Banking and securities law
Seizure, disinheritance and inheritance of bank safes: procedures and legal regime
By Raphaël MORENON12 August 2025The bank safe is often perceived as an inviolable sanctuary for precious assets. However, this image of an impregnable fortress comes up against a complex legal reality. Far from being out of reach, the safe deposit box is subject to strict legal procedures that can lead to its forced opening, whether at the initiative of creditors, as part of an inheritance or in the event of prolonged inactivity. Navigating these situations requires a detailed understanding of the mechanisms involved, because the consequences of a poorly managed procedure can be significant. In order to understand the bank safe deposit box contract in its entirety, it is essential to be familiar with these specific situations. This article sets out in detail the legal regime governing the seizure, escheatment and inheritance of a safe-deposit box, specific banking procedures that involve the responsibility of all the parties involved. Seizure of the safe deposit box by the creditors of the...
The European System of Central Banks: architecture and operation
Banking and securities lawUnderstanding the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) is essential to grasping Europe's monetary mechanisms. This complex structure, born of the Maastricht Treaty, governs our daily economic life without us always being aware of it. 1 Introduction to the ESCB and the Eurosystem Definition and composition of the ESCB The ESCB, created...Bank accounts for vulnerable people: protection and legal precautions
Bank account, Banking and stock market lawIn a financial world, access to a bank account is an essential right. This article, while focusing on the general principles governing the opening, operation and essential legal features of bank accounts, concentrates on the special protections available. Minors, protected adults and financially vulnerable people are all entitled to a bank account.Banking ethics rules: specific protection for professionals and local authorities
Conflicts of interest, Banking and securities lawBanking is not just a matter for individuals. Companies and local authorities, major economic players, also benefit from specific protections in their dealings with financial institutions. A set of ethical rules, complementing the legal framework, aims to balance this relationship and guarantee fair practices...European monetary policy: key pillars and mechanisms
Banking and securities lawThe workings of European monetary policy are sometimes obscure to the uninitiated. Yet this mechanism influences our economies on a daily basis. This article deciphers the objectives and instruments that define this major Community policy. 1 Main objectives of the ESCB Price stability as an absolute priority The primary mission of the...Credit unions: fundamental principles and legal framework
Credit unions, Banking and stock exchange lawThe French banking landscape includes players that are less well known to the general public, but whose economic weight remains considerable: the credit cooperatives. These institutions now account for more than two-thirds of bank financing for the French economy. Major groups such as Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel and Crédit Agricole de France are...Ethical banking rules: protecting private individuals
Conflicts of interest, Banking and securities lawHow do you navigate the jungle of bank charges? What protection is there for vulnerable customers? Under pressure from regulators and consumer associations, the French banking sector has developed a vast body of rules of good conduct. These professional standards, which are often ignored by the general public, nevertheless constitute...The Banque de France: historical development and current legal framework
Banking and securities lawThe French monetary institution has been in existence for over two centuries. Its history reflects France's political, economic and monetary transformations. Today, as part of the European System of Central Banks, it retains a unique legal status that merits examination. 1. From its creation in 1800 to European integration The origins of the...The major French cooperative banking networks: organisation and specific features
Credit unions, Banking and stock exchange lawIn the French banking landscape, three major cooperative networks stand out for their size and unique history. Far from being mere alternatives to traditional commercial banks, these establishments now account for "two-thirds of bank financing for the French economy", as Nicolas Théry, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel, points out. Every...Enforcement of bank del credere: conditions and limits
Banking and stock exchange law, DucroireCommercial transactions involve a permanent risk: the insolvency of the debtor. The bank del credere, an underestimated guarantee mechanism, offers valuable protection against this risk. But this security is not without conditions and limits. The concept of insolvency in del credere Insolvency is at the heart of bank del credere. Contrary to popular belief...Joint accounts: the shared art of banking management
Bank account, Banking and stock market lawIn the banking world, accounts are not always the business of a single holder. Couples, partners, heirs or simple co-investors can share ownership of a bank account. In addition to the general rules for opening and operating a bank account, this multiple ownership configuration is far from trivial and involves a range of legal mechanisms...Legal value and sanctions of banking ethics rules
Conflicts of interest, Banking and securities lawNavigating the jungle of banking ethics rules is no easy task. Between the codes approved by the Minister for the Economy and simple professional recommendations, it is difficult for a bank customer to find his way around. These rules are part of a wider framework of bankers' responsibilities. Here is an overview...Governance and internal organisation of the Banque de France
Banking and securities lawThe Banque de France has a unique institutional architecture. Its recent development reflects its integration into the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the adaptation of its governance to European requirements. Management bodies Changes in the Monetary Policy Council The Monetary Policy Council (Conseil de la politique monétaire - CPM), created by the...Central bodies in cooperative banking networks: role and powers
Credit unions, Banking and stock exchange lawIn the complex architecture of the French cooperative banking networks, the central bodies occupy a pivotal position. These entities ensure the cohesion and strategic steering of banking groups whose decentralised structure might seem incompatible with modern prudential requirements. The legal uniqueness of these bodies is based on their dual role of...Specialised cooperative structures: cooperative banks and mutual guarantee companies
Credit unions, Banking and stock exchange lawThe financial sector is home to cooperative structures with a variety of legal forms. In addition to the major networks such as Crédit Agricole and Banques Populaires, two little-known models deserve attention: cooperative banks and mutual guarantee companies. These structures are governed by specific rules and operate...Evolution and changes in cooperative banks: between the historical model and the universal bank
Credit unions, Banking and stock exchange lawThe metamorphosis of the cooperative banking sector is currently being examined by lawyers and economists alike. From a model based on community solidarity and mutual aid to major players in the global financial system, cooperative banks have undergone a remarkable evolution while maintaining certain distinctive legal features. The origins of the cooperative banking model The...The different applications of banker's drafts in practice
Banking and stock exchange law, DucroireIn the world of bank guarantees, del credere holds a special place. This payment guarantee offered by a credit institution is a valuable but little-known tool for securing commercial transactions. The diversity of forms of del credere Bank del credere is defined as a guarantee by which a credit institution guarantees the payment...Bank account management: entry of receivables, charges, seizures and multiple accounts
Bank account, Banking and stock market lawThe relationship between customer and bank is based on the bank account, a central instrument in our economic life. Behind its apparent simplicity lies a legally sophisticated mechanism. By understanding how it works, you can better protect your rights. The entry of receivables into an account A little-known legal mechanism The entry of a receivable into an account...Control and application of banking ethics rules: who supervises the banks?
Conflicts of interest, Banking and securities lawWhen your bank charges what you consider to be excessive fees or refuses to close your account, do you know who regulates these practices? The banking sector is not a lawless area. In addition to the banker's general responsibility, there are specific mechanisms that govern the behaviour of financial institutions, ensuring that...The fundamental tasks of the Banque de France within the ESCB
Banking and securities lawThe Banque de France is no ordinary banking institution. As part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), it performs essential functions in our economy. It contributes to price stability and the smooth functioning of financial systems. Let's take a look at its four main tasks. 1. implementing the...Banking ethics rules: between soft law and legal obligations
Conflicts of interest, Banking and securities lawToday's banks are juggling with different standards. On the one hand, strict laws and regulations. On the other, ethical rules that are sometimes blurred. This grey area between obligation and recommendation is worth exploring to understand how these requirements fit together and what the implications are for customers. Introduction
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