Login
You are...
Services
Rates
Resources
Request a demo

Banking and finance news

Bank watch Société Générale fined for excessive charges Société Générale and Caisse d'Epargne de Loire-Centre have been fined by the DGCCRF for excessive charges.
Banking watch Bankruptcy of the Swoon neobank: savers wait for their money The Swoon neobank went bankrupt this summer, leaving savers unable to access their money.
Bank Watch Retail banking: more women in management Over the last three years, a number of women have joined the management teams of the retail banking divisions of major groups.
Banking News Solidarity fund and social contributions: what rules for September? A decree dated September 14, 2021 has modified the conditions allowing companies most impacted by the crisis to benefit from the solidarity fund.
Bank Watch Cash flow: companies back to pre-crisis levels VSEs and SMEs are gradually emerging from the crisis, as revealed by a study by Bpifrance Le Lab and Rexecode, but remain cautious.
Bank Watch Purchasing power: a third of French people overdraw at least once a year The average overdraft on French bank accounts rose to 316 euros per person in 2021.
Bank Watch Between flex office and teleworking, the new bank organization In the banking sector, it's no longer the case that employees work 100% from home. A new organization is emerging, combining face-to-face and remote working.
Banking Watch Pandemic: the French make greater use of their banking applications The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of banking services, and transformed customers' relationship with their bank.
Bank watch Mortgages: strict conditions for granting loans The new conditions for granting mortgages, which until now have only been recommendations, are about to become mandatory.
Banking Watch The French are increasingly confident in the banking system French confidence in banks continues to grow, as does knowledge of the guarantees that apply to their money.
Bank Watch Mortgage rates at record low According to the Observatoire Crédit Logement / CSA, mortgage rates have reached their lowest level ever.
Bank Watch Banks restricted in the use of their customers' personal data Banks are more restricted than the tech giants when it comes to using their customers' personal data.
Banking watch Businesses: electronic invoicing mandatory from 2023 In accordance with the 2020 Finance Act, companies will be obliged to use electronic invoicing for payments from 2023.
Bank Watch New extension of apprenticeship subsidies On September 6, the French Prime Minister announced the extension of apprenticeship subsidies until June 30, 2022. Find out what you need to know.
Banking watch Unemployment insurance contribution rate: a bonus-malus simulator for companies The French Ministry of Labor provides companies with a simulator enabling them to calculate their unemployment insurance contribution rate.
Bank Watch Bank solutions to tackle illiteracy Digital access to all banking services is often essential. Yet millions of French people are excluded.
Bank Watch Cybersecurity: a warning system for small businesses At a time when cyber-attacks are exploding, the government wants to give small businesses the means to cope.
Bank Watch Purchasing power: renewal of the Macron bonus The amended Finance Act for 2021 once again extends the exceptional purchasing power bonus, also known as the Macron bonus.
Banking watch European banks very active in tax havens European banks have maintained their presence in tax havens in recent years, according to a study by the European Tax Observatory.
Bank Watch The importance of the Data Protection Officer in SMEs According to a recent study, the majority of European SMEs have appointed a data protection officer.
Bank Watch Patent filings: European banks lag behind While US banks are breaking records for patent filings, European banks are lagging behind.
Banking watch Covid-19: cryptocurrency-related criminal activity down in 2020 A recent study by Chainalysis reveals that transactions linked to illicit activities on the Blockchain have decreased in 2020.
Bank Watch Western Union and MoneyGram money transfers resume in Afghanistan On September 2, Western Union and MoneyGram resumed their money transfer services to Afghanistan.
Banking intelligence French Tech Green20: France promotes the emergence of Greentechs Some twenty French startups have joined the new French Tech Green20 program launched by the government.
Bank Watch European Central Bank launches digital euro project The ECB steps up a gear, announcing the launch of its digital euro project.
Banking watch Amicable procedure: the ad hoc mandate as a way out of a health crisis A recent study shows that managers are ready to resort to insolvency proceedings, but few are familiar with the adapted ad hoc crisis exit mandate.
Bank Watch Business expense management: Spendesk raises 100 million euros French fintech Spendesk, which specializes in business expense management, has just announced a €100 million round of financing.
Banking watch A company's financial health: how to obtain information? When doing business with a new customer or supplier, it's important to find out about the financial health of the target company.
Banking watch Subsidies: how much do associations receive? Subsidies may be paid to associations by the State, a local authority or a public institution. How can you find out how much they cost? Here are the answers.
Bank Watch Solidarity fund ends on September 30 The "whatever it takes" plan to save French businesses and the French economy is well and truly over. The solidarity fund will come to an end on September 30.
Bank Watch Back to school: banks in the starting-blocks Back-to-school season is just around the corner, and banks don't want to miss out on the opportunity to return to "business as usual" lending volumes.
Banking Watch In the UK, buying and selling cryptocurrencies possible via PayPal Starting this week, UK PayPal users will gradually be able to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.
Bank Watch Facebook launches business loan program in India Mark Zuckerberg's company has launched a test phase of its business loan program in India, home to 333 million Internet users.
Banking News Digital payment: rising earnings for European players Since the beginning of the health crisis, Europe's major digital payment players have benefited from the accelerated development of the sector.
Banking watch The financial sector seeks to mobilize women's savings While 40% of the world's wealth is held by women, the financial sector is still struggling to mobilize their savings.
Bank Watch Booming second-hand market benefits banks' automotive subsidiaries Since the start of the pandemic, the used car market has been booming. A boon for banks' automotive subsidiaries.
Bank watch Mortgages: summer 2021 favorable despite longer lending times This summer, conditions are rather favorable for buying a property, thanks to low interest rates. However, lending times are getting longer.
Bank Watch Aviva: a £4 billion payout to shareholders British insurer Aviva has announced a £4 billion payout to its shareholders, not without some pressure from Cevian.
Bank Watch Insurance and natural disasters: rising prices in Europe Natural disasters in 2021, particularly the floods in July, will drive up insurance prices in Europe.
Bank Watch Ethereum: a major update for the second-largest cryptocurrency On August 5, the 2nd cryptocurrency after Bitcoin underwent a major update, Hard Fork London. What changes have been made?
Banking watch French finance scrutinizes Italian negotiations AXA and CNP Assurances are closely monitoring the current negotiations between the Italian government and the country's second-largest bank, Unicredit.
Bank Watch Apple takes the plunge into split payments Apple will offer payment for its products in installments in Canada, and is preparing a fractional payment option via Apple Pay.
Banking News Crédit Agricole to launch new share buyback program The mutual bank, buoyed by its excellent results in the second quarter of 2021, intends to launch a new share buyback program.
Bank Watch ECB lifts restrictions on bank dividends Since the start of the pandemic, banks have been subject to dividend restrictions. These restrictions will soon be lifted.
Bank Watch BNP Paribas results up in 2nd quarter BNP Paribas, the leading bank in the euro zone, has released its 2nd quarter results. They show an increase of 26.6% over one year.
Bank Watch Government urged to extend business support measures The committee monitoring business support measures has just issued its report, and is urging caution about ending aid.
Banking News Solidarity Fund: application form for June 2021 now available Eligible companies can now apply for aid for June 2021 activity, until August 31.
Bank Watch Attempted scams on the rise since the start of the pandemic Since the start of the health crisis, attempted scams have been on the increase, targeting French people's surplus savings.
Banking watch Towards opening banking mediation to professional customers The French Banking Federation has recommended that its members open banking mediation to professionals by July 2022.
Bank Watch Mortgages: rates down, terms up In the 2nd quarter of 2021, mortgage rates reached their lowest level for 20 years, but terms have lengthened.
Bank Watch French banks lose battle with European regulator The European Court of Justice has ruled in favor of the European Banking Authority, after several years of opposition from French banks.
Banking Watch French Tech soars in the second quarter The second quarter of 2021 saw French startups raise a record 3.2 billion euros from investors.
Bank Watch The government aims to accelerate the ecological transition of VSEs/SMEs with a new aid scheme Accelerating the ecological transition is one of the priorities of the "France Relance" plan, and an opportunity for very small businesses.
Bank Watch 1600 ATMs to be decommissioned by 2020 More and more banks are closing some of their cash dispensers, as part of a rationalization drive.
Bank watch Extension of deferred payment of social security contributions this summer The social security contribution deferral scheme introduced a few months ago has been extended for the months of June, July and August 2021.
Bank Watch Number of company deregistrations up in H1 During the 1st half of 2021, the number of company deregistrations rose by 28% compared to the 1st half of 2020.
Banking watch Repayable advances and subsidized loans maintained until the end of 2021 The government has postponed the end of the repayable advance and subsidized loan schemes until December 31, 2021.
Bank Watch A national consultation on cyber risk insurance Bercy has launched an open consultation on cyber insurance, with the aim of drawing up an action plan for 2022.
Bank watch Low-emission zones: exemptions for professionals Businesses have finally won their case, and will be able to drive for another year in Paris' low-emission zone (ZFE).
Banking watch Find out all about Bpifrance's Cash BFR consulting module The Cash BFR module helps industrial companies take stock of their accounts, establish a strategy and identify priorities for action.
Banking watch China: the digital yuan gradually takes root For several months now, China has been testing a digital version of its official currency, the e-yuan, as it distances itself further from Bitcoin.
Bank Watch Business insolvencies on the rise in the second quarter In the second quarter of 2021, the number of business failures rose slightly, even though they remain at a very low level.
Banking watch French car insurance market targeted by unicorn Tractable Tractable, a company specializing in artificial intelligence for car insurers, has achieved unicorn status following a round of financing.
Banking watch Business buyouts: which platform to choose? With the gradual disappearance of state aid, the number of companies to be taken over is set to increase. Which platforms are available?
Bank Watch Semiconductor shortage could affect bank card production The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide shortage of semiconductors, which could disrupt bank card production.
Bank Watch Freelancers increasingly present on marketplaces More and more French people are taking the plunge into freelancing and choosing online platforms to develop their business.
Banking watch The health crisis has led to a surge in fraudulent savings accounts Since the start of the pandemic, the number of fraudulent savings books has increased. Fraudsters are impersonating well-known companies.
Banking watch Banking ombudsmen's lack of independence criticized In a recent report, the Comité Consultatif du Secteur Financier (Financial Sector Consultative Committee) calls for greater independence of bank ombudsmen.
Banking watch Savings: supervisory authorities call for vigilance The supervisory authorities call on savers to be vigilant, and take stock of current practices.
Bank Watch The European Central Bank wants to promote bank mergers The European Central Bank wants to harmonize national practices to encourage cross-border bank mergers.
Bank Watch UBS to offer hybrid teleworking to two-thirds of its employees Two-thirds of employees at Swiss bank UBS will be able to benefit from a work organization combining face-to-face and remote working.
Banking watch Switzerland: cash payments gradually declining After a long tradition of cash payments, the Swiss are increasingly turning to cashless payments.
Banking watch Microentrepreneurs: support measures deemed inadequate by the UAE Among the self-employed, microentrepreneurs have been particularly hard hit by the health crisis, and are criticizing the inadequate support they receive to get through it.
Banking watch Visa acquires Swedish fintech Tink for 1.8 billion euros American payment giant Visa has acquired Swedish fintech Tink, a market leader in open banking, for 1.8 billion euros.
Bank watch S&P downgrades BPCE's credit rating Rating agency Standard & Poor's has lowered the credit rating of mutual group BPCE from "A+" to "A".
Banking Watch Banking jobs hit by health crisis According to figures from the French Banking Federation, the number of jobs in the French banking sector is at its lowest level since 1990.
Bank Watch Morgan Stanley allows only vaccinated staff into its New York offices As of July 12, employees and visitors who have not been vaccinated against Covid will no longer be allowed access to the bank's New York offices.
Bank Watch Sick leave: from July 1, self-employed professionals can receive compensation From July 1, self-employed professionals will be able to receive daily benefits in the event of sick leave due to incapacity.
Bank Watch Solidarity Fund: May application form now online The Solidarity Fund application form for May 2021 activity is now online, and can be submitted until July 31.
Bank Watch Record number of business start-ups over the last 12 months In the space of a year, the number of business start-ups has soared to record levels. The delivery sector has taken off.
Bank Watch Short-time working: what to expect? Since June, the government has been gradually reducing its contribution to short-time working.
Bank Watch Banque de France unveils reassuring study on corporate health A recent study by the Banque de France is reassuring about the financial health of companies as they emerge from the crisis.
