The Local France

HSBC to pay €267.5 million in France over tax fraud claim

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:52:44 +0100

British-based bank HSBC has agreed to pay a €267.5 million fine to settle French claims over alleged dividend tax fraud, a widespread inquiry targeting several large banks, an AFP reporter confirmed Thursday.

How post-Brexit bank account changes could affect British people in France

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:16:13 +0200

As the end of the Brexit transition period looms, the UK has so far failed to negotiate access to the European passporting scheme for banks - here's what that means if you are British and live in France.

French bank fined €5 million over anti-terror lapses

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 04:38:50 +0200

France's banking watchdog said on Friday it had fined Societe Generale €5 million over lapses in its measures to prevent money laundering that could finance terrorism.

How one man robbed dozens of French banks

Wed, 20 May 2015 19:56:31 +0200

A man who swindled French banks and businesses into giving him millions of euros was sentenced in absentia to seven years in jail on Wednesday. And his victims revealed in court exactly how the smooth talker operated.

Swiss bankers pay €1bn in French fraud case

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:01:00 +0200

A Swiss banking behemoth accused of advising wealthy French people on how to conceal their money in Switzerland has paid a court-ordered bail of €1 billion.

French industry slams US for 'not playing fair'

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 14:03:00 +0200

French and German industry leaders took a swipe at the United States on Friday, saying it was trying to erode the power of the European banking industry.

French bank admits breaching US sanctions

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:38:00 +0200

French bank BNP Paribas pleaded guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges for violating US sanctions against blacklisted countries including Iran and Sudan, as part of a record $8.9 billion settlement.

French bank exec to step down amid US probe

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:34:00 +0200

The top operations officer of BNP Paribas will step down as the French bank faces a €7 billion fine from American regulators for sanctions busting. Meanwhile, US authorities have granted the banking giant license to work in Iran.

France says BNP Paribas fine 'unreasonable'

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 10:53:00 +0200

Top French officials, including President François Hollande, are pressuring the United States to sweeten a plea deal being offered to BNP Paribas bank over its dealings with blacklisted countries like Sudan and Cuba. On Tuesday France called a proposed multi-billion euro fine 'unreasonable'

US hits French bank BNP hit with $8.9m fine

Fri, 16 May 2014 11:26:00 +0200

BNP Paribas pleaded guilty Monday to US criminal charges of violating sanctions on Iran and Sudan for eight years and was fined a record $8.9 billion (€6.5 million).

French bank to cut jobs in Ukraine over crisis

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:10:22 +0100

French bank BNP Paribas said Monday it plans to cut 1,600 jobs at its Ukrainian unit UkrSibBank by 2015 due to political uncertainty in the country.

France's 'Robin Hood banker' barred for 5 years

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:28:00 +0200

A Frenchman, dubbed the "Robin Hood banker" was barred this week from practicing his profession after he was caught diverting money from certain clients in order to give it to those who had been refused loans. He said he did not want to be seen as "the nasty banker".

Names of French with Swiss accounts turned in

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 18:44:00 +0200

Certain politicians in France might not sleep well in their beds tonight. A former banker in Switzerland has handed a list to French authorities which he claims contains the names of 15 prominent lawmakers who have secret Swiss bank accounts.

UBS France fined €10m over Swiss accounts

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:25:00 +0200

France continued its recent quest to crackdown on tax evaders this week when a finance watchdog announced it had hit the French branch of UBS bank with a €10 million fine for helping wealthy clients hide money in undeclared Swiss bank accounts.

Drunk attempts bank heist in underpants mask

Tue, 28 May 2013 18:17:00 +0200

A drunk Frenchman has been handed a jail term after attempting to hold up his local bank, armed with a pocket knife and wearing his underpants on his head, it emerged on Tuesday.

French bank SocGen 'employs 11,000 interns'

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 +0200

French companies have long had a reputation for relying heavily on unpaid interns. New figures released on Friday highlighting the staggering number of interns on the payroll at banking giant Societé General will only confirm this reputation.

Man behind French 'heist of century' hangs self

Sat, 04 May 2013 12:50:00 +0200

Marc Armando, the suspected mastermind behind one of France's most spectacular bank heists two decades ago, has committed suicide in prison, sources close to the investigation said Saturday.

Credit card receipts pose cancer risk: new report

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:50:00 +0200

Checking the bill for the weekly shopping, or fingering through credit card receipts from the night before is never good for you, but a new French report is expected to warn that the print-outs actually pose a potentially serious health risk.

Online card fraud mushrooms in France

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:26:54 +0200

Over 60 percent of all bank card fraud in France happens online, despite internet transactions making up just 8 percent of the national total.

Finding a home in France

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:17:00 +0100

You might have your eyes set on a château, a farm, or a ruin you dream of renovating. But whatever it is that has caught your attention, be aware that finding a home in France, whether it’s renting or buying, is a challenging experience.