How To Close Your Bank Account In France

First of all, you procrastinate for 6 weeks, thinking, “I really should go to the bank and close up my account…give myself lots of time, just in case there are any problems.” Then you wait until 6 days before you leave the country. Sunday night, you get your things ready: bank card, check book, wallet, picture ID, and EVERY single piece of paper that the bank has mailed/given you since you opened your account in Dec 04. You never know what they will ask for. Monday…you walk to the bank, the door is locked. You slowly realize that the bank is closed on Mondays. You carefully memorize the posted business hours and vow to arrive at 8:15 am the next morning. 5 days before you leave. You spend the rest of the evening kicking yourself for your procrastination and lack of organization.
Next morning, you sleep in, miss the alarm and make it to the bank at 9:30 am. You arrive at the outer door to the bank; you ring the doorbell (security feature) to be let into the area where you can make deposits or withdrawals from the automatic machine. Then you ring the second doorbell to be let into the waiting area of the bank. In which there is a total of 5 other people before you, all waiting in line. There are only 2 tellers. But at least the place is air conditioned…it’s already over 30 C. So you stand in line for 20 minutes or so, really it could have been longer because you’ve stopped wearing your watch. But at least it gives you time to practice what you’re going to say given any number of different scenarios.
But you are not prepared for what really happens. Apparently the person that opened your account needs to be the one to close your account. And of course he is away on vacation. So the teller asks you to take a seat and wait until he can figure out what to do with you. He calls a few people in the bank, explains the situation, blah blah blah. Meanwhile giving you time to go through the “worst case scenario” possibilities, including being told that you can’t close your account and that all your money must stay in France.
But all is well, after another 15 minute wait. He calls you back up to the counter, asks for your check book, your picture ID, your bank card. Then he gives you a pen and a blank sheet of paper, instructing you to write (in French) that you want to close your account, take out the money, date it, and sign it. At this point, you’re just happy that things are moving ahead, and that it looks like you’ll be able to get your money after all. You write out your little paragraph, trying not to laugh out loud as you do so. He counts out your money, including the cents. Thanks you for your business, wishes you a good day, says goodbye. You say goodbye, good day. He keeps your check book and bank card. You take a big breath, walk back to the door, and ring again to be let out. Walk up to the second door, ring it to be let out…and walk into a wall of heat. It’s about 35 C now.
Moral of the story…bring a book to read when you go to the bank. And don’t procrastinate.