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Establish a Financial Company in France

Establish a Financial Company in France

Obtaining a financial license in France is necessary for the development of various activities in this sector. There are various authorities that issue specific financial licenses. In the following lines, you can discover useful information on this topic, mentioning that our specialists in setting up a company in France can guide you regarding the types of financial licenses in France that you need before starting operations on the French market.

Who issues financial licenses in France?

The French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) (under the strict supervision of the Central Bank of France)issues financial licenses for providers of payment services and provision of investments. On the other hand, foreign companies that want to develop financial activities in France must first receive approval and license from ACPR and notify the Financial Markets Authority.

Besides these, the European Central Bank licenses companies that want to offer loans and related services on the French market. Regardless of the type of financial company you want to establish in France, we recommend you turn to our experts in company incorporation in France. You can thus eliminate the complexities regarding opening a company in France.

Types of financial licenses in France

Here are some of the financial licenses available in France:

  • license for investment services,
  • license for payment services providers,
  • license for credit loans,
  • license for electronic money service providers.

Opening a financial company in France can be a fairly simple process that must involve applying for the necessary license from the very beginning. With these aspects in mind, we recommend you collaborate with our French agents. They can guide you step by step and represent you before the relevant authorities.

Documents required for getting a financial license in France

Among the documents required when applying for a financial license in France, the following are the most important:

  • Articles of Association and the business plan,
  • capital structure,
  • the document detailing the company management,
  • information about the operating system, financial and technical funds, etc.

We mention that the application for a financial authorization in France can take between 6 and 18 months, depending on the type of business (credit institution, e-payment provider, etc.). We are in constant communication with our clients, whom we inform about the status of the financial license application in France and we can guide them regarding the documents that may be requested extra by the authorities. We, therefore, invite you to set up a company in France with our support, especially in the financial sector.

Some facts about the banking sector in France

Below are some interesting data about the banking sector in France that may be useful if you want to develop your business in the financial sector:

  • The main banks in France have recently seen steady upgrading in their productivity due to benefits from positive interest rates that materialized in 2024.
  • The average liquidity coverage ratio of the banking sector in France grew by around 147% in 2023 which is above the established threshold of 100%. Here, the issuance of debt securities sustained the growth.

You can opt for other services besides those for obtaining a financial license in France. For example, if you want to start a business, do not hesitate to talk to our accountants in France. We invite you to contact our team of specialists and learn more about opening financial companies in France.