Bank Watch Bank charges: a potential loss of 300 million for Deutsche Bank German banks are no longer allowed to increase their charges without the explicit agreement of their customers, and are now preparing to pay back their losses.
Bank Watch Wefox raises funds to expand internationally The young German startup has just raised $650 million to expand into the United States and Asia.
Banking watch Plan d'épargne retraite: over 2.8 million policyholders in 2020 While Bercy claimed that the PER had attracted 4.5 million subscribers by 2020, the figure has been revised downwards to 2.8 million.
Bank Watch Ledger raises $380 million and becomes a unicorn Benefiting from the cryptocurrency craze, Ledger has completed a major fundraising round, joining the circle of French unicorns.
Bank Watch Nubank: Warren Buffett invests $500 million in the neobank Brazilian neobank Nubank has just completed a $750 million round of financing. Warren Buffet alone invested $500 million.
Banking News The impact of inflation on Livret A interest rates In recent months, inflation has returned. Will the very low interest rate on the Livret A be revised as a result?
Bank Watch Postbank to charge for retail deposits In Germany, for the first time, a retail bank will be charging retail deposits, according to information reported by Les Echos.
Bank watch Weak Signals" system to identify companies in difficulty The Weak Signals application, launched in 2016, has been enhanced to enable the administration to spot companies in difficulty.
Bank Watch Banque de France corporate ratings: a complicated 2021 After a 2020 marked by the Covid-19 crisis, the 2021 edition of the Banque de France's company ratings looks set to be a tricky one.
Bank watch Overindebtedness files on the rise at the Banque de France Since the start of 2021, the number of overindebtedness cases registered by the Banque de France has risen compared with 2020.
Banking News SMEs: profits up by 2% in 2020 according to the OEC After a year of health crisis, SMEs are faring better than expected, with net income up by almost 2%...
Bank Watch The growing importance of cyber risk management for banks Since the start of the pandemic, banks have become even more exposed to cyber risk, which they need to take very seriously.
Banking News Life insurance: new positive net inflows in April The horizon is brightening for life insurance, with positive net inflows for the 5th consecutive month, following a difficult year in 2020.
Bank Watch European Investment Bank makes record investments in Africa The European Investment Bank (EIB) invested more in Africa last year, with a particular focus on the fight against climate change.
Bank watch Real estate: borrowing rates at record lows The average mortgage rate reached its lowest level ever in April and May, according to the Observatoire Crédit Logement CSA.
Banking watch Madelin IR-PME scheme extended to the end of the year The Madelin tax scheme, which allows investors to invest in unlisted SMEs in return for a tax reduction, has been extended until December 31, 2021.
Banking Watch The quiet success of British fintech SaltPay SaltPay, the British fintech offering payment services to merchants, has raised $700 million since its inception.
Bank Watch ADEME aims to accelerate the ecological transition of SMEs As part of the France Relance plan, ADEME has launched a simplified financing scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to accelerate their ecological transition.
Bank Watch Italian bank Aigis victim of Greensill bankruptcy Italian bank Aigis has filed for bankruptcy, just a few weeks after the collapse of factoring specialist Greensill.
Bank Watch Banks faced with excess savings Faced with the excess savings generated by the health crisis, banks are having to manage an influx of deposits, at a not inconsiderable cost.
Banking watch The end of the gift tax exemption scheme is approaching Since July 2020, it has been possible to donate up to 100,000 euros to one's descendants without paying gift tax.
Banking watch Contentsquare: a record-breaking round of financing The French start-up specializing in website and application performance analysis has just completed a €408 million round of financing.
Banking watch Social security contributions: new deferral for the self-employed The self-employed will be able to benefit from new deferral arrangements and a payment plan for 2020 contributions.
Bank Watch Epsor raises 20 million euros for simplified management of employee savings schemes French start-up Epsor, which offers digital solutions for employee savings schemes, has completed a €20 million round of financing.
Banking News Livret A deposits remain high in April In April 2021, Livret A deposits fell short of the previous month's record, but remained at a high level.
Banking watch Companies: Kbis no longer required for administrative procedures Under the PACTE Act, companies are no longer required to provide a Kbis extract for administrative purposes.
Bank Watch Small business debt: what the government is planning The government has tabled an amendment to introduce a fast-track collective procedure for small businesses.
Bank Watch Ransomware: ANSSI denounces insurers' murky game In 2020, the number of cyber-attacks targeting companies in all sectors has multiplied. Ransomware attacks are particularly on the rise.
Banking watch Cryptocurrencies: growing interest from private banks Private banks, approached by their customers about investing in cryptocurrencies, are gradually opening up to this market.
Banking News Back Market: fundraising tarnished by royalty project Back Market has entered the circle of French unicorns thanks to a major fund-raising campaign, but it's not in the mood to celebrate.
Bank Watch Managing IT incidents: a challenge for banks The health crisis and lockdown have increased the pressure on banks, putting their IT systems under strain.
Banking watch Towards a revision of the European directive on consumer credit The European Commission is preparing a new proposal for a directive on consumer credit.
Banking watch How to transfer your company using the Dutreil pact? The Dutreil pact allows you to reduce gift or inheritance tax on company shares. Here are the conditions for benefiting.
Banking watch Compensation contract: La Banque Postale awaits the green light from Brussels The European Commission must validate La Banque Postale's public service compensation contract, for the period 2021-2026.
Bank watch Mortgages: a slight rise in rates in May After a slight fall in April, mortgage rates rose slightly in May. A temporary phenomenon or a real trend?
Bank Watch French government maintains solidarity fund in May The French government has announced that it will maintain the solidarity fund in full in May, and that it will be gradually increased from June onwards.
Banking News Professionals: public broadcasting contribution postponed to July 1 In a press release dated April 14, Bruno Le Maire and Olivier Dussopt announced the postponement from April to July of the public broadcasting contribution.
Bank watch The importance of the declaration of unseizability for sole traders A declaration of unseizability enables a sole trader to protect his property in the event of insolvency proceedings.
Banking News European banks: an upbeat first quarter European banks reported strong earnings growth in the first quarter of 2021, but the ECB is still urging caution.
Banking watch Amicable liquidation of a company: what procedure should be followed? A company may be wound up out of court, without necessarily facing economic difficulties.
Banking watch Life insurance: the importance of drafting the beneficiary clause The beneficiary clause is just as important as the underlying returns and taxation when taking out a life insurance policy.
Banking watch Beware of contracts entered into by companies in formation Before a company is registered, a number of contracts must be concluded. Certain rules must be observed.
Bank Watch Shops: aid for seasonal stocks to be paid from May 25 Faced with higher levels of unsold stock than last year, retailers in certain sectors will benefit from public assistance.
Banking watch Carbon neutrality: 43 banks pledge to meet the challenge by 2050 Under the aegis of the UN, 43 international banks, notably in Europe and the USA, have pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Bank Watch Cybersecurity: 3 protective measures for businesses The Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of teleworking are increasing the risk of cyber-attacks. How can companies protect themselves?
Bank Watch State aid limited the impact of the health crisis on companies According to a recent report, without state aid, the health crisis would have doubled the number of companies becoming insolvent.
Bank Watch PGE scheme extended to December 31, 2021 Since March 2020, banks have been able to offer state-guaranteed loans, a scheme designed to support companies' cash flow in the face of the health crisis.
Bank Watch 21 billion euros in cumulative profits for French banks in 2020 In 2020, the major French banks generated profits of 21 billion euros out of a total of 23 billion euros in the euro zone.
Banking watch How do I change my company's APE code? Each professional activity is governed by a code issued by INSEE, known as the "APE code". How do I change it?
Banking watch New regulatory constraints for Chinese fintechs Faced with ever-increasing regulatory constraints, Chinese fintechs have not yet said their last word.
Bank Watch The tax compliance review, a useful tool for SMEs The tax compliance examination, which companies can voluntarily undergo, is particularly useful for very small businesses and SMEs.
Bank Watch Solidarity fund form for March 2021 now online Created in March 2020, the solidarity fund is aimed at companies that can demonstrate a loss of sales.
Banking watch Credit mediation prepares for the consequences of the recovery Credit mediation, a public body backed by the Banque de France, is preparing to handle a large number of cases during the recovery.
Banking News Companies: social security contribution exemption and assistance schemes extended Certain companies will be able to benefit from exemptions and assistance with the payment of contributions due for January and February 2021.
Bank Watch Crédit Agricole successfully acquires Italian bank Creval After raising its initial offer several times, the Crédit Agricole group has announced that it has succeeded in its takeover bid for Creval.
Bank Watch CaixaBank prepares to lay off 18% of its workforce in Spain Spanish banking giant CaixaBank has embarked on its biggest restructuring ever in the Spanish banking sector.
Bank Watch French insurtech Alan closes major fund-raising round French health insurance start-up Alan has just completed a major fund-raising round and achieved unicorn status.
Bank Watch Ransomware attacks on the rise in France France is the country most affected by ransomware cyberattacks. Their number exploded in 2020, and is set to double again in 2021.
Bank watch Business insolvencies: alarming signs While the number of business failures is still low, certain indicators point to more difficult times ahead.
Banking watch Marketing financial products: how to protect vulnerable people? The ACPR and AMF call on professionals to take better account of the situation of vulnerable elderly people in their customer relations.
Banking watch Online purchases: strong authentication required above 100 euros Merchants are concerned about the gradual generalization of the requirement for strong authentication to secure online payments.
Banking intelligence France misses out on the ranking of most innovative companies The latest study by the Boston Consulting Group reveals a ranking of the 50 most innovative companies, with France missing out.
Bank Watch Businesses: aid for hiring disabled workers As part of its stimulus package, the French government has introduced a grant to encourage the hiring of disabled workers.
Banking watch Deeptechs: Bpifrance increases its funding As part of its 2019 Deeptech Plan, Bpifrance has revised its objectives upwards and is increasing the amount of funding.
Bank Watch Bad debts: banks call for greater flexibility European banks are currently negotiating with the European Banking Authority to relax credit restructuring rules.
Banking watch Duplication of regulated savings soon prohibited Until now, before opening a Livret A savings account, banks checked that the customer did not already have one. This control will now be extended to other passbooks.
Bank watch The "prêt d'honneur Création-Reprise The "prêt d'honneur Création-Reprise" is designed to support the creation or takeover of a business by strengthening equity capital.
Banking watch Secured loans: 55% of companies ask for a further year's deferment According to the Fédération Bancaire Française, 55% of companies with an EMP would like to request an additional one-year deferment.
Bank Watch Spanish start-up Glovo raises 450 million euros Spanish start-up Glovo has raised €450 million, the most ever for a Spanish start-up.
Banking watch The Renfort honor loan On February 19, 2021, Bpifrance announced the creation of the Renfort honor loan to help VSEs and SMEs get through the crisis.
Banking watch Business: a CCI launches an online self-diagnosis tool To help companies cope with the crisis, the Marne Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched an online self-diagnosis tool.
Banking watch Businesses: how to benefit from the conversion bonus? The government has introduced a conversion bonus to encourage businesses to buy cleaner vehicles.
Bank Watch The PEL, a problematic product for banks In the current environment of historically low interest rates, the Plan d'Epargne Logement represents a significant cost for banks.
Bank Watch Vybe neobank: second fundraising in eight months Neobank Vybe, which targets teenagers aged 13 to 17, has completed 2 rounds of financing in 8 months, and is keen to set itself apart from the competition.
Bank watch Bpifrance launches the prêt d'honneur solidaire for entrepreneurs in difficulty In 2020, Bpifrance deployed a new financing tool: the prêt d'honneur solidaire. What does it involve? Who can benefit from it?
Bank Watch Life insurance: the pandemic as a time for misinformation Times of crisis are ripe for misinformation. In the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic, life insurance is the target of fake news.
Banking watch Authorities vigilant against the rise of fractional payments Fractional payments, driven by the boom in e-commerce since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, are being targeted by the authorities.
Bank Watch IT departments adopt teleworking on a massive scale Encouraged during periods of confinement, telecommuting could continue in IT departments even after the crisis.
Bank Watch Cour des Comptes warns about long-term rental offers Long-term leasing offers are proliferating, without being subject to consumer credit regulations.
Bank Watch "Objectif télétravail": a service for deploying teleworking in VSEs and SMEs Objectif télétravail is a service designed to advise and support companies in organizing teleworking in the context of the health crisis.
