National register of bank accounts (FICOBA)
FICOBA (National Register of Bank and Savings Accounts) is a database managed by the French Tax Authority (DGFiP) that records all bank, postal, and savings accounts held by individuals and legal entities in France. Access is strictly regulated and reserved for specific public authorities; brokers and lenders cannot directly consult it when processing loan files.
Key points
- FICOBA records accounts opened, modified, and closed since 1971, and is updated by banks in near real-time.
- Authorized parties allowed to consult FICOBA include the tax authority, judges, bailiffs, and certain social administrations.
- Individuals may request to view their own FICOBA entry through an administrative process.
- Brokers and lenders cannot directly access FICOBA to verify a client's accounts.
- FICOBA is distinct from the FICP (register of personal loan repayment incidents), which records payment defaults.
Frequently asked questions
Why should a broker know about FICOBA if they cannot access it?
Because the tax authorities can use it during audits of clients, which may affect pending loan files. Additionally, understanding the distinction between FICOBA (accounts) and FICP (credit incidents) allows a broker to explain precisely to clients which registers lenders may consult and which are reserved for public authorities.
How can an individual find out which accounts are registered under their name in FICOBA?
An individual may submit a request directly to the DGFiP, which will provide a list of their registered accounts. This step can be useful to ensure no forgotten or improperly closed account is still on file, which could cause administrative complications. The process is free and accessible online through the impots.gouv.fr portal.
What is the difference between FICOBA and the FICP?
FICOBA records bank and savings accounts, regardless of any incident: its purpose is declarative. The FICP (managed by the Banque de France) records personal loan repayment incidents and over-indebtedness situations: its purpose is to signal default risk. Lenders may consult the FICP when assessing a loan application; they cannot consult FICOBA.
In practice
During a tax audit, the tax authority queries FICOBA via the DGFiP to identify all accounts held by a borrower under investigation. The broker handling that client's refinancing file is informed by the client's lawyer that undisclosed assets have been detected, delaying the bank's approval decision due to the ongoing seizure risk.
Official sources
- FICOBA — National register of bank accounts · CNIL
- Article L519-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code · Légifrance
- Prudential supervision and resolution authority · ACPR (Banque de France)