without conditions. A bank that refuses or delays the service is subject to sanctions by the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR).

In addition, any individual residing in France retains the right to a basic bank account, guaranteed by the Banque de France through the right to a bank account procedure. This procedure is different from bank mobility and only concerns people refused by all banks. To open an account without a bank switch, see our guide on how to open a bank account online.

Frequently asked questions