Banking watch Towards improved banking inclusion? The health crisis could have repercussions for the most vulnerable populations. At least, that's what the Cour des Comptes (French Audit Office) believes in its report.
Banking Watch Valuation of fintech Stripe reaches $95 billion The fintech Stripe has been valued at $95 billion, following a $600 million fundraising round.
Banking News Fixed costs: a scheme to cover costs effective from March 31 The French government has announced the launch of an exceptional aid package to supplement the Solidarity Fund: a scheme to cover fixed costs.
Bank Watch Rising bank contributions to the rescue fund The amount of contributions paid by banks to the Single Resolution Fund is regularly the subject of fierce criticism.
Banking watch Neobanks: a platform for reporting IBAN discrimination Despite the illegality of the practice, many companies refuse foreign IBANs, penalizing customers of certain neobanks.
Banking News SMEs pleased with extension of aid for hiring young people While the extension of aid for hiring young people is good news for those primarily concerned, it is also good news for SMEs.
Bank Watch Cleantech investment on track for 2020 2020 was an excellent year for cleantech investment, despite the health and economic context.
Banking Watch Private banks Goldman Sachs and Barclays open offices in Paris International private banks are taking an interest in the French market, with a particular focus on high-net-worth clients.
Bank Watch Company aid: Cour des Comptes warns of fraud The French Court of Audit has examined the operation of the solidarity fund, and warns of the risk of cumulation with other State aid.
Banking watch Livret A, LDDS, LEP, PEL: Bercy steps up controls The government is set to step up controls on the multiple holding of regulated savings products such as the Livret A, LDDS, LEP and PEL.
Bank Watch Which households saved the most in 2020? While savings reached record levels in 2020, not all French people put aside the same amounts, as confirmed by Insee.
Bank Watch Consumer credit sees steepest decline since 2008 In 2020, consumer credit experienced its worst year since the 2008 financial crisis, with revolving credit plummeting.
Bank Watch Associations help entrepreneurs in the doldrums to bounce back Impacted by the health crisis, many companies have found themselves in peril. Associations are mobilizing to help entrepreneurs bounce back.
Bank Watch Property-casualty insurance: banks gain market share Bancassurers, who are increasingly marketing property-casualty insurance policies, are gaining ground on traditional insurers.
Banking watch Climate risk exposure: European timetable speeds up for banks In 2019, financial institutions have made a series of commitments to combat global warming. Will they succeed in meeting them?
Banking watch UK: contactless cap rises to £100 Freed from European standards since the Brexit, the UK has decided to raise the contactless cap from £45 to £100.
Bank Watch Business activity down 5% in March compared with pre-crisis levels No major downturn, no real improvement: that's what the Banque de France has to say about economic activity in March.
Banking watch Businesses: accelerated factoring scheme extended Bercy has decided to extend by 6 months the accelerated factoring scheme introduced in September 2020 to support businesses.
Bank Watch SMEs lag behind in publishing professional equality index Created in 2018, the professional equality index must be published by companies by March 1. Not all SMEs are playing the game.
Bank watch Attempted professional fraud: what can you do? False name, false capacity, fraudulent maneuvers... Attempted professional scams have increased in number in recent years.
Bank Watch Mission company status appeals mainly to SMEs Mission-driven company status was introduced by the Pacte law in 2019. It has attracted around a hundred companies, the majority of them SMEs.
Banking watch Tobacconists reinvent themselves with new services Despite the health crisis, tobacconists ended 2020 with an increase in sales, and most are renovating with the help of the State.
Bankwatch Covid-19: the mental health of entrepreneurs is deteriorating A recent study reveals an increased risk of burnout among professionals and a decline in their "entrepreneurial vigilance".
Banking Watch Hacks and ransomware: cryptocurrency scams explode In 2020, cryptocurrency scams increased dramatically, taking advantage of the pandemic and soaring bitcoin prices.
Banking watch What is the Young Innovative Company status? The "Young Innovative Company" status, which is still little-known, is designed to encourage innovation and offers a number of advantages.
Banking News SMEs open up their capital to investment funds In 2020, spurred on by the health and economic crisis, a large number of SMEs opened up their capital to investment funds.
Banking watch Participative financing: more than a billion euros to be raised by 2020 For the 2nd year running, Mazars and the association Financement Participatif France have published the alternative financing barometer.
Bank Watch Fintechs attack the payment terminal market The decline in cash is prompting retailers to equip themselves more and more with payment terminals. This booming market is attracting new players.
Bank Watch Social networks, the tax authorities' new weapon for spotting potential tax evaders From now on, the tax authorities will be able to use citizens' personal data on social networks to track down potential fraudsters.
Banking watch Business start-ups: the Guichet-entreprises website supports entrepreneurs Created by the Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI), the Guichet-entreprises website enables company directors to carry out their formalities online.
Banking watch SMEs: what is their financial situation one year after Covid? According to the latest Bpifrance barometer, the financial situation of SMEs is improving, but remains highly contrasted, one year after the arrival of Covid.
Banking watch Covid-19: rules for exemption from social security contributions Employers hardest hit by the health crisis will be able to benefit from assistance with the payment of their social security contributions.
Banking watch Livret A savings account: inflows soar in January Livret A savings account inflows in January were close to the April 2020 level, confirming the French people's need for security.
Bank Watch Very small businesses: managers do not sufficiently anticipate the risk of bankruptcy According to a report submitted to the French government, many very small businesses go bankrupt due to a lack of awareness of preventive measures.
Bank Watch Ever-increasing account maintenance fees Among the various increases in bank charges recorded in January 2021, account maintenance fees are one of those that have risen the most.
Bank Watch Covid-19: why very small businesses have become bad payers The BVA Institute's quarterly barometer reveals that many SMEs have extended their payment terms as a result of the crisis.
Bank Watch Government extends aid for hiring young people by several months The French Minister of Labor, Élisabeth Born, has announced the extension of measures to help young people hire, such as the "1 jeune 1 solution" plan.
Bank Watch Consumer credit registers sharpest decline since 2009 In 2020, the health crisis led to a sharp drop in consumer credit production, to its lowest level since the 2009 financial crisis.
Bank Watch Businesses faced with sharp rise in costs Many raw materials and materials prices have risen, putting a strain on companies already weakened by the health crisis.
Bank Watch October to provide loans to VSEs and SMEs in the tourism sector The October lending platform has been chosen to provide European loans to VSEs and SMEs in the tourism sector in France.
Banking watch Placement agreement renews business credit mediation for 4 years As recently announced by Bruno Le Maire, the agreement on business credit mediation has been renewed for a further 4 years.
Banking watch Donations to associations: the Cour des Comptes judges controls to be inadequate The Cour des Comptes (French Audit Office) has examined tax-exempt donations to associations. It considers that Bercy's controls are insufficient.
Banking News Self-employed workers: the DSI replaced by the unified social and tax declaration of income In 2021, the social declaration for the self-employed will be abolished. This means that self-employed workers will have just one tax return to complete.
Banking watch Bloctel: lower rates for professional subscriptions Professionals who are obliged to subscribe to the Bloctel service can now benefit from lower rates.
Banking watch Government supports SME exporters To support the international development of French companies, the public authorities have introduced a number of measures.
Bank Watch Ecological transition: ADEME launches a call for projects for SMEs ADEME and the French government recently announced the launch of the "Companies committed to the ecological transition" call for projects.
Banking watch More than 14,000 companies turned to credit mediation in 2020 The health crisis had an impact on the activity of credit mediation, which came to the aid of nearly 6,400 companies in 2020.
Bank Watch French economic activity withstands health crisis Despite the Covid-19 epidemic and health restrictions, economic activity is holding up better than economists expected.
Bank Watch 2020, a record year for business start-ups In 2020, the number of business start-ups reached a record level. A phenomenon which, however, conceals a certain precariousness.
Banking watch 3 major challenges for life insurance in 2021 The Covid-19 crisis has increased pressure on insurers, forcing them to rethink their offerings.
Banking News Social security contributions due in February can be deferred Urssaf is extending the deferral of social security contributions for employers and self-employed workers affected by the health crisis.
Banking watch The "Prêt croissance", a helping hand for very small businesses The Prêt croissance TPE enables regional authorities, in partnership with Bpifrance, to strengthen the financial structure of small businesses.
Banking News Income statements: confidentiality appeals to SME managers Confidentiality of accounts is a possibility offered to companies meeting certain thresholds. With the crisis, the trend is becoming more pronounced.
Banking Watch United Kingdom: vending machines convert bitcoins into cash 16,000 vending machines now allow British bitcoin holders to convert them into physical currency.
Banking watch How much does life insurance cost? The health crisis has shaken up the savings habits of the French. Life insurance saw record outflows in 2020.
Bank Watch PGE repayment: SME managers face the choice One year after the first state-guaranteed loans were granted to companies, the question of repayment strategy arises.
Bank watch ECB launches climate change unit The European Central Bank is launching a center of expertise entirely dedicated to climate change, which has an impact on monetary policy.
Bank Watch Banque de France plans to close 14 regional branches France's changing payment habits are having repercussions at the Banque de France. The institution plans to close 14 regional branches by 2022.
Banking News Home loans: the HCSF publishes its new recommendation The Haut Conseil de Stabilité Financière (French Financial Stability Board) has published its new recommendation, which sets out the criteria for banks granting mortgages.
Banking watch ECB publishes guide to consolidation in the banking sector The European Central Bank has just published its guide to mergers and acquisitions. The document confirms the possibility of using "badwill".
Bank Watch 2020: a record year for Livret A savings accounts In 2020, the Livret A savings account collected twice as much as in the previous year. Its total assets now stand at 326.5 billion euros.
Bank Watch GDP down 8.3% in 2020 While the government had forecast an 11% fall in GDP in 2020, the decline is slightly less severe, according to estimates from Insee.
Bank Watch The number of counterfeit bills seized in 2020 reaches an all-time low In 2020, according to the European Central Bank, the number of counterfeit bills seized has never been so low, down sharply on 2019.
Banking watch Plan "1 jeune 1 solution": help for young people to find a job To help young people find a job, the French government has set up a number of schemes, including a scheme to help people under the age of 26 find work.
Banking watch More than 1,000 fraudulent actors identified by ACPR in 2020 The number of scams originating from sites offering credit or savings products has risen sharply. The ACPR has listed 1,081 entities on its blacklist.
Banking Watch Real estate crowdfunding success: what impact will the health crisis have? While all the signs are green for investing in real estate crowdfunding, this investment could be hit by the effects of the crisis.
Banking watch Contactless payments explode in 2020 Widespread use of barrier gestures, retailer equipment and an increase in the purchase limit to 50 euros have boosted contactless payments.
Bank Watch Covid: who are the main beneficiaries of government aid? The French government has introduced a number of aid measures to help companies overcome the health crisis. Which sectors have benefited?
Banking watch Commercial real estate: what are the risks for banks? Commercial real estate is a vulnerable sector today, weakened by the crisis which has led to a drop in rental demand.
Bank Watch Business insolvencies at their lowest level for 30 years While the economy came to a standstill in 2020, the number of business failures fell considerably. Until when?
Bank Watch Banks relaunch credit moratoria Faced with business restrictions linked to the health crisis, banks are relaunching moratoria on corporate loans.
Banking watch Covid-19: government details new aid for businesses Following the extension of the curfew to 6 p.m. nationwide, the government has announced new assistance for businesses.
Bank Watch Taxes 2021: what are the main changes for individuals? The Finance Bill for 2021 includes a series of tax reforms. Find out what the main measures are for individuals.
Bank Watch Cyber-attacks multiply for businesses ANSSI, the French national agency for information systems security, is warning that the cyber threat level in France is rising rapidly.
Bank Watch 6 p.m. curfew: what impact on retailers? The curfew begins at 6pm in 25 départements, with a significant impact on businesses already hard hit by the crisis.
Bank Watch French government supports exports hit by health crisis Exports have suffered from the health crisis. To enable companies to continue exporting, the French government has set up a number of support measures.
Banking watch Real estate: initial market trends in 2021 Despite the market's resilience in 2020, the trend seems to be for prices to slow down and stabilize in 2021.
Banking watch PGE: banks distributed 130 billion euros in 2020 In 2020, over 600,000 French companies benefited from state-guaranteed loans (PGE) worth a total of 130 billion euros.
