On Aug. 14, 2025, FR GVT published Decree 2025-813, Aug. 13, 2025, implementing the Law 2025-415, aimed at reducing and regulating the banking fees on inheritance.
Decree determines the conditions for applying Article L. 312-1-4-1, paragraph 1, of the Monetary and Financial Code and the terms for capping charges that may be levied pursuant to penultimate paragraph of the article, up to a limit of 1% of total involved.
The terms of the text of the Decree now come in force with effect from Nov. 13, 2025.
FR PRL adopted bill in the second reading to regulate bank charges on inheritance.
Main Points
The bill regulates the fees charged by banks to close the accounts of deceased clients.
In the event of a client's death, banks carry out certain checks leading to banking operations, e.g., freezing of assets, exchanges with the notary, transfer to heirs.
Banks usually charge these estate processing fees, called estate banking fees.
Currently, these fees are not regulated, but are freely determined by banks; they vary greatly depending on the institution, including within the same banking group.
Additionally, while some banks offer free inheritance tax as long as the deceased's account balance does not exceed a certain amount, this amount is not uniform.
The bill provides for free banking operations in three cases i.e., when the total balance of the deceased's accounts and savings products is less than €5,910 on Jan. 1, 2025.
For inheritances of accounts and savings products held by deceased minor children.
For the simplest successions when the heir(s) produce a deed of notoriety/a certificate signed for all the heirs to the bank during operations related to the succession.
This will affect deposit, payment and passbook accounts, the Livret A, the popular savings account (LEP), the popular savings plan (PEP), the youth savings account.
Housing savings, the sustainable development account (LDDS) and share savings plan.
Other banking transactions for inheritances may give rise to fees, but capped at a maximum of 1% of the total amount of sums held and according to a sliding scale.
Which will be set by decree; banks will therefore be subject to a double cap.
The senators extended this new system to payment institutions, e.g. Nickel, Revolut.
And provided that its compliance would be monitored by FR ACPR and by the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).
An implementing decree must specify these new framework rules, which will be applicable quickly, i.e., within six months of the promulgation of the law.
Next Steps
The adopted bill has been submitted for promulgation in the Official Gazette.
May 14, 2025 Law Published
On May 14, 2025, FR GVT published Law 2025-415 of May 13, 2025 aimed at reducing and regulating banking fees on inheritance, amending the Monetary and Financial Code (CMF); FR GVT will assess the law's effects on fees after one year.
Aug. 2025 Decree Published
On Aug. 14, 2025, FR GVT published Decree 2025-813, Aug. 13, 2025, implementing the Law 2025-415, aimed at reducing and regulating the banking fees on inheritance.
Decree determines the conditions for applying Article L. 312-1-4-1, paragraph 1, of the Monetary and Financial Code and the terms for capping charges that may be levied pursuant to penultimate paragraph of the article, up to a limit of 1% of total involved.
The terms of the text of the Decree now come in force with effect from Nov. 13, 2025.
Regulators
FR ACPR; FR GVT; FR PRL
Entity Types
Bank; MSB
Reference
Decree 2025-813, 8/13/2025; OG JORF 0188, 4/14/2025; OG JORF 0112, 5/14/2025; Law 2025-415, 5/13/2025; CMF (FR); Bill 561, PR 5/5/2025; Citation: Law 2025-415; Decree 2025-813;
