Overview
- Following a meeting at Bercy, the government reiterated that overdrafts will not be banned and that the new regime will apply only to new authorisations from 20 November 2026.
- The rules stem from a 2023 EU directive that brings small overdrafts under consumer‑credit protections, requiring solvency assessments for facilities under €200 and shorter than one month.
- Existing authorised overdrafts are grandfathered, while future overdrafts will be counted within standard debt calculations, which could tighten eligibility for other loans.
- The French Banking Federation said the session aligned everyone on the key points but noted that several operational details still need clarification.
- Banks warn of added compliance burdens and lower fee income, while consumer groups seek protections that reduce abusive charges as authorities draft the implementing texts with ACPR and the Treasury.