Banking watch Significant disparity in bank charges Consumers' association CLCV has published the results of a survey highlighting a major disparity in bank charges.
Bank Watch Post offices in the UK to host bank branches Post offices in several small British towns have pledged to alternately host bank teams to guarantee access to cash.
Bank Watch Trade union representation elections: the campaign begins in very small businesses The union representation election will take place in the spring of 2021. It concerns employees in very small businesses and home workers.
Banking watch Real estate: is there a risk of household debt? While the Banque de France claims to be reassuring about the financial situation of households, there are concerns about the debt levels of the French.
Bank Watch Property tax cuts for certain industrial companies Good news for French industrial groups. Following a decision by the Conseil d'Etat, property tax will be reduced for some of them in 2021.
Banking Watch Drones help investment bankers save M&A deals In 2020, investment bankers used drones to remotely visit assets for sale. Many deals have been completed as a result.
Banking watch Unpaid loans: the European Commission favors the creation of "bad banks The European authorities fear a wave of bad debts, and are considering the creation of national bad banks.
Banking watch Businesses: the changes on January 1 The 2021 Finance Bill is favorable to entrepreneurs. The main taxes, those on production and those on profits, are decreasing.
Bank watch Bank charges: six banks fined 2.8 million euros Six French banks have been fined 2.8 million euros for charging excessive fees for card payments.
Bank Watch Restructuring specialists prepare for an explosion in bankruptcies Corporate rescue: restructuring lawyers, interim managers and accountants anticipate a surge in activity.
Banking watch Regional aid to strengthen companies' equity capital The presidents of France's regions are to mobilize 250 million euros to top up the national solidarity fund for the most fragile VSEs and SMEs.
Bank watch BRED customers by appointment only BRED will receive customers by appointment only. ATMs will remain accessible. The bank is extending the system put in place during the lockdown.
Bank Watch Health crisis: ways to help companies get through it Companies will probably have to wait until the 2nd half of 2021 to benefit from the expected effects of vaccines and return to normal activity.
Banking News Employees' professional interviews: possible postponement until June 30, 2021 Companies have until June 30 to carry out the first professional appraisal interviews, which in principle should have taken place by December 31.
Banking watch Instructions for "Entreprise Solidaire d'Utilité Sociale" (ESUS) approval ESUS accreditation enables companies in the Social Solidarity Economy to obtain specific aid and financing, such as tax reductions.
Bank watch Attempted scams: companies, be vigilant! As with every crisis, scams are on the increase, and their main target is businesses. False name, false capacity, fraudulent maneuvers... It's time to be vigilant!
Banking watch Skyrock radio launches mobile payment solution with Yax Skyrock has announced the launch of Yax, an online payment solution, in partnership with fintech Lyf Pay, co-owned by BNP Paribas and Crédit Mutuel.
Bank watch Home loans: authorities relax conditions The recommendations issued at the end of 2019 by the Haut Conseil de Stabilité Financière (High Council for Financial Stability) concerning the granting of mortgages have been relaxed.
Banking watch Corporate bankruptcies and debt: the challenges for 2021 The number of bankruptcies did not increase in 2020 despite the recession, but 2021 will be a fatal year for many companies.
Bank Watch Economy: a second shutdown less brutal than the first According to Banque de France data, the economic consequences of the second blackout were less severe than those of the first.
Banking watch FAST Fund: a new scheme to help the tourism sector Public investment bank Bpifrance has set up the Fonds Avenir et Soutien Tourisme to help the tourism sector.
Bank watch The French government asks public bodies to centralize their cash holdings The French government has asked a number of public bodies to deposit their cash on its centralized account.
Bank Watch SMEs: videoconferencing once again facilitated for CSE meetings The use of videoconferencing is now authorized for all Social and Economic Committee meetings, unless the elected representatives object.
Banking watch Credit insurance: "Cap Relais" scheme extended by 6 months The Cap Relais public reinsurance scheme, introduced in June 2020, will be extended until June 2021, in agreement with credit insurers.
Bank watch 4 toll-free numbers for entrepreneurs in difficulty 4 toll-free numbers are available to support, listen to and guide entrepreneurs in difficulty.
Bank Watch Bank branch closures accelerate in Europe The Covid-19 crisis has led to an upsurge in digital services and prompted European banks to review the size of their branch networks.
Bank Watch Italian government introduces cashback scheme The Italian government has decided to reimburse retailers for 10% of all credit card spending in December.
Banking watch Creation of the Relance label to support the financing of French companies As part of its economic stimulus plan, the French government is seeking to redirect the savings of French people and investors towards SMEs and ETIs.
Bank Watch Government not in favor of mandatory pandemic insurance The government, which has been working on the issue for several months, has finally ruled out the idea of compulsory pandemic insurance.
Bank Watch Health crisis: insurers freeze premiums for SMEs hardest hit Insurers have agreed to freeze rates on business policies for companies in the sectors most affected by the health crisis.
Banking watch Government doubles tax exemption limit for gift vouchers In a bid to boost consumption, the tax exemption ceiling for gift vouchers distributed to employees will be doubled.
Banking watch Digital Euro: the European Central Bank launches a public consultation The European Central Bank has launched a public consultation on the digital euro to gather the views of the general public on this project.
Bank Watch The worrying cost of drought Droughts are having an impact on buildings, and their frequency could undermine the compensation system for natural disasters.
Banking Watch Cash continues to lose ground in Europe According to a recent study by the European Central Bank, retail cash transactions are down on 2016.
Banking watch Launch of the Bpifrance Entreprises 1 fund to democratize private equity for French investors Since October 1, private investors have been able to access the "Bpifrance Entreprises 1" fund and invest in a portfolio of over 1,500 companies.
Bank Watch Collaborative messaging company Slack acquired by Salesforce for $27 billion Messaging company Slack has been acquired by software company Salesforce for an industry-leading $27 billion.
Bank Watch Closed companies: the French government will pay for 10 days' vacation pay per employee To enable the companies hardest hit by the crisis to clear their vacation pay reserves, the French government will pay for part of them.
Banking watch French banks to undergo climate stress tests from 2021 From 2021, French banks will be subject to a new exercise: climate stress tests, developed by regulators.
Bank Watch Covid-19: the French toy industry is worried French toy manufacturers are worried that distributors will place fewer orders because they have not been able to clear their stock for a month.
Banking watch Companies: everything you need to know about teleworking Telecommuting offers many advantages for both employees and companies. How do you set it up?
Banking watch All you need to know about credit mediation for businesses Companies hardest hit by the health crisis and experiencing cash-flow difficulties can contact the credit mediator.
Banking watch The European Banking Authority is concerned about the volume of moratorium loans Numerous moratoria have been granted to help individuals and businesses. EBA urges banks to exercise caution.
Banking watch Access to mortgages: Banque de France dismisses criticism Real estate professionals are criticizing the HCSF's recommendations concerning the granting of credit. The Banque de France has responded.
Bank Watch Banque de France backs return of dividends for banks The governor of the Banque de France has said he is in favor of a return to dividends for banks, which have not paid any since March.
Banking watch How to obtain a direct tax rebate for companies in difficulty? Companies experiencing difficulties paying their Covid-19-related taxes can apply for a direct tax rebate.
Banking watch How can I get cash with a mortgage? Precariousness linked to the health crisis is exploding in France. Associations are sounding the alarm. Many homeowners need to free up cash.
Banking News Livret A: the French used up their savings for the first time this year For the first time this year, the French dipped into their savings, depositing less money into their Livret A passbook accounts than they withdrew.
Bank watch Partial unemployment: can borrower's insurance cover be used for a mortgage? Borrowers are wondering whether the loss-of-job cover included in their mortgage loan insurance can enable them to receive compensation while they are partially unemployed.
Banking watch Google Pay: bank accounts to be opened in 2021 From 2021, it will be possible to open a current account, with the Google Pay application, at a partner bank via the Google Plex offer.
Banking Watch WhatsApp launches payment functionality in India After lengthy negotiations with the country's authorities, WhatsApp can finally roll out its payment service on the Indian market.
Bank Watch FSB examines links between banks and IT service providers At a time when major banks are increasingly tied to their IT service providers, the FSB is opening a discussion to analyze these links.
Banking watch Mortgages: should we expect a large number of non-payments in 2021? While banking institutions are not currently seeing a resurgence in mortgage arrears, they are concerned that this could happen between now and the end of the year.
Bank Watch Insurance prices on the rise for businesses When it comes to renewing insurance contracts, companies are faced with rising prices and reduced coverage.
Bank Watch Home loan insurance: burn-out, an exclusion factor Burn-out, which is not recognized as an occupational illness, is often considered a risk factor by mortgage insurers.
Banking watch Conflict management: how to contact the company ombudsman? The economic crisis is heightening tensions between principals and suppliers. But legal action is not the only way to settle disputes.
Bank watch Shops: towards a possible reopening on December 1 Despite a hoped-for reopening before December 1, retailers will have to keep their curtains down for at least another 15 days.
Bank watch Short-time working: principle, conditions for implementation and compensation To cope with the economic difficulties caused by the health crisis, an employer can place all or some of its employees on short-time working.
Bank Watch Loan insurance and compensation: numerous customer complaints The opening up of the market to competition has benefited consumers, but many complaints still concern the refusal to pay compensation.
Bank Watch Health crisis: a special number for companies in difficulty The government has set up a special information number for companies and associations affected by the health crisis.
Banking watch Professionals: how to obtain a state-guaranteed loan (PGE)? SMEs, retailers, farmers, self-employed professionals, micro-entrepreneurs and associations whose cash flow has been affected by covid-19 can apply to their bank for a PGE.
Bank Watch Digitization and online business: new measures for retailers The government has introduced a scheme to help retailers and small businesses develop their online and digital business.
Bank Watch Banks want to convert small shops to Click & Collect To save local shops in the current health crisis, banks are proposing alternative solutions such as Click & Collect.
Bank Watch World stock markets soar after Covid-19 vaccine announcement World stock markets soared shortly after Pfizer announced that its vaccine was "90% effective".
Bank Watch Reconfiguration: why are small businesses flocking to barcodes? Small businesses deemed non-essential are seeking to maintain visibility by joining marketplaces, which demand encoded products.
Banking watch How can I benefit from the solidarity fund for VSEs, SMEs, the self-employed and entrepreneurs? The solidarity fund supports companies most affected by the coronavirus epidemic. Click here to find out how to qualify.
Bank Watch Mortgage terms: an all-time record in October According to Crédit Logement data, the average term of mortgages reached an all-time high in October 2020.
Bank watch Bank branches remain open during reconfinement Bank branches, considered essential businesses, remain open during reconfinement, with a few adjustments.
Bank Watch Reconfinement: how are restaurants coping? In contrast to the initial containment, many restaurants immediately opted to offer takeaway and delivery services.
Bank Watch Non-essential businesses: a tax credit for lessors The government has introduced a tax credit scheme to encourage lessors of certain commercial premises to reduce rents.
Banking watch Pre-2011 PEL: Banque de France considers lowering interest rate to 1%. The Banque de France is sounding the alarm and calling for a solution to limit the excessively high interest rates on PEL home savings plans.
Banking watch Reconfinement: what new support is available to companies? On October 29, the French government detailed its action plan to support French companies in the wake of the announcement of new containment measures.
Bank watch PGE: government announces extension of repayment period Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy and Finance, has obtained authorization from the European Commission to extend by one year the period after which...
Bank watch Reconfinement : Bercy forecasts an 11% fall in GDP According to Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy, GDP is set to fall by 11% instead of the 10 initially forecast for the year as a whole.
Bank Watch An additional 20 billion euros for reconfinement The French government has earmarked an additional €20 billion to deal with the economic consequences of reconfinement.
Banking watch Mortgages: what can be done about repayment difficulties? In the current health crisis, more and more homeowners are struggling to repay their mortgages. Solutions are available.
Banking watch Refusal of credit: 10,000 companies have contacted the mediator in 6 months In just 6 months, 10,000 companies have turned to the Médiation du crédit for help with their loan applications.
Bank Watch Bank card fraud: almost one in three customers is not reimbursed Over 1.3 million French people are affected by bankcard fraud every year, and a third of them are not reimbursed by their bank.
Bank Watch Access to mortgages is becoming tougher While mortgage rates remain attractive, borrowing conditions have tightened in recent months.
