Crédit Mutuel Federal Alliance announced on Wednesday the elimination of part of the inheritance fees, deducted from bank accounts after the death of the holder, while a bill on the subject is currently being carried by a socialist MP.
From March 1, the 14 Crédit Mutuel banks that are part of the alliance and the CIC will exempt assets of less than 10,000 euros from inheritance fees,
“i.e. more than half of inheritance files”
, specifies the bank.
This
“solidarity pricing”
extends a similar decision taken last year for assets of less than 2,000 euros.
For amounts greater than 10,000 euros, the mutual group will only charge administrative fees of 1% up to a ceiling of 1,000 euros.
Behind these various fees (application, liquidation of assets, annual management commission) hide very real services, however, ensures Crédit Mutuel: receipt of the death certificate, blocking of the account, inventory of funds, management of movements on the account with the authorization of the notary, release then payment of funds to the heirs...
Read alsoFrench banks are still suffering from rising rates
“Immoral billing”
This commercial announcement is part of the update of the bank's banking rates on March 1st.
The CLCV association pointed out at the beginning of January an overall increase in these prices in France, of 2.5% to 3% over one year depending on consumer profiles, and did not place Crédit Mutuel nor CIC among the cheapest banks.
Inheritance fees charged by banks have returned to the forefront thanks to a press release from UFC-Que Choisir, denouncing on Tuesday “
immoral billing”
on the part of the banks.
The consumer association puts forward a recent increase which results in an average of 303 euros in fees
“taken from the death account”
, with a large disparity between actors.
She also supports the bill carried by the MP for Puy-de-Dôme Christine Pirès-Beaune, aiming to
“regulate and supervise these inheritance costs, so that they are in relation to the costs actually borne by the banks”
.
This project is discussed on Wednesday in the Finance Committee.
“The profession remains open to working with public authorities, notaries in particular, to simplify the management and necessary interactions linked to the processing of inheritance files
,” responded the French Banking Federation (FBF) to AFP.
In November 2021, Crédit Mutuel announced for its customers the end of the dreaded health questionnaire, until then essential for taking out borrower insurance and obtaining a loan.
This commercial decision was taken up a few months later in law, known as the Lemoine law, forcing the profession to align.