The obligation for banks to control duplicate savings accounts postponed to 2027

It is prohibited to hold several Livret A books, more than two Sustainable and Solidarity Development Booklets (LDDS) or even several Popular Savings Booklets (LEP). Controls exist, but they are not automatic.

Since 2013, when a saver requests the opening of a Livret A, the bank has the obligation to systematically check with the administration that the customer does not already have one in another bank. But for other regulated savings accounts and products, this is not yet the case. A decree published in 2021 planned to remedy this and generalize this control obligation no later than January 2026. However, this deadline was ultimately pushed back to July 2027, according to a decree published in the Official Journal of Saturday December 27.

The government cites technical reasons to justify the postponement of these automatic controls, which should help prevent savers from deviating from the deposit ceilings for these tax-exempt products. Failure to respect the ban on multiple holdings can be punished with a fine of at least 75 euros and up to the full interest paid, according to the General Tax Code. Controls should also concern other regulated savings products such as the Housing Savings Plan (PEL), the Stock Savings Plan (PEA) or the Youth Savings Account.

The Ministry of the Economy specifies to AFP that “this gap is linked to a desire for operational optimization” and reminds that “the implementation of this automated interbank control requires complex technical developments.” “Extensive controls already exist today,” Sometimes “in hindsight”, more “the checks are not yet automatic and exhaustive,” adds Bercy.

The French banking federation explains that “to control multiple holdings, banks cannot share information about their customers with each other.” They must therefore “question the tax administration” via an interface that is not yet available for other products, she told AFP.

The French continue to save a lot, despite a drop since the summer of 2025: 18.7% of their disposable income on average, according to the latest figures from the Banque de Francean amount not seen since the 1970s, excluding the Covid period.