From 20 November 2026, French banks must assess a customer’s creditworthiness before granting an overdraft, whatever its amount or repayment period. The rule brings small and short-term overdrafts into consumer-credit regulation; it does not give customers a right to an overdraft.
Until now, the mandatory assessment applied only where both conditions were met: the requested overdraft was at least €200 and lasted more than one month. Service-Public says the new requirement extends that assessment to all overdrafts.
For customers seeking a new small facility, the immediate change is that a bank must examine their financial situation before approving an overdraft that could previously have fallen outside the mandatory check. The assessment must be proportionate to the overdraft’s amount and duration. For overdrafts below €200 and/or repayable within a month, consulting France’s national register of personal credit-repayment incidents may remain optional.
The reform follows France’s transposition of the EU’s DCC2 consumer-credit directive through an ordinance of 3 September 2025. Service-Public says its stated aims include better borrower protection and reducing the risk of over-indebtedness.
Existing overdraft authorisations established before 20 November 2026 are not affected by the new provisions. Banks still decide whether to grant an overdraft, so the rule adds a review requirement rather than an entitlement to a facility.
Sources
- Service Public · Actualités particuliers — Source : Service Public (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/) · Source date: 2026-11-12
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-12