Banking watch Crowdfunding: state-guaranteed loans not very attractive Since the end of April, crowdfunding platforms have been able to grant government-backed loans. However, the results have been mixed.
Banking watch VSEs/SMEs: 3 solutions to rebuild cash quickly VSEs and SMEs need to rebuild their cash flow quickly to cover repayments of EWBs, rental payments and borrowing costs.
Banking News State-guaranteed loan scheme extended by 6 months The state-guaranteed loan scheme introduced in March will be extended by 6 months to help companies in difficulty.
Banking watch Businesses: government renews public guarantee against non-payment of bills The public guarantee scheme set up by the French government to cover companies against the risk of non-payment will be extended to 2021.
Banking intelligence Electronic invoicing: where do French companies stand? In December 2019, the government confirmed the introduction of generalized electronic invoicing for French businesses. What's the latest?
Banking watch Real estate costs: VSEs and SMEs at risk For VSEs/SMEs, property costs are becoming an increasing burden, in addition to payroll and order backlog.
Banking watch Investing in the "Bpifrance Entreprises 1" fund: good or bad idea? An investment fund has been set up to enable the French to invest in SMEs. What are the advantages and disadvantages for individuals?
Bank Watch What happens to stolen funds after a cyber attack? In a recently published report, BAE Systems and Swift examine the issue of laundering stolen funds.
Bank Watch Launch of a new energy renovation tax credit for small businesses The French government has just announced the creation of a new tax credit for energy-efficient renovation of the premises of very small businesses.
Banking watch Livret A, PEL, life insurance: which are the best risk-free investments? Since the beginning of the recession, the French have accumulated 85 billion euros in savings. How can this money be invested while limiting risk?
Banking News Digital: new aid to help industrial SMIs and ETIs move upmarket As part of the "France Relance" plan, a direct support measure in the form of a grant has been set up for SMEs and ETIs...
Banking watch Sage and Covline join forces to help companies optimize cash management In an uncertain economic climate, Sage and Covline have joined forces to help companies reduce their payment times.
Banking watch France Num: an initiative to accelerate the digital transformation of VSEs/SMEs In 2018, the government set up France Num to accelerate the digital transformation of VSEs/SMEs and thus promote their competitiveness.
Banking watch Banks must combine physical presence with digital offerings In the midst of the health and economic crisis, the challenge for banks is twofold: boost their digital offering and maintain their physical presence.
Banking News GreenTech: new measures to support players committed to the ecological transition At the "MeetUp GreenTech 2020", the French government reiterated its support for French players committed to the ecological transition.
Bank Watch Government aims to reduce late payments by businesses In 2019, late payments by businesses reached an average of 11.5 days. The government wants to reduce this by the end of 2021.
Banking Watch Health crisis accelerates bank customers' conversion to digital banking The threat of branch closures continues to grow. Several banks are using digital technology to justify restructuring.
Bank Watch US banks authorized to manage crypto-currencies on behalf of their customers The US banking regulator has announced that it is now allowing banks to manage crypto-currencies.
Bank Watch Private equity: a new fund to encourage the French to invest in SMEs The French government has announced the launch of a new financial product to support SMEs.
Bank watch Health crisis: increased aid for SMEs and the self-employed Next week, the Prime Minister is expected to announce new measures to help SMEs and the self-employed.
Banking watch Home loans: authorities maintain their recommendations The HCSF has announced that it is maintaining its cautious recommendations on mortgages, at least until the end of the year.
Bank Watch US banks: restrictions on shareholder remuneration extended The FED has decided to extend a number of measures to ensure that large banks maintain a high level of capital.
Bank Watch Crédit Agricole launches "Globe Trotter" offer for 18-30 year olds Crédit Agricole has launched the "Globe Trotter" offer for young people aged 18 to 30.
Banking watch Insurance: Fintech Lemonade arrives in France US-based Assurtech Lemonade, which intends to change the face of home insurance, has just announced its launch on the French market.
Banking Watch Finance: GAFAs overshadow Fintechs The GAFAs are strengthening their presence in the financial industry, and now outweigh the Fintech sector in global lending.
Banking watch Brexit: British banks close accounts for European customers Even before the end of the transition period, British banks are preparing their expatriate customers in the EU for the closure of their accounts.
Bank Watch Ties between banks and other financial players are growing stronger Cross-border lending by major banks to non-bank financial institutions has risen sharply over the past 5 years, according to the BIS.
Banking watch Moratorium on bank loan repayments extended in Italy In Italy, the government has adopted a decree extending the moratoria on bank loans until January 2021.
Bank Watch Health crisis: an imbalance between men and women entrepreneurs A survey shows that women entrepreneurs have been more affected by the Covid-19 crisis than men.
Banking watch BNP Paribas: dedicated banking advisors on a subscription basis The BNP Paribas group is running a pilot project in nearly 30 branches, charging for access to a personal banking advisor.
Bank Watch Cheque fraud soars ahead of credit card fraud The latest report from the Banque de France shows that cheques remain the most fraudulent means of payment in France.
Banking watch Why are French companies so indebted? French companies are more indebted than their main neighbors. Why is this?
Banking watch Mobile payments on the rise in France While mobile payments quadrupled in 2019, their share of local transactions is still "very marginal".
Banking News Asset management: a new partnership agreement between Société Générale and Amundi Société Générale and Amundi have signed a new 5-year partnership agreement.
Banking Watch To cope with the crisis, banks need to rethink customer service Bank customer service has been severely tested during the crisis. To get through the crisis, they need to adjust their approach.
Banking News Business credit continues to grow in France The Banque de France recently published figures on corporate debt for June. During the period of confinement, these players favored credit for...
Bank Watch Chinese banks' profitability plunged by coronavirus In the 1st half of the year, China's major banks recorded their worst performance in 10 years, weighed down by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bank Watch European court rules in favor of French banks against ECB The European Court of First Instance has just ruled in favor of the banks, which will therefore not be obliged to deduct from their funds the sums paid to the...
Bank Watch Deutsche Bank reports a loss of 77 million euros in Q2 2020 Deutsche Bank has announced in a press release a net loss attributable to shareholders of 77 million euros for Q2 2020. Restructuring and the virus...
Banking watch Towards a record IPO for Ant Group Ant Group recently applied for a dual listing on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges.
Bank watch Caisse des Dépôts announces post-Covid investment plan Caisse des Dépôts has unveiled a €26 billion post-Covid investment plan for transport, housing and local amenities.
Banking watch Fintech takes advantage of the deferred payment boom Deferred payment is booming, appealing to budget-conscious households in an uncertain economic climate.
Bank Watch BNP Paribas withstands the crisis thanks to its investment bank Despite two months of confinement, BNP Paribas posted good results in the 2nd quarter, thanks in part to its investment bank.
Banking watch Forex and crypto-asset investments: ACPR and AMF issue warnings Financial watchdogs ACPR and AMF warn against unauthorized players offering investments in Forex and crypto-assets.
Bank Watch Spanish banking group Santander posts first-ever losses For the first time in its history, the Spanish group's figures are not in the black. This is due to a number of accounting write-downs.
Banking News Life insurance net inflows remain in the red in July At a time when the Covid-19 is encouraging the French to save, life insurance, which is usually very popular with individuals, posted a net outflow in July.
Banking Watch European fintechs unite to make their voices heard in Brussels Last June, 21 fintechs launched the European Fintech Association (EFA) to influence Brussels' future action plan.
Bank Watch The health crisis calls into question the dollar's dominance of other currencies The first wave of Covid-19 has had an impact on financial markets and major currencies. The dollar is among those suffering most.
Bank Watch Exceptional loans for students in difficulty Faced with the difficulties encountered by young people as a result of the health crisis, banks are introducing exceptional student loan schemes.
Banking watch Life insurance: returns close to 1% in 2020 According to Facts & Figures, yields on traditional euro funds in life insurance policies are set to fall further in 2020.
Banking watch Health crisis accelerates convergence of banking and real estate sectors Retail banks must rely on digitalization to succeed in a new growth area: real estate banking.
Bank Watch Number of ATMs down by 4% in 2019 Last year, France lost 2,135 ATMs. According to a report by the Banque de France, this loss was most marked in large cities.
Bank Watch What impact has the Covid-19 crisis had on French purchasing power? The latest CSA/Cofidis Barometer reveals the impact of Covid-19 on French purchasing power. They are now giving priority to savings.
Banking News Life insurance: outflows of almost 5 billion euros in the 1st half of the year Figures published by the FFA reveal that the life insurance sector recorded an outflow of almost 5 billion euros in the 1st half of 2020.
Bank Watch French households: spirits down, savings up Household confidence in the economic situation fell in July, according to Insee. The trend towards savings could continue.
Banking News Livret A: high net inflows in July Net inflows into Livret A passbook savings accounts reached almost 2 billion euros in July. A high level for this time of year.
Bank Watch Swile raises 70 million euros to conquer new markets Start-up Swile has raised 70 million euros. The funds will be used to finance its strategic repositioning in a difficult market.
Bank watch Memo Bank authorized to offer credit to SMEs Memo Bank has just obtained its banking license. It is the first neobank authorized to offer credit to businesses.
Bank Watch Vybe, the neobank for Generation Z Created in July 2019, Vybe plans its official launch in September, and has announced that it has raised 2.2 million euros from private investors.
Banking watch Crédit Agricole Group acquires fintech Linxo The Crédit Agricole Group recently finalized its acquisition of fintech Linxo, in which it now holds over 85% of the capital.
Bank Watch The African Development Bank finances several infrastructure projects Aware that Africa needs to develop its infrastructure, the AfDB has financed several large-scale projects in recent years.
Bank watch What to do in the event of IBAN discrimination? Many neobanks encourage users to report organizations that refuse to accept their IBAN. However, this practice is illegal.
Banking watch Nickel launches in Spain The subsidiary of the BNP Paribas banking group has just announced its launch "at the end of the summer" in Spain. The aim is to open 700,000 accounts by the...
Banking watch European Commission refuses to lower interchange fee ceilings To convince banks to take part in the EPI (European Payments Initiative) project, the European Commission believes that interchange fees should be maintained at their current levels.
Banking watch Likvido raises 2.5 million euros to reduce unpaid invoices for SMEs Danish startup Likvido offers SMEs an automated solution for managing, dunning and collecting invoices. The company aims to expand internationally.
Bank Watch Collaboration with Fintech a success for most French banks 89% of global financial institutions and 86% of French banks see collaboration with fintechs as a lever for success.
Banking Watch French startups raised 455 million euros in H1 2020 The Covid-19 crisis does not seem to have affected the pace of fundraising by French fintechs.
Bank Watch France's GDP plunged 13.8% in Q2 2020 In the second quarter of 2020, France's GDP plunged 13.8% due to the health crisis and containment measures.
Bank Watch The euro soars since the announcement of the European recovery plan The euro has reached $1.16, a level not seen since 2018. The reason: a more united image of Europe for foreign investors.
Banking watch Fintech SolarisBank raises 60 million euros SolarisBank continues to grow. The fintech has just announced that it has raised €60 million, valuing the company at €320 million.
Bank Watch A further fall in mortgage rates in May After an increase in April, the fall in mortgage rates is confirmed. This may be a lasting sign of recovery for the sector, which is cautious about the future.
Banking watch Bank profitability deemed too low by Banque de France At the end of 2019, French banks' profitability was still too low compared with European banks, according to the Banque de France.
Bank Watch Neobanks are still struggling to make a profit While the emergence of neobanks has brought about major upheavals in the banking and financial sector, their difficulty in generating positive net results since their inception is leading...
Banking News AFG proposes the creation of a savings account to finance companies The French Financial Management Association is currently in talks with the Ministry of the Economy to create a new savings account, Cedres.
Bank Watch Société Générale launches Banxup, an offer for young people Societe Generale is stepping up its digital strategy with its new "Banxup" banking application, in the face of the ever-growing number of neo-banks.
Banking watch Fraud linked to new payment methods on the rise The 2019 report from the mediation service at the French Banking Federation notes an increase in scams linked to new payment methods.
Banking watch Startup Lydia offers a consumer credit service The friend-to-friend payment app has decided to extend its range of financial services with a consumer credit offer.
Bank Watch Société Générale announces the acquisition of Shine, a neobank for professionals Société Générale has announced the acquisition of Shine. With this move, the traditional bank aims to complete its offering for professional and very small business customers.
