Since 1 Jan 2002 like in many other European countries euro has become the national currency of France.
Euro
The actual payment the new currency Euro started in France and ten other Member States on 1 Jan 2002. Both currencies: frank and euro are legal during the period: 1 Jan-17 Feb 2002. During that period francs can be exchanged for euros (at a fixed tariff of 6.55957F to v1) without commission at banks, post offices, the public treasury and Bank of France. Thereafter only banks will be able to exchange francs and euros, probably for a commission. From 2002 onwards only the Bank of France will exchange francs: there is a cut-off point of three years for coins, ten years for notes. For further information see the Economic Monetary Union's Quest database at europa.eu.int/euro/quest.
Current Information on Euro Currency in France:
Exchange rate: €1=FRF 6.55957
Euro cash introduced: 01/01/2002
End of dual currency period: 17/02/2002
For currency converter click here:
http://money.cnn.com/markets/currencies
ATMs
Withdrawals in francs and euros can be made from bank and post office automatic cash machines
The specific cards accepted are marked on each machine, and most give instructions in English. Credit card companies charge a fee for cash advances, but rates are often better than bank rates.
Since 1 January 2002, all electronic payments in the euro area are in euro and not the former national currencies. If you make an electronic payment in euro in the euro area with a credit card it will be converted into your country’s currency by your bank as a foreign currency transaction in the same manner as with other foreign currencies such as the dollar or yen.
Bank accounts
To open an account (ouvrir un compte), French banks require proof of identity, address and your income (if any)
You'll probably have to show your passport, Carte de Sejour, an electricity/gas or phone bill in your name and a payslip/letter from your employer. Students need a student card and may need a letter from their parents. Of the major banks (BNP, Credit Lyonnais, Societe Generale, Banque Populaire, Credit Agricole), Societe Generale tends to be most foreigner- and student - friendly.
Most banks don't hand out a Carte Bleue/Visa until several weeks after you've opened an account. A chequebook (chequier) is usually issued in about a week. Carte Bleue is debited directly from your current account, but you can choose for purchases to be debited at the end of every month. French banks are tough on overdrafts, so try to anticipate any cash crisis in advance and work out a deal for an authorised overdraft (decouvert autorise) or you risk being blacklisted as 'interdit bancaire' - forbidden from having a current account - for up to ten years.
Depositing foreign-currency cheques is slow, so use wire transfer or a bank draft in francs to receive funds from abroad.
Banks
French banks usually open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri (some close at lunch 12.30-2.30pm); some banks also open on Sat
All are closed on public holidays, and from noon on the previous day. Note that not all banks have foreign exchange counters. Commission rates vary between banks. The state Banque de France usually offers good rates. Most banks accept travellers cheques, but may be reluctant to accept personal cheques with the Eurocheque guarantee card, which is not widely used in France.
Bureaux de change
If you arrive in Paris early or late, you can change money at the Travelex bureaux de change in the terminals at Roissy (01.48.64.37.26) and at Orly (01.49.75.89.25) airports, which are open 6.30am to 10.30pm or 11pm daily
Thomas Cook has bureaux de change at the main train stations. Hours can vary.
Gare d'Austerlitz 01.53.60.12.97. Open 7.15am-9pm Mon-Sun.
Gare Montparnasse 01.42.79.03.88. Open 8am-7pm daily (until 8pm in summer).
Gare St-Lazare 01.43.87.72.51. Open 8am-7pm Mon-Sat; 9am-5pm Sun.
Gare du Nord 01.42.80.11.50.Open 6.15am-11.30pm daily.
Gare de l'Est 01.42.09.51.97. Open Mon-Sat 6.45am-9.50pm, 6.45am-7pm Sun.
Some banks have cash exchange machines that accept notes of major currencies in good condition and convert them into francs or euro. Credit Commercial de France (CCF) has an automatic change machine at 103 av des Champs-Elysees, 8th.
Credit cards
Major international credit cards are widely used in France; Visa (in French Carte Bleue) is the most readily accepted
French-issued credit cards have a special security microchip (puce) in each card. The card is slotted into a card reader, and the holder keys in a PIN number to authorise the transaction. Non-French cards also work, but generate a credit slip to sign. In case of credit card loss or theft, call the following 24-hr services which have English-speaking staff: American Express 01.47.77.72.00; Diners Club 01.49.06.17.17; MasterCard 01.45.67.84.84; Visa 08.36.69.08.80.
Foreign affairs
American Express 11 rue Scribe, 9th (01.47.14.50.00)
Mº Opera. Open am-4.30pm Mon-Fri. Bureau de change (01.47.77.79.50). Open 9am-6.30pm Mon-Fri; 9am-5pm Sat; 10am-4pm Sun. Bureau de change, poste restante, card replacement, travellers cheque refund service, international money transfers and a cash machine for AmEx cardholders.
Barclays 6 rond point des Champs-Elysees, 8th (01.44.95.13.80). Mº Franklin D. Roosevelt. Open 9.15am-4.30pm Mon-Fri. Barclays' international Expat Service handles direct debits, international transfer of funds, etc.
Chequepoint 150 av des Champs-Elysees, 8th (01.42.56.48.63). Mº Charles de Gaulle-Etoile. Open 24-hr daily. Other branches have variable hours; some are closed on Sun. No commission.
Thomas Cook 52 av des Champs-Elysees, 8th (01.42.89.80.32). Mº Franklin D. Roosevelt. Open 8.30am-10.30pm daily. Hours of other branches (over 20 in Paris) vary. They issue travellers' cheques and deal with bank drafts and bank transfers.
Western Union Money Transfer CCF Change, 4 rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame, 4th (01.43.54.46.12). Mº Cite. Open 9am-5.15pm daily. CCF is an agent for Western Union in Paris, with several branches in the city. 48 post offices now provide Western Union services as well (call 08.25.00.98.98 for details). Money transfers from abroad should arrive within 10-15 minutes. Charges paid by the sender.
Citibank 125 av des Champs-Elysees, 8th (01.53.23.33.60). Mº Charles de Gaulle-Etoile. Open 10am-6pm Mon-Fri. Existing clients get good rates for transferring money from country to country, preferential exchange rates and no commision on travellers cheques. European clients can make immediate on-line transfers from account to account on ATM with a Cirrus cashcard.
