Personal Finance Bank accounts

Closing a La Banque Postale account in France: what are the steps to follow?

Soufiane Baba

11.11.25

Read time 3 minutes

Here’s how to close a checking or savings account with La Banque Postale in France — including the procedure, required documents, and how to send your request.

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Before closing your La Banque Postale account: steps to take

La Banque Postale does not accept closure requests by email — the process must be done in writing by sending a signed letter to their financial services department.

Check your balance and pending transactions

Before starting the closure process, make sure you:

Cancel all direct debits and recurring transfers.
Leave enough funds in the account to cover any pending transactions.

If your account shows a negative balance, the bank will not process your closure request.

Pending transactions may include:

Cheques that haven’t been cashed
Card payments not yet debited
Transfers in progress
Direct debits awaiting execution

Update your personal details

When closing your account, La Banque Postale will verify your identity.
If you’ve changed your address or surname, upload updated documents to your online space:

Proof of identity: National ID, passport, or residence permit.
Proof of address: Utility bill (less than 3 months old), home certificate, or latest tax notice.

If the account belongs to a minor, you must include documents for both parents or legal guardians, plus proof of parental authority (e.g. family record book).

How to close a La Banque Postale account

To close your account, write a handwritten request on plain paper.
The letter must include:

The full name(s) of the account holder(s)
The account number
A signature (both for joint accounts)
A RIB for the account where the remaining balance should be transferred

If you haven’t already updated your file, also include a copy of your ID and proof of address.

If you participate in the La Banque Postale cashback program, remember to withdraw your accumulated funds before closing your account.

Once your account is closed, destroy your cheque book and bank card, or return them to your local Post Office branch.

Within five days of your request¹, the bank should send you a summary of all direct debits and standing orders made in the past 13 months.
By law, the closure must be processed within 30 days, but in practice, it usually takes around 10 days.¹

If you’re switching to another bank, La Banque Postale offers a free mobility service. This means they can transfer your direct debits and notify companies of your new bank details.

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Where to send your closure letter

Send your handwritten letter to the financial centre that manages your account.

For example, if you live in Paris, the address is:²

La Banque Postale
TSA 10400
69945 LYON CEDEX 20

You can find a full list of financial centres on La Banque Postale’s website.

Closing a La Banque Postale savings account

To close a savings account, send a letter to your financial centre specifying your request and include a RIB for the destination account.

Alternatively, you can visit a post office branch in person with valid ID.
If the account holder is a minor, both legal guardians must sign the closure request (or only one parent if they have sole custody).

Closing a La Banque Postale account online: what your letter should include

If you’re sending your closure request by post, make sure your letter includes:

Full personal details (surname, first name, address, postcode, city)
Date and place of writing
The line “Subject: Request for account closure” before the salutation
The account number concerned
Instructions for where to transfer the remaining balance (RIB)
Signature(s) — both required for joint accounts

Is it mandatory to close a La Banque Postale account if it’s inactive?

If you no longer use your La Banque Postale account, it’s advisable to close it.
An inactive account (no transactions for 12 months) incurs €30 per year in inactivity fees³, not including your card subscription.

You can always reopen an account later if needed.

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Transparent pricing for all transfers and conversions
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Sources:

Last verified on October 8, 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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