Overview
- From 20 November 2026, overdrafts and cash facilities in France will fall under consumer credit rules following an EU directive transposed by ordonnance.
- Economy Minister Roland Lescure says solvency assessments will be conducted once at account opening, with formal contracts detailing rates and fees.
- La France insoumise has launched a petition warning of the end of automatic overdrafts, while officials and the banking federation say overdrafts are not banned and do not require per‑use approval.
- Current credit analyses already applied to overdrafts above €200 will be extended to smaller authorised amounts, with enhanced disclosures on costs.
- Officials frame the change as consumer protection and a way to reduce fees, as critics warn of tighter access to short‑term liquidity used by many lower‑income households.