French Company Capital Deposit Without a French Bank Account

Yes — you can make a French company capital deposit without a French bank account. A bank is not the only authorised depositary: under the French Commercial Code a notary (notaire), a public officer, is also empowered to receive the deposit of cash contributions. The notary takes your capital directly, holds it on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts, and issues your certificate of deposit within 24 hours of the funds arriving and your file being complete. For non-residents the service is a flat €500, entirely online.

Key takeaways

• A bank is not the only option — a notary is an authorised depositary under French law.
• No French bank account is opened at any point; you transfer from your own foreign account.
• €500 flat for non-residents (€230 for France residents), no subscription, 100% online.
• Funds are held at the Caisse des Dépôts, a French state institution, and released after registration via KBIS + RIB.

The problem for non-residents

French law requires the share capital of an SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL or SCI to be deposited with an authorised depositary before registration. Most people assume "authorised depositary" means "bank" — and so they chase a French bank account they cannot get. Non-resident founders, especially outside the EU, are routinely refused remote account openings or pushed into weeks of onboarding.

That creates a circular trap:

• You cannot register the company without a certificate of deposit.
• You cannot get the certificate without depositing the funds.
• You cannot deposit the funds — you have been told — without a French bank account.

The missing piece is that a bank is not the only option.

The solution: the notary as depositary, 100% online

Under the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), a notaire (notary) is a public officer authorised to receive the deposit of cash contributions — the same legal role a bank plays. That one fact removes the bank from the equation entirely. Depotdecapital.com, operated by Cellard Notaires & Avocats, receives your capital directly, holds it on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) — the French state deposit institution — and issues the official certificat de dépôt (certificate of deposit) you need to register.

You never open a French bank account to complete the deposit. You transfer your capital from your own foreign account straight to the notary's CDC account. The fee agreement is signed electronically, payment is online, and the certificate is electronic.

Bank vs notary: how the deposit compares

Step-by-step: the remote deposit

1. Open your file online and state the company form and the capital amount.
2. Sign the fee agreement electronically and pay the service fee online.
3. Upload your documents through the secure portal.
4. Transfer the share capital from your foreign bank account to the notary's CDC account — no French IBAN of your own required.
5. Receive the certificate of deposit within 24 hours once the funds arrive and your file is complete.
6. Register the company at the one-stop shop (guichet unique / INPI).
7. Release the funds by uploading the KBIS (registration extract) and the company's RIB (bank details) so the notary transfers the capital to the company.

Documents you need (non-resident)

• A valid passport or national ID.
• Proof of the registered office address in France (lease or domiciliation contract).
• A draft of the articles of association (statuts), unsigned and undated.
• Your foreign tax number (NIF) from your country of residence.

Notice what is not on this list: a French bank account, a French address of your own, or French tax residence. None is needed to deposit.

Why removing the bank is safe: the Caisse des Dépôts

Removing the bank does not mean removing security — the opposite is true. Your capital is held on the notary's dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), a French public financial institution created in 1816 and used precisely for holding funds in trust. The money is ring-fenced and released only once your company legally exists and you provide its KBIS and RIB. A notary is a public officer bound by strict professional and ethical rules. The notary route is therefore not a shortcut that trades safety for convenience; it is a fully regulated channel that simply does not require you to hold a French bank account.

Related guides

• Open a French company as a non-resident
• Documents required for the capital deposit
• Get a French certificate of deposit remotely

FAQ

Is it legal to deposit share capital without a French bank account? Yes. A notary is an authorised depositary under French law and can receive and hold the capital directly, with no bank account involved.

Where is my money held? On the notary's dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC), the French state deposit institution.

How do I send the funds? By transfer from your own foreign bank account to the notary's CDC account. You do not need a French IBAN.

What does it cost? A flat €500 for non-residents, no subscription. France residents pay €230.

When is the certificate issued? Within 24 hours after the funds are received and your file is complete.

Is the certificate accepted for registration at the one-stop shop? Yes. The notarised certificate is used to register the company at the guichet unique / INPI.

Deposit your capital online → https://depotdecapital.com/en/dossier

Certificate of deposit within 24h, flat fee, no French bank account required.