Reconnaissance à Bourg: Day 1, Setting up a bank account

Rendez-vous

You have to make an appointment (rendez-vous) in the branch. I was able to make one for later the same day in Banque Populaire and for two days later in BNP Paribas, upon explaining that I was only around for the three days.

Documents
When I made the appointment I asked which documents to bring, which were as follows:
- Passport/Passeport

- I.D/Carte d'Identité (I used my driver's licence)

- Some evidence that I would be living and working in France. (I used correspondence from the Académie of Lyon outlining my placement, and an e-mail from the head of English explaining that assistants usually live in the school which I forwarded to the bank consultant in advance of the appointment)

I didn't need to deposit any money (although I chose to deposit €200) and I didn't need my birth certificate, despite having rummaged around the house for a few hours trying to find it..

The Account

-In France it is normal to pay a fee for the use of your account (compte). I went with the one at Banque Populaire which costs €6.60 'par trimestre' (every 3 months) which appears to be a fairly good deal.

-I have been given a sheet of paper with my bank details on to give to the school on my first day so they can pay me, and I need to come back into the branch in September to collect my card as I don't currently have a French address.

-The whole thing was conducted in French, but my rusty second year level of fluency seemed to do fine. 

Summary

Not nearly as difficult as I was told: the meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes and I didn't need to use a dictionary. Sorted.