European credit cards use a smart chip (puce) which is controlled by your name (a spouse cannot use the other spouse’s credit card) and a PIN. If you do not have a smart chip on your card, you will sign all of your receipts as opposed to using a PIN and deal with the exchange rate.
You can either attempt to open an account in France, use your home-town debit card, or put cash on a card (Travelex alternative).
Pay as you go Credit Cards
A pay as you go credit card is available through Travelex.
“Bob” used the Travelex Passport (.73026 EU to $1 US) and was pleased. “Travelex worked out perfectly. Both security and convenience. I would highly recommend it.”
In France there is a central number for all lost or stolen credit cards. Dial: 0892 705 705
Open a bank account
A reader asked, “Is it possible to open a bank account there before actually having an address in Paris?”
I suggested Boursorama (website only available in French) and HSBC. La Poste is user UNfriendly. The BNP Paribas (international page) has information in English next to the British flag. Interesting information about opening a BNP account is on their “opening a bank account” page.
HSBC states on their website,
“Whether you are coming to France to live or work or if you are buying a house there, HSBC can help you settle in. From opening accounts to establishing international transfers, your English-speaking Relationship Manager ensures you a smooth transition.”
A reader’s experience with HSBC:
“… I do have the card with the smart chip. The only US-issued company I’m aware of that currently provides this is AMEX. No minimum amount required to open.
As far as I know, you must use a French address. A friend of mine in Paris went into the bank with me and let me use her address. She also had to present a copy of her French residency status, which was photocopied and placed in my file. Lastly, she had to type a letter stating that she actually knows me, which was also placed in my file…. Pretty strict. They say it’s to prevent laundering and terrorism.
I had the option of getting both debit and credit card. The debit card came with a pre-authorized “credit” line based on income.
Restrictions: I was asked how often I would use the account and to what purpose. Once I ensured the manager I would transfer payroll to French account, she was okay with that answer. Having to have the French address was huge!
Don’t see how it’s possible for a temporary account to be opened. If the vacationer in question is American, I would just recommend arriving with the AMEX card for certain (puce/smart chip-required) transactions, though AMEX is not accepted everywhere.
NOTE: As a non-tax payer in France, I was required to present the last three months bank account and payroll statements. Some say a student ID helps; I showed up in my airline uniform to prove employment.
I do know of one U.S. citizen who lives with his partner, an European Union citizen. He managed to open an account with La Poste using their address in the 20th. However, a French citizen I know who plans to return to live in France after a 25 year absence, had to use his brother’s information to open a Poste account – all because he has not paid taxes for so long.
In addition, I recently closed my Citibank account in favor of HSBC-USA to streamline future transfers, etc., between accounts and was told that HSBC-France & USA will be among the first countries to integrate their systems. Supposedly, this will take place fall/winter 2010. As it stands now, once you are an HSBC account holder in the USA, you have to ability to view all of your HSBC accounts globally on the one page, though they still remain separate entities.
Unless said vacationer falls in love with the life in France and never return home, I wouldn’t recommend going through all the hassle…. “
Reader’s Experience with AMEX
“I have Amex, 2 of them, differents types, and no they have no puces, and from this side of the pond (USA). Amex doesn’t issue cards with- puce-. I called them before leaving for France, to open an account in a French Bank is impossible, they do require an (sic) physical adress even if you are a French citizen, living abroad.
It is so frustrating when you use the public transportations, you end up waiting in long lines to buy trains tickets. but they do take your Amex in trains stations.“
I have Amex, 2 of them, differents types, and no they have no puces, and from this side of the pond (USA). Amex doesn’t issue cards with- puce-. I called them before leaving for France, to open an account in a French Bank is impossible, they do require an physical adress even if you are a French citizen, living abroad. It is so frustrating when you use the public transportations, you end up waiting in long lines to buy trains tickets. but they do take your Amex in trains stations.