As of 13 November 2025, bank charges at the time of inheritance will be regulated by a new law (loi n° 2025-415 du 13 mai 2025).
Under the terms of this law, bank charges when settling an estate will be waived in the following three cases:
- when the accounts and savings products were held by a minor;
- when the total balance of the accounts and savings products is less than €5,910 (amount re-evaluated each year);
- when the heirs provide the bank with a devolution certificate established by a Notaire or a certificate signed by each of the heirs and the estate is not manifestly complex.
An estate is considered complex when:
- the deceased has no heirs;
- a mortgage agreement taken out by the deceased is still outstanding with the bank;
- one or more of the accounts to be closed are business accounts;
- one or more securities are attached to the accounts or savings products to be closed;
- the transactions related to the estate involve one or more foreign elements, such as the tax or habitual residence of the deceased or their heirs, the total or partial application of foreign law, etc.
In cases where the exemption does not apply, the new law caps inheritance fees at 1% of the total balance of the deceased’s accounts and savings products. This charge is also limited to a maximum amount of €850 (revalued each year).
The new rules set out above apply to the following banking products:
- deposit accounts;
- payment accounts;
- savings accounts;
- savings products.
However, SME Innovation accounts and Climate Future Savings Plans (PEAC) are not affected by these measures.