Bank Watch Carrefour loyalty card integrated into Apple Wallet The Carrefour loyalty card is now accessible via Apple Pay, marking the company's first partnership with a major European retailer.
Banking watch Green-Got: an account to finance the ecological transition The Green-Got neobank will offer a range of products designed to reduce and offset banks' carbon footprints and finance environmental projects.
Banking watch French banks attracted by Mozambique's gas projects Several large-scale gas projects are currently underway in Mozambique. Despite criticism, French banks see an opportunity.
Banking watch 16 banks announce the launch of pan-European payments 16 European banks have paved the way for the future launch of EPI. What does this unified pan-European payment solution actually involve?
Bank watch Crédit Agricole launches Blank, a neobank for professionals Crédit Agricole is targeting the self-employed market with the launch of Blank, a neobank dedicated to professionals.
Bank watch Société Générale launches instant digital bank card Société Générale offers an instant digital card automatically generated on the iPhone in the event of theft or loss of a physical bank card.
Banking watch SumUp E-shop Start: a new solution for creating an online store European fintech SumUp recently presented a simple, intuitive solution for merchants to create their own online store.
Bank watch The ECB wants to get involved in the fight against climate change The head of the European Central Bank has announced her intention to explore all possible avenues in the fight against climate change.
Bank Watch AMF and ACPR warn of growing number of financial scams Faced with worried French people who have saved a lot, financial scams are on the increase. The AMF and ACPR renew their calls for caution.
Banking watch ByteDance wants a banking license ByteDance, publisher of TikTok, has been growing fast since the start of the year. The Chinese company is now seeking a banking license.
Banking News The financial internationalization of the euro remains stable The euro is struggling to establish itself outside the Monetary Union, in the face of the dollar's supremacy. In particular, the currency is suffering from European divisions.
Bank Watch Corporate debt, a major concern for banks Risks to the financial system have increased. Rising corporate indebtedness is at the top of the banks' list of concerns.
Banking Watch Mastercard launches Fintech Express to support European startups Mastercard launches Fintech Express, a new program to support innovative European digital payment startups.
Banking watch PRI confronts the problem of "greenwashing The PRI are a great success. However, they are now faced with the problem of greenwashing.
Banking watch BPE, La Banque Postale's private bank, accelerates growth La Banque Postale's private banking subsidiary has doubled its assets under management in 5 years and intends to accelerate its development.
Bank Watch Life insurance suffered an outflow of 2.2 billion euros in May Life insurance inflows fell sharply during the confinement period, with an outflow of -2 billion euros in May 2020.
Banking News EBITDAC, a new financial indicator born of the health crisis EBITDAC is a new financial indicator born of the Covid-19 crisis. It makes it possible to present a company's results while erasing the impact of the crisis.
Banking watch The French have deposited 22.4 billion euros in Livret A and LDDS savings accounts Since the start of the year, the French have deposited 22.4 billion euros in Livret A and LDDS passbook savings accounts.
Bank Watch British SMEs particularly threatened by the coronavirus crisis The UK is one of the countries suffering most economically from Covid-19. GDP could collapse by 35% in the 2nd quarter.
Bank Watch Banks fear an explosion in consumer credit defaults The Covid-19 crisis has had a major impact on consumer credit production. According to ASF figures, production collapsed by 68% in April.
Banking watch Banque de France encourages cross-border mergers between European banks The Governor of the Banque de France, François Villeroy de Galhau, would like to see an increase in the number of mergers between European banks in order to improve their profitability, which is significantly lower...
Bank Watch Banks flock to ECB's negative-rate long-term loans The European Central Bank has launched a "Targeted Long Term Refinancing Operation" (TLTRO), aimed at granting loans at negative interest rates to...
Bank Watch Neobanks still struggle to be profitable Following an initial analysis published in 2018, the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR) has examined the profitability of some fifteen neobanks in France and has...
Banking watch Complementary local currencies, an alternative means of payment Local currencies complement national currencies and are designed to boost the local economy in a limited area. In France today, there are some 80 such currencies, and...
Bank Watch French households saved 55 billion euros during containment French households saved a lot during containment, and the trend continued during decontainment. The total amount of these savings alone represents 3.3...
Bank Watch LegalTech: high-performance technologies at the service of lawyers LegalTechs - companies that use technology and high-performance software to offer a wide range of legal services - are attracting growing interest from legal professionals...
Bank Watch Only a quarter of bank head office employees returned to work "face-to-face". Although banks remained open during the lockdown, few employees returned to work at head offices and administrative sites. The situation is expected to change in...
Bank Watch BNP Paribas launches fingerprint-based bank card BNP Paribas has announced the launch of its biometric bank card this autumn. All you need to do is place your fingerprint on the card to validate the transaction.
Bank watch Home loans: authorities confirm tightening of borrowing conditions Last December, the Haut Conseil de Stabilité Financière (High Council for Financial Stability), chaired by the French Finance Minister, issued recommendations concerning the granting of home loans. At its...
Bank watch Where do banks stand in implementing the RGPD? Having come into force on May 25, 2018, the General Regulation on the Protection of Personal Data (RGPD) is celebrating its 2nd anniversary. An opportunity to take stock of its...
Bank Watch The main misconceptions about online banking Having appeared on the market some twenty years ago, online banks are still struggling to make their mark against traditional banking establishments. In fact, they...
Banking watch Covid-19 crisis accelerates banks' digital transformation The coronavirus pandemic has prioritized digital projects and, more broadly, helped accelerate the digital transformation of organizations, particularly banking establishments.
Banking Watch French banks increasingly in favor of Open Banking Mandatory since January 2018, Open Banking involves banks sharing their data with other financial players. A recent report by fintech Tink analyzes the perception...
Bank Watch InfraVia Growth Fund: a new French investment fund for tech startups A new French investment fund, the InfraVia Growth Fund, has been set up to support tech startups. The fund plans to raise 500 million euros to finance players in the...
Bank Watch BNP Paribas accelerates its complete withdrawal from coal Europe's leading bank in terms of assets and market capitalization, which had announced the complete cessation of its financing of the thermal coal sector in...
Bank watch BPCE abandons Paylib contactless mobile payment service For BPCE, it's the end of the contactless mobile payment service Paylib. The Caisse d'Épargne and Banque Populaire are discontinuing the service, for reasons...
Banking Watch Italian banks experiment with Blockchain to cut costs Last April, 32 banks belonging to the Italian Banking Association (ABI) put a Blockchain application into production to detect and correct errors in time...
Banking Watch Will Big Tech compete with financial players? Big Tech is stepping up its initiatives in the financial services sector. Current account projects for Google and Amazon, virtual currency for Facebook, credit cards for...
Banking watch Covid-19 crisis accelerates development of cashless payments in Africa The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the development of digital payments in Africa. On a continent with a wide variety of cashless realities, authorities and retailers have...
Banking News EBA wants to strengthen arrangements to combat dividend tax evasion On May 12, 2020, the EU's independent authority unveiled an action plan to strengthen arrangements to combat dividend tax evasion.
Banking watch ECB asks banks to integrate climate risk The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a public consultation on a guide to climate and environmental risks, in which it invites banks to...
Banking watch Carrefour Banque discontinues its C-Zam banking offer Carrefour Banque has announced that it will stop marketing its C-Zam offer and close bank accounts on July 15. With only 120,000 accounts...
Bank Watch European banks to return to pre-crisis levels by 2024 The future looks bleak for European banks faced with the risk of corporate bankruptcies, whose revenues are set to fall by between 2% and 8% by the end of 2020, according to...
Banking watch What does the post-Covid-19 future hold for fintechs? Fintechs, like the financial sector as a whole, have been impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis. However, despite the economic upheavals and a return to normality that is still...
Banking watch The government reinforces the system for capping bank charges To protect the most vulnerable from rising bank charges, the government has decided to strengthen the scheme introduced in 2018.
Bank Watch Banque de France launches a call for projects to test a digital currency The Banque de France began work on a digital currency project last year. Despite the current crisis, it is continuing its preparations, and is launching a call for...
Bank Watch Coronavirus crisis causes turmoil in French banks Health containment has major repercussions that could ultimately upset the banking sector. Banks are gearing up for a year of uncertainty.
Banking News US banks' market share of syndicated loans in Europe declines sharply As they did during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the Wall Street giants seem to be deserting the European market. Over the past ten years, these players have been steadily...
Banking News Banks strengthen their prudential capital buffer After more than two months of crisis, several banks have issued debt to strengthen their balance sheets. This is notably the case for RBS, Deutsche Bank and Bank...
Bank Watch Why will banks take up less square footage? The coronavirus pandemic and containment have given rise to new uses. They concern both employees, with the development of telecommuting, and customers, with the...
Bank Watch Wall Street bankers could see their bonuses plunge by up to 30% in 2020 Wall Street bankers are not spared by the Covid-19 crisis, and could see their bonuses plunge by as much as 30% this year compared to...
Banking watch Bercy reinforces its support for credit insurance After introducing a number of emergency measures to support the economy, the French government has decided to provide guarantees to credit insurers, so that they can provide greater protection for their business customers.
Bank Watch Tax fraud: the identities of 40,000 UBS clients to be handed over to the tax authorities In the next few days, banking information on current and former UBS clients will be transmitted to the French tax authorities. Some of them are suspected of tax fraud.
Bank Watch Jackpotting", a new technique for hacking ATMs Several individuals suspected of belonging to an international "jackpotting" organization were arrested in France on May 12. They were attempting to damage a cash dispenser...
Banking News The UK negotiates its first negative-rate bond issue For the first time, the UK has issued debt with a negative yield. However, these sub-zero yield bonds are not discouraging investors,...
Bank Watch Bercy broadens eligibility criteria for state-guaranteed loan In an order dated May 6, 2020, the Ministry of the Economy and Finance has revised the criteria for granting state-guaranteed loans. Certain companies hitherto excluded from the...
Banking watch Tourism: government-backed loans with higher ceilings The tourism sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. It came to a complete standstill between March and June, but is now benefiting from various government measures...
Bank Watch Alan raises 50 million euros to accelerate international expansion The young French start-up offering complementary health insurance online has just closed a new round of financing of 50 million euros to expand...
Bank Watch Libra has announced the appointment of its first managing director The Libra association, in charge of carrying out the digital currency project initiated by Facebook, has announced the appointment of its first managing director through a...
Banking watch Fintech solidarity initiatives to cope with Covid-19 Fintechs' business model, which is essentially based on transaction fees, has been weakened by the drop in activity linked to the introduction of containment. To build customer loyalty...
Banking Watch Towards closer collaboration between banks and fintechs? Banks and fintechs are still finding it hard to work together, according to a recent study published by Capgemini and Efma. Of the 60 banking establishments surveyed, only 3 were capable of...
Bank Watch Facebook changes strategy for its Libra project Under pressure from regulators, the association that brings together Facebook and its partners has presented a new, less ambitious version of its virtual currency project.
Bank Watch BNP Paribas announces results down 33% in Q1 The euro zone's leading bank by assets saw its earnings melt away in the 1st quarter of 2020, penalized by a significant rise in the cost of risk...
Bank Watch Home loan volumes fell in March Not since June 2019 have banks lent so little money to borrowers. The fall in lending volumes in March is not just a result of the...
Banking watch Christine Lagarde proposes to modernize the Stability and Growth Pact In an interview, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), welcomed the 500 billion euro stimulus package proposed by Germany and France....
Banking watch State-guaranteed loans: real support or time bomb? State-guaranteed loans were set up as an emergency measure to help companies cope with a sudden drop in sales...
Bank Watch Will the French household savings rate continue to rise? Livret A and Livret de développement durable et solidaire savings account inflows hit a record high in April, thanks to the confined...
Bank Watch Success for contactless payment since the ceiling was raised to 50 euros In recent weeks, consumers have favored contactless payment at checkouts. A 15% increase in usage was noted 3 days...
Banking watch Should you invest in Bitcoin after the coronavirus crisis? The health crisis has sent the markets into a tailspin, leading many investors to seek safe-haven assets such as gold. More and more are also considering crypto-currencies...
Banking watch How are neobanks attracting entrepreneurs? Since they first appeared on the market, online banks and neobanks have become increasingly interested in the self-employed, a clientele often neglected by traditional banks.
Bank watch Crédit Agricole triples provisions for Covid-19 crisis The listed entity of the mutualist group has tripled its provisions to anticipate future risks linked to the coronavirus crisis. These provisions have had an impact on earnings, which...
