Sending business payments from the US to France
A US company pays a French supplier, contractor or subsidiary in euros to its IBAN as a SEPA transfer, or by SWIFT wire in euros or dollars. You need the legal name exactly as on the account and the 27-character French IBAN.
- A French IBAN has 27 characters, and the 5-digit bank code follows FR and the two check digits.
- In France, inward and outward payments must generally be made through approved banking intermediaries by bank transfer, according to the International Trade Administration.
- French residents may use foreign bank accounts, and there is no restriction on transfers of profits, interest, royalties or service fees made through approved banks.
- Verification of payee has applied to euro transfers in euro area countries since 9 October 2025.
- Helm pays euros by SEPA, with the conversion margin shown before you confirm.
Details to collect from a supplier in France
France uses the IBAN for every account. Swift's IBAN Registry lists the French IBAN at 27 characters, with the 5-digit bank code first after FR