Many banks in France have regional English language websites with English speaking staff.  Banking services and facilities in English may also be found at some branches.  Doy you need a French Bank Account? Read French Bank Account

Opening an Account

A foreigner may open a bank account if they are (or are going to be) resident in France for at least three months.

The following documents are required to open an account:

• EU citizens: Proof of identification (a valid passport or ID card)
• Non-EU citizens: Proof of residence (Carte de séjour)
• Proof of a French address: a utility bill (Electricity, Telephone etc.), rental agreement or property deeds
• Proof of earnings or status: Contract of employment or proof of earnings or proof of status (e.g a student card)
• Reference from another bank where accounts are held (this is usually only required when applying for loans and overdrafts)
• In some instances, a birth certificate.

Opening an account can be done in a day and means of making payments (cash cards and cheque book) will normally arrive within a week, or so, of the account being opened.

If the idea of a move to France attracts you and you like the idea of buying a house, which perhaps needs renovation, then before you even consider the financial implications you must ask yourself some much more important and deeply searching questions. Print this article, go and lie in a nice warm bath, take a glass and a bottle of Beaujolais with you, relax and be totally honest with yourself. When you’ve finished the wine, open another bottle and see if your partner will join you in the bath (bring another glass)… and then be brutally honest with each other.

Now, imagine you’ve sold up, kissed your family and friends goodbye and followed the removal van to your new French home. This is not a two week holiday, this is for keeps…so, seriously ask yourself and your partner these questions:

Can I and my partner really cope with leaving our home-country?

Artist: Lie Jie

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Madonna may be about to follow in the steps of Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson and Uma Thurman as the latest face of French luxury brand Louis Vuitton, according to Style.com

The Material Grandma has reportedly signed on as the face of the fashion giant’s Spring 2009 campaign, and a superstar team has been lined-up for the collaboration.

Celebrity fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott have reportedly already shot the advertisements for the Spring 2009 project.

Well, it’s a good distraction after a big divorce -  who said you can’t be fabulous in your fifties?

The French have some very formal rules about manners and etiquette (la politesse) and there are many, well written, books on the subject.  Here are a few ways to avoid embarrassment and not become too surprised.

Meeting people

The French shake hands almost whenever they meet and always when meeting someone for the first time or for business. Arriving at work it is quite common to greet colleagues with a handshake, and to shake hands again when leaving.  I once had some luggage stolen whilst traveling on the TGV to Paris.  Having arrived, I was asked to wait in the Police office whilst a report was written.  There were several other people in the room and I watched in pleasant surprise as an officer, coming on duty, went around shaking everyone by the hand (including me) and wishing a polite “bonjour”.

French bank Societe Generale has seen net profits crash by 84% for the third quarter, hit by the credit crisis.

Net profits in the 3 months to the end of September fell to €183m  ($235m; £145m) from €1.12bn  in the same period last year.

The bank has been hit hard by the chaos in the finance sector with the collapse of Lehman Brothers alone prompting a €447m write down.

Despite the results the bank said it was positioned to deal with the downturn.