Bank Watch 20% of French people may no longer physically visit their bank branch after the crisis Confinement has been an opportunity for many savers to familiarize themselves with mobile or online banking. As a result, more than one in five French people...
Bank Watch Banks step up provisions to cope with payment defaults Anticipating a sharp rise in customer defaults, banks have just set aside 40 billion euros, a 10-year record.
Bank Watch Societe Generale posts heavy Q1 loss Societe Generale has announced a loss of 326 million euros in Q1 2020. The French bank was penalized by falling markets and rising...
Bank Watch Online banks won't charge inactivity fees during lockdown A number of online banks have decided to review the conditions under which their bankcards are free of charge during confinement, following a drop in the number of transactions.
Banking Watch The impact of Blockchain on banking businesses Banks have begun to deploy Blockchain in certain activities. Indeed, most players agree that this technology holds significant potential for...
Bank Watch Rising mortgage rates confirmed Mortgage rates stood at 1.17% in April, compared with 1.15% in March, a slight rise marked by the market's collapse in the face of the crisis...
Banking watch Fintech Nalo announces rising returns for 2019 Last February, the French fintech announced returns in excess of 30% for 2019. This performance can be explained by the investment method used by Nalo,...
Bank Watch Banks don't want to resort to short-time working Since May 1, sick leave to care for children has been automatically converted into short-time working, a problem for the banks, which were committed to...
Bank Watch GAFA, a threat to the banking sector? Following in the footsteps of Apple and Facebook, Google has announced its intention to enter the banking sector. These players could weaken the profitability of banks, which has already been in decline since 2008.
Bank Watch BNP Paribas launches a zero-interest loan offer for students While the Covid-19 epidemic and containment measures have put many companies in dire financial straits, this is also the case for students, many of whom have had to...
Bank watch Bpifrance launches government-backed loans for active customers Bpifrance, the French state-owned investment bank, is announcing that it will be marketing government-backed loans, using them as a relay to the Atout loan launched at the start of the crisis...
Bank Watch German Constitutional Court calls ECB to account The German judiciary recently asked the European Central Bank to justify its anti-crisis policy pursued since 2015 believing that certain parts of the ECB's asset purchase program...
Bank Watch iBanFirst launches the 1st hidden bank charges simulator for businesses iBanFirst has just launched its own online simulator to help companies identify "undue" charges. This tool shows the...
Banking watch Covid-19: Beware of fraudulent appeals for donations! In times of crisis, scams are on the increase, and the coronavirus pandemic is no exception. False appeals for donations are multiplying, launched by swindlers...
Bank Watch Contactless payment limit raised to 50 euros All banks have made remote updates to enable their customers to pay up to 50 euros for purchases using contactless payment. According to...
Banking watch The rise of new payment methods In recent years, the retail sector has evolved rapidly to meet consumer expectations. Payment solutions are one of the innovations introduced by...
Banking watch Crédit du Nord launches Prismea, its neobank for professionals Crédit du Nord Group announced on December 11, 2019 the launch of Prismea, a neobank dedicated to professionals. The bank intends to set itself apart by focusing on...
Bank Watch 2020: another record year for SCPIs? SCPIs are very popular with savers because of the stable, high returns they provide. In 2019, according to the Institut de l'Épargne Immobilière...
Banking watch European funds : Investors withdrew almost 290 billion euros in March In March, European open-ended funds recorded a historic outflow. No type of fund was spared, from active ESG and non-ESG funds to ETFs.
Bank Watch Robo-advisors seek to reassure investors in the face of Covid-19 Faced with the Covid-19 crisis, robo-advisors are trying to reassure their customers in their decision-making by communicating transparently and recommending caution.
Banking watch The European Union imposes greater transparency on cross-border transactions As of April 19, 2020, payment service providers are required to disclose to consumers the cost of international transactions, whether a payment or a...
Banking watch Recourse to credit mediation accelerates with the Covid-19 crisis With the Covid-19 crisis, recourse to credit mediation, which helps companies facing financial difficulties, has accelerated sharply in France, at the...
Bank Watch How are lending platforms handling the Covid-19 crisis? The Covid-19 epidemic has plunged the participatory finance sector into an exceptional situation that could not be anticipated. What initiatives have been put in place by...
Banking watch Can banks cope with the credit risk associated with the Covid-19 crisis? As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, banks are struggling, and their ratings could be downgraded by the rating agencies.
Bank Watch Containment measures cost the French economy 120 billion euros French GDP was reduced by 32% during the containment period, equivalent to 5 points of GDP over the year as a whole. The recovery of...
Bank watch Fighting financial cybercrime: a top priority for Tracfin As it does every year, Tracfin has published its new report analyzing the main cases of fraud and emerging risks. Bercy's financial intelligence service...
Banking watch Société Générale launches "Kapsul", a banking offer at 2 euros a month Société Générale recently announced the launch of a low-cost offer at 2 euros per month, modelled on those of neo-banks and aimed primarily at young people.
Banking watch PEA and PEA-PME: fees capped from July 2020 From July 1, PEA and PEA-PME fees will be reduced, as provided for in a decree dated February 5, 2020 in application of the PACTE law.
Banking watch Equity financing platform Anaxago becomes a private neobank Anaxago, which has until now specialized in participatory financing, recently switched to the private neobanking model with the launch of "Anaxago Patrimony".
Bank Watch Bank branch closures in France accelerate Between 2009 and 2016, nearly 15% of bank branches closed in France, according to the French Banking Federation. This phenomenon is mainly linked to the digitization...
Banking watch SME IPOs are often disappointing A recent study reveals that depending on whether IPO candidates are classified as small-cap or large-cap, their medium-term stock market performance...
Banking watch The French hold a record amount of cash Current accounts and cash holdings are at an all-time high. They now total 603.8 billion euros, compared with 302.7 billion euros for Livret A passbook savings accounts....
Bank Watch Nalo announces the launch of a low-volatility portfolio in partnership with BlackRock In February 2020, fintech Nalo announced the launch of a low-volatility portfolio targeting higher returns than euro funds and passbooks. It will be...
Bank watch La Banque Postale tightens the rules for depositing cash at the counter La Banque Postale has introduced new rules for depositing cash at its counters. From now on, it will no longer be possible to deposit cash for...
Bank Watch ATM withdrawals could soon cost more The interbank withdrawal fee (CIR) increased by 56% on January 1 to 89 centimes, according to the newspaper Les Echos. This increase is bound to...
Bank watch Bank charges: stable rates in 2020, but unreadable according to UFC-Que Choisir According to the results of a CCSF study, bank charges will remain fairly stable in 2020. On the other hand, they are "even more illegible" for the consumer association...
Banking watch Fintech Famoco strengthens its position in Africa and in payments Famoco, the company specializing in payment terminals, has recently obtained substantial backing from the European Investment Bank to strengthen its offerings and...
Banking watch Asset management: What are the trends for 2020? After decades of consecutive growth, assets under management have fallen by 4% worldwide. Asset managers will have to adapt if they are to prosper in...
Bank watch Crédit Agricole acquires bank account aggregator Linxo The Crédit Agricole Group recently announced that it had acquired an 85% stake in Linxo, the leading bank account aggregator. The fintech will help the green bank...
Bank Watch Crédit Mutuel posts record profit and hires despite low rates In 2019, the Crédit Mutuel group posted a historically high net profit of €3.86 billion compared with €3.58 billion in 2018, an increase of almost...
Bank Watch Finance: insufficient representation of women in management bodies The European Banking Authority (EBA) is calling on financial institutions to redouble their efforts to promote diversity within their management teams. Indeed, the proportion of women...
Banking Watch Banks expand their collaboration with fintechs to strengthen their position in Open Banking Since PSD2 came into force, banks have been obliged to make their payment data accessible. To strengthen their position in Open Banking, some of them have developed...
Bank watch Mortgages: Rates rise again in April While banks have reduced their activity, brokers are observing a sharp rise in mortgage rates in April, in the midst of the health crisis.
Bank Watch French GDP collapses by 6% in the first quarter of 2020 The Banque de France has announced that the French economy lost almost a third of its activity, with GDP falling by around 6% in the first...
Bank watch Livret A: Record deposits despite historically low interest rates Despite very low interest rates, Livret A deposits rose by 4 billion euros in January. This makes it the fourth-best savings account...
Bank Watch Can the coronavirus be transmitted by banknotes and coins? Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, one question has come up regularly: are banknotes dangerous? If the Governor of the Banque de France, François...
Bank Watch Toxic loans: heavy sentence for BNP Paribas Personal Finance BNP Paribas' main credit subsidiary has been convicted of "misleading commercial practices" and "concealment" of this offence. It must pay a fine of...
Bank Watch Are banks strong enough to weather the current health crisis? The rules put in place during the 2008 crisis are helping European banks to cope with the economic shock caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bank Watch Court ruling clarifies the legal status of bitcoin loans On February 26, the Nanterre Commercial Court ruled that the loan of bitcoin was a "consumer loan", considering that bitcoin...
Bank Watch Banking mobility: changing bank remains complicated The bank mobility scheme has been strengthened by the Macron law applied since February 2017, notably via the creation of a mandate enabling customers to delegate certain...
Bank Watch Companies urged to reduce dividend payments Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy and Finance, is calling on all companies to reduce their dividend payouts, including those that will not be requesting public aid in...
Bank watch Coronavirus: requests for government-backed loans soar To help companies affected by the health crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the government announced on March 25 that it was setting up a...
Banking watch From traditional banking products to customized sales Offering traditional banking products is no longer enough for financial institutions. They now need to diversify and personalize their offerings. Here's how it works.
Bank Watch Banque Casino passes the 3 million customer mark Banque Casino is reporting strong growth and good results for 2019. It now has more than 3 million customers, and a large proportion of its...
Banking watch Banking incident fees: are banks meeting their commitments to fragile customers? At the end of 2018, in the midst of the yellow vest crisis, banks committed to capping banking incident fees at €25 per month for customers considered...
Banking watch Covid-19: the French government asks banks for support To cope with the health and economic crisis linked to Covid-19, the French government has asked all banks to stand up and support their customers. An overview...
Bank Watch The proportion of indebted households continues to rise Even though the number of cases referred to the debt commission is falling, the issue of overindebtedness continues to cause concern due to the new profile of the people concerned.
Banking News French annual growth at half-mast in 2020 As the coronavirus health crisis spreads across France, an economic crisis is underway. What will happen to growth in 2020?
Banking watch ECB to simplify bank mergers The European Central Bank (ECB) is set to relax bank merger regulations in order to consolidate the sector.
Banking watch Government to simplify access to Livret d'Epargne Populaire savings accounts Bercy believes that the LEP, which earns higher interest than the Livret A, is under-utilized, and that access to it will be simplified in order to increase the number of...
Bank Watch Towards a ban on cash-only stores in New York In New York City, as in many other major U.S. cities, many stores refuse to accept cash. A proposed law aimed at banning this practice, known as "cashless shopping",...
Banking watch Brexit: what consequences for banks? Banks still have 10 months to prepare for Brexit and serve their European customers. This transition period will force financial institutions to adapt to new...
Bank Watch Bpifrance creates a new fund to support French listed companies Bpifrance, the French state-owned investment bank, has announced the creation of a new fund called "Lac d'Argent", designed to support the capitalization of major French companies.
Banking watch Businesses: Tips to reduce and limit overdue payments Late payments and unpaid invoices put a strain on a company's cash flow. These situations can lead to the loss of development opportunities, or even to bankruptcy.
Banking Watch The French prefer bank advisors to robo-advisors A recent study by Next Content/CGI reveals that bank advisors remain "the most reliable source of information" when it comes to finding...
Bank Watch Worldline announces takeover of Ingenico to become a payments giant Worldline, a former subsidiary of Atos, has announced the acquisition of Ingenico, the long-standing specialist in payment systems and terminals, as part of a 7.8 billion euro mixed offer.
Bank watch La Banque Postale partners with Western Union On January 28, Western Union and La Banque Postale announced a partnership to integrate the cross-border money transfer and currency exchange platform...
Bank Watch Focus on the digital performance of French retail banks in 2019 Rating agency D-Rating has published a study on the digital performance of retail banks. While in 2017, 39% of banks offered online services...
