Sorry for my typo. I meant to write:

"In a hierarchy of "who gets tapped first" to come up with cash when the euro system is threatened, non-Germans and foreign depositors in non-German owned banks ARE the first to get hit."

sandra, really interesting, thank you

Cathinjoetown,

The next time you write a check use one of the last ones in the book. This will trick the system into thinking you are running out of checks and generate a new book.

Great idea, Louie, but I don't think their system is that sophisticated! We have been through 2 checkbooks in 5 years and have had to go to the branch to request a new one. No automatically generated mailing of a new one!

Over the years, I have used a variety of banks in France and have been quite happy with the Banque Postale in recent times, which is also the cheapest bank in France. However, I would certainly recommend an urban agency rather than one in a village.

Hello, it's better to use an international bank as BNP Paribas, general Société or HSBC.
I prefer HSBC (Swiss bank) who proposes international services and have very clear price lists(rates). Good search

<< I would guess that anybody contemplating a move to Europe would already be paying for the advice of such a professional,>>

Of course we are. Our next meeting is Monday at 10 am.

Elodie, we have had horrifically terrible experiences with HSBC in Hong Kong, but thank you anyway.

Thanks, Carlux. We have no intention of dealing with Crédit Agricole. Have had too many personal bad experiences with them and heard too much bad stuff from friends in the Périgord. I don't like the Crédit Commerciale du Sudouest, but CA seems even worse by far.

Leaning now toward AXA Banque or the Banque Postale for everyday stuff and keeping most of our assets in our regular bank, the World Bank Federal Credit Union, which among other things sends free non-USD wire transfers to anywhere in the world.

Cath, we're headed over sometime for a month this fall - mid-September to mid-October, I hope, to start the rénovations. No surefire permanent moving plan, but let's say within a year of that. As early as next spring would be ideal, but do I really think all my workmen will accomplish everything they need to over the winter? Hah! Would be a miracle.

<I>I prefer HSBC (Swiss bank)</i>

Since when has the Hongkong & China Banking Corporation been a Swiss bank?

I have used Axa Bank for my basic operations and Visa card for years, but I hope you have a European passport now, StCirq, because Axa dumped all of its American customers so as not to be bothered with FATCA problems. The new onine bank owned by BNP Paribas called Hello Bank (stupid name) is supposed to be good, too.

You might want to look at this article about on-line banks.

http://www.banqueparis.fr/choisir-banque-en-ligne.html

To avoid recent changes in US law requiring reporting of any foreign asset in excess of $10,000, I always keep under than in French bank accounts, transferring money as needed via xe.com.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, is, of course, presently HQ'd in London :-)

"<< I would guess that anybody contemplating a move to Europe would already be paying for the advice of such a professional,>>

Of course we are. Our next meeting is Monday at 10 am.<<<"

Then you should listen to and weigh the advice you are paying to get, not what you pick up on the internet -- and I include my own comments in that general caution.

Returning to Paris today, I found that I had received a letter from BNP Paribas where I still have a minor account. I just never closed it when I moved my principal account to another bank about 20 years ago. I think my medical refunds still arrive on that account.

Anyway, the letter tells me that our relations have become "loose" over the years, so "what about trying Hello Bank"? In fact, the letter goes on to say that my account will be transferred to Hello Bank automatically if I do not tell them no before September 15th. But they also point out that my account number, internet access codes and automatic operations will remain unchanged. While I find the method a little cavalier, it is completely fine with me because I am a big fan of online banks as long as I know they have somebody really solid behind them.