Personal Finance Tips

Cashing a dollar check in a French account: what you need to know

Soufiane Baba

04.11.25

Read time 3 minutes

It’s entirely possible to cash a check denominated in US dollars into a French bank account. However, as many people know, the fees for this operation can be quite high, and the processing time may be long and complex.

So, what fees do French banks charge for cashing a USD check? How long will you have to wait to receive your funds in euros? And what are the best alternatives for receiving money in dollars while in France? Read our guide to find out.

To avoid paying high exchange fees, open a Wise account and receive your money in dollars with ease. In addition to benefiting from the mid-market exchange rate, you’ll get a guaranteed rate for a limited period.

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Cashing a dollar check in France: how does it work?

Cashing a dollar check into a French account isn’t particularly difficult, provided you meet the required conditions.

What you need to know before cashing your check

To cash your USD check, you first need to have a bank account in France. However, most traditional banks apply an exchange rate with a markup, resulting in high conversion fees — not to mention long processing times.

In addition, if the dollar check happens to bounce, it can be difficult to assert your rights. For that reason, being paid by check in a foreign currency is generally not recommended.

If you must cash a dollar check, make sure it’s accompanied by a specific deposit slip: “Bordereaux de remises de chèques payables à l’étranger” (Deposit slip for checks payable abroad).

Deposit slips for checks payable abroad: what are they?

A check deposit slip is an essential document when cashing a check from abroad in a foreign currency like the dollar. This document allows your bank to record the necessary information and process the transaction properly.

In simple terms, the deposit slip helps to:

Simplify the cashing process by providing essential information (issuer and beneficiary details, account number, amount, number of checks, etc.).
Serve as proof of deposit. It’s an important document to keep in case of loss, processing delays, or bank errors.

Please note: Always keep a copy of your deposit slip as proof of deposit until the funds have been credited to your account.

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Cashing your foreign check in France: the steps to follow

There’s only one way to cash a foreign check in France — visit your bank branch, present the check to a teller, and deposit it.

Before handing it in, make sure the check is made out in your name and that you’ve signed the back.

It’s generally possible to cash both personal and business checks in most foreign currencies. The holding period will depend on the currency and how reliable the foreign check is considered to be.

Fees for dollar checks in France: how much does it cost to cash them?

When cashing a dollar check, most traditional banks in France charge both a cashing fee and an exchange fee based on a marked-up exchange rate. As a result, the total cost can be quite high — and the process slow.

For example, if you cash a dollar check at Société Générale, you’ll pay:¹

1% of the check amount, with a minimum of €25 per transaction.

Additional fees may also be applied by the foreign bank or the drawer’s bank.

To avoid these high costs when cashing a foreign check in France, you could use Wise, which accepts USD payments and transfers while applying conversion fees based on the mid-market exchange rate.

How long does it take to cash a dollar check?

The processing time for cashing a dollar check depends on several factors — the check amount, your bank, the origin of the check, and its verification process, among others.

While the bank performs the necessary checks and authorizations, expect an average delay of 7 to 15 business days before receiving your funds.² In some cases, this could extend to 20 or even 30 days.

Please note: If the issuing bank refuses to authorize the check, return fees may apply. The amount varies depending on your bank.

Discover Wise: an easier way to receive international payments

With Wise, you can get 8+ currency account numbers — including one for US dollars.

Start saving today by opening a Wise account and receive your funds in any currency. You’ll only pay a fair conversion fee based on the mid-market exchange rate. You can also hold 40+ currencies and send money to 140+ countries.

Wise also offers a debit card (available for a €7 delivery fee), which lets you make payments and withdrawals at the mid-market rate.

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Sources:

Last verified on September 04, 2025.
This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.

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