Banking watch Monese passes the 200,000-customer mark in France At the Paris Fintech Forum held at the Palais Brongniart at the end of January, British neobank Monese gave an initial assessment of its launch in France. The...
Banking watch What does the future hold for bank account aggregators? Linxo, Budgea, Bankin', Max... There are a growing number of account aggregators on the market. However, a recent study shows that the services they offer are struggling...
Banking News Digit automates customers' savings and bill payments Founded in San Francisco, Digit identifies its users' main spending items and saves for them using algorithmic transaction analysis.
Bank Watch Commerzbank announces net profit down to 644 million euros in 2019 The German bank recently announced a decline in annual net profit to €644 million in 2019, compared with €862 million the previous year. This was due in particular to...
Banking watch Brexit: N26 leaves the UK market 18 months after launching on the UK market, N26 has indicated that it will give it up, citing Brexit. Its users' bank accounts will be closed...
Banking watch iGaming and online casinos: Towards an evolution in payment methods In 2019, the iGaming and casino sector generated sales in excess of $75 billion. On a global scale, this revenue is expected to pass the...
Banking watch Can banks get round banking secrecy? Address, income, expenses, hobbies... Banks know almost everything about their customers. But do they have the right to exploit this information for their own benefit? How is banking secrecy regulated?
Bank Watch Fake online banks: Beware of scams! The French banking regulator, the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR), is alarmed by the proliferation of fake online banks. In all, more than 60 illicit sites have been pinpointed since the...
Bank Watch Corporate income tax: flexibility for companies in difficulty Bercy has announced a number of measures designed to facilitate the payment of corporation tax by companies in difficulty.
Bank Watch HSBC France puts its retail bank up for sale Faced with restructuring in recent years, HSBC is putting its retail bank in France up for sale in a bid to turn things around. Here are the details.
Bank Watch Stripe presents its new royalty-based payment solution After announcing a new $250 million fund-raising round last September, fintech Stripe has launched a payment solution aimed at...
Bank Watch Banks lent 258 billion euros in 2019 for home loans While the authorities have asked banks to cut back on home loan production, they nevertheless lent 258 billion euros in 2019.
Banking Watch French fintech steps up efforts to catch up with Germany and the UK The 2020 mapping of French fintechs, carried out by management company New Alpha and consulting firm Exton Consulting, reveals a considerable increase in the number of funds raised...
Banking watch France's most successful fintechs make their mark on the market French fintechs are still a long way behind the United States, but they have nothing to be ashamed of. The most innovative have gained in maturity and are attracting more and more...
Banking watch Fintech and banks: a new form of collaboration Banks have long regarded fintechs as competitors likely to take their place. Today, with the development of "tech for fin", these two...
Banking Watch Italy's fintech market on the rise The Italia Fintech organization, which brings together Italy's fintech players, is observing rapid market growth and consolidation. The year 2020 should be decisive for the...
Banking watch French banks to undergo climate stress tests from 2020 As announced by the Governor of the Banque de France at the fifth Climate Finance Day, French banks will soon be subject to climate stress tests....
Bank Watch Euler Hermes and Moment join forces to combat late payments Euler Hermes and Moment have decided to join forces to help very small businesses get paid on time, thus preventing collection operations and the payment of compensation...
Banking watch iBanFirst acquires German startup Forexfix Financial services provider iBanFirst is expanding in Central Europe with the acquisition of Forexfix, a German startup specializing in the foreign exchange market.
Bank Watch DBS Wealth strengthens strategic partnership with Avaloq DBS Wealth Management, the wealth management division of DBS Bank, will now rely on the Avaloq platform to provide a more efficient service to its customers.
Bank Watch SWIFT corporate customers now have access to KYC Registry SWIFT, the world leader in secure financial messaging, recently announced the opening of KYC Registry to companies connected to its network, a service that enables them to manage...
Bank Watch Younited Credit: break-even point now reached Younited Credit is experiencing a phase of accelerated growth, linked in particular to the second European Payments Directive and the success of its B2B service, Younited Business Solutions....
Banking Watch Banking as a Service: fintechs attract more and more players Fintechs offering Banking as a Service have rapidly become indispensable. Offering their payment services, and increasingly their banking as a service offers, fintechs are...
Banking Intelligence Scorable develops a credit risk analysis solution based on Artificial Intelligence Scorable enables asset managers to assess the risk of a bond investment. A few months after its launch in Germany, the startup plans to expand into the French market.
Bank Watch DreamQuark raises 14 million euros to develop its AI for banks and insurers Last December, startup DreamQuark, which specializes in AI technologies applied to the world of banking and insurance, announced that it had raised 14...
Banking News French bankers optimistic about the development of Open Banking According to a study published in December 2019, 59% of French banks consider Open Banking to be a positive development, compared with 55% on average across Europe.
Banking watch Retail banking and low-cost offers: what you need to know The arrival of numerous neobanks and the low-cost offerings of the major banks are changing the banking landscape. Find out more about the differences in retail banking services.
Bank Watch Bred fined for non-compliance with Emir regulations on derivatives On January 27, the AMF, the French Financial Markets Authority's Enforcement Committee, fined BRED 500,000 euros for failure to comply with the Emir regulation...
Banking Watch Finance Innovation: Libeo wins the 2019 "Fintech of the Year" award In December 2019, Libeo, a startup specializing in supplier invoice payment for VSEs/SMEs, was awarded the 2019 "Fintech of the Year"...
Banking watch Neobanks continue to grow and become challenger banks The latest version of the "Panorama des néobanques en France" study, published by Stéphane Dehaies in partnership with Ipsos, confirms that neobanks are continuing to grow, and are becoming...
Banking watch Cyber attack on major US bank could weaken banking system The Fed, the US central bank, recently published a report on the consequences of a cyber attack on the banking system. The consequences are alarming, and reveal that a cyber attack...
Banking watch Technological advances simplify corporate tax procedures A recent study shows that the tax burden on French companies remained stable in 2019. Thanks to technological advances, the time spent by companies...
Banking Watch Ten European gas pedals join forces to develop fintech abroad Ten European gas pedals have decided to join forces to promote exchanges between startups and major corporations, and help them create partnerships. This is the first time...
Banking watch Bank advisor: do we still need one in 2020? At a time when most banking services have been digitized, the question of having a bank advisor really comes to the fore. But what is the reality? Is it still essential? Elements...
Bank Watch Beware of online financial investment scams The Internet is a haven for online financial investment scams. Find out how to spot them early and what advice you should follow to protect yourself.
Bank Watch Risk control: the ECB slams its fist down on the table The European Central Bank is naming 6 European banks that are failing to meet its capital management and internal risk control requirements.
Banking watch Fintech Bizao aims to develop mobile payment in Africa Founded in 2017 by Aurélien Duval-Delort, Bizao aims to accelerate mobile payment in Africa by offering a single platform connecting operators and merchants.
Bank Watch When the ECB joins the fight against climate change Climate change is everyone's business. This is an opportunity for the European Central Bank to provide real leverage and play a leading role...
Banking watch Lemon Way and HelloAsso create a joint offering dedicated to sports federations Lemon Way has announced its intention to strengthen its partnership with HelloAsso to launch a joint offering to support the digital transformation of sports federations...
Banking News Santander banking group invests 400 million euros in Ebury Santander has invested around 400 million euros in Ebury, a British fintech. Thanks to this transaction, the Spanish bank hopes to strengthen its range of services dedicated to...
Bank watch 2020 bank fees on the rise After the government-ordered freeze on bank charges in 2019, find out which banking services are set to rise this year.
Bank Watch Virgil raises 2.1 million euros to help young people become homeowners In response to soaring property prices, startup Virgil offers future buyers a capital contribution in return for co-ownership of the property they purchase.
Banking watch The Nickel neobank begins its international launch Having made its name change official, Nickel is now stepping up a gear. The neobank plans to launch in Spain next spring.
Banking intelligence Ivalua, the new French unicorn? Ivalua, a specialist in computerized purchasing, is estimated to be worth over a billion dollars, and is claiming the title of French unicorn. We take a closer look.
Bank Watch Ant Financial plans to raise $1 billion in startups based in India and Southeast Asia China's Ant, the financial arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba, plans to invest in Asian startups specializing in online payments and financial services.
Bank watch Life insurance: Société Générale announces a rate of return of less than 1%. Insurers are gradually announcing the yields on their euro funds for 2019. On the bank side, Société Générale's rate crosses the 1% threshold...
Bank Watch 4 major Belgian banks pool ATM management BNP Paribas Fortis, Belfius, KBC and ING have joined forces to create a common ATM network and respond to the changing behavior of consumers.
Banking watch Changes to your savings in 2020 Find out about the changes and modifications concerning the various savings products from January 1, 2020: Livret A, LEP, creation of the PER (retirement savings plan).
Bank watch Monabanq now offers home loans: conditions and insurance To round out its range of loans, online bank Monabanq now offers mortgages. Find out more about their features, terms and pricing advantages.
Bank Watch The new Ditto platform at the service of your business and your customers Ditto has just unveiled the contours of its "Banking-as-a-Service" offering. The aim is to give fintechs targeting small and medium-sized businesses access to the latest...
Bank Watch JPMorgan: profits up by more than 20% in Q4 2019 The world's largest listed bank announced in early January that it had posted net profits up 20% in the final quarter of 2019, to 8.5 billion...
Bank Watch Paytweak launches a new dematerialized payment solution Based in Normandy and Paris, startup Paytweak has developed a new dematerialized payment solution for retailers. To pay for their purchases, customers...
Bank Watch 52% of French people find their account statements difficult to read Savers are increasingly consulting their account statements from their cell phones. However, the imprecise wording of some transactions makes them difficult to read.
Bank Watch BNP Paribas: digital initiatives to better meet customer expectations Shortly after the official presentation of Libra, the crypto-currency to be launched by Facebook in 2020, and at a time when neobanks are constantly improving their...
Bank Watch Hello Bank! aims to be profitable by 2022 BNP Paribas' mobile bank will be expanding its range of offerings in the coming months in order to become profitable. Since its creation in 2013, the neobank...
Bank Watch Savings: authorities report significant rise in online scams According to the latest annual report from the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) and the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR), online scams are on the rise....
Bank Watch Unicorn Brex boosts its valuation to $2.6 billion The American fintech, which offers a credit card for startups and SMEs, has just closed a $100 million round of financing....
Bank Watch PayFit raises 70 million euros to accelerate its development in Europe On June 17, PayFit announced its third round of financing, raising 70 million euros from its historical shareholders. The Paris-based startup aims to become the...
Banking watch Crédit Agricole to test biometric bankcards for 6 months Crédit Agricole is the second French bank to start testing a biometric bank card incorporating a fingerprint sensor.
Banking Watch Banks on the road to Open Banking The transformation of the banking sector continues. Open banking data, instant or invisible finance, market consolidation... Open Banking promises many technological advances.
Banking watch Customer experience : BNP Paribas takes inspiration from the web giants BNP Paribas is multiplying its innovative projects to achieve a quality of customer experience on a par with that of the GAFAs. To achieve this goal, the Group has already...
Banking Watch Visa and Natixis Payments present Xpollens, a new offering for fintechs Visa and Natixis have unveiled their platform integrating innovative payment solutions for fintechs: the Xpollens solution, complete with branded Payments in a box...
Bank Watch Founders Factory incubator opens in Paris BNP Paribas' mobile bank will be expanding its range of offerings in the coming months in order to become profitable. Indeed, since its creation in 2013, the neobank...
Banking News Arkéa and Max personalize the customer experience by leveraging the cloud Max, a 100% mobile app launched by the Arkéa group in 2018, will soon be equipped with new features to meet user expectations.
Banking watch Nickel launches campaign to combat banking desertification On June 18, neobank Nickel launched its campaign to combat banking desertification. The BNP Paribas subsidiary is committed to contacting tobacconists...
Banking Intelligence Millennials: how do they perceive banking in 2019? There are many candidates targeting this strategic clientele: online banks, traditional banks, neobanks... These players are evolving their offerings to meet the demands of Millennials.
Banking watch French fintechs raise 354 million euros in 6 months In the first half of 2019, French financial startups raised €354 million through 39 deals, compared with €370 million over the whole...
Bank Watch Startup Bleckwen raises 8.8 million euros to accelerate growth Bleckwen, a company specializing in the detection and prevention of payment fraud, has just announced that it has raised €8.8 million to accelerate its...