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Not true for France. It might be easier for an EU citizen, but it is still a big waste of time. Getting a bank account still takes at least 3 visits. To hold a

Not true for France. It might be easier for an EU citizen, but it is still a big waste of time. Getting a bank account still takes at least 3 visits. To hold a working card in your hand will take more then a month. Your driving licence is valid only for a year. And the Social Security nightmare is pretty much the same for everybody. And for the etc. prepare for that every bit will be a hassle.

rjsw 9y ago
I think that the parent comment meant that you can easily use a bank account from another EU country in France. Opening a French bank account isn't complicated either if it is with a multinational bank, I have never been inside a French branch of mine.
- user5994461 9y ago
  And the parent is mistaking, he's probably American. You cannot use a bank accounts well across EU country. Banks are a very localized service, they provide specific account number formats and payment methods by country. It will be a huge hassle day to day when you want a SEPA transfer and the guy expects a RIB or a sort code. It's worse with UK and Switzerland because they have a different currency. You really need a local bank account or you get bankrupted by the fees and the exchange rate. Incidentally they are the only places where there are the big tech and finance companies to work for. Most banks are national. There are very few banks that have an international presence, with decent service at the offices. The last time I went to a French bank in a different region than where I opened the account, they told me they can't do anything and I have to go to my "home" agency.
  - rjsw 9y ago
    I have UK and French accounts with the same bank. Both work fine for making payments in other EU countries. I can transfer money between them whenever I want (or spot a better exchange rate).
    - ido 9y ago
      Using an Austrian bank account in Germany was basically indesitnguishsble from using a German bank account. Nevertheless opening a German bank account was trivial. And all bank transfers within the EU (not sure if the U.K. is a special case) are free of charge, and IBAN/BIC used everywhere. I routinely transfer money between my Austrian and German accounts.

rjsw 9y ago

I think that the parent comment meant that you can easily use a bank account from another EU country in France. Opening a French bank account isn't complicated either if it is with a multinational bank, I have never been inside a French branch of mine.

user5994461 9y ago
And the parent is mistaking, he's probably American. You cannot use a bank accounts well across EU country. Banks are a very localized service, they provide specific account number formats and payment methods by country. It will be a huge hassle day to day when you want a SEPA transfer and the guy expects a RIB or a sort code. It's worse with UK and Switzerland because they have a different currency. You really need a local bank account or you get bankrupted by the fees and the exchange rate. Incidentally they are the only places where there are the big tech and finance companies to work for. Most banks are national. There are very few banks that have an international presence, with decent service at the offices. The last time I went to a French bank in a different region than where I opened the account, they told me they can't do anything and I have to go to my "home" agency.
- rjsw 9y ago
  I have UK and French accounts with the same bank. Both work fine for making payments in other EU countries. I can transfer money between them whenever I want (or spot a better exchange rate).
  - ido 9y ago
    Using an Austrian bank account in Germany was basically indesitnguishsble from using a German bank account. Nevertheless opening a German bank account was trivial. And all bank transfers within the EU (not sure if the U.K. is a special case) are free of charge, and IBAN/BIC used everywhere. I routinely transfer money between my Austrian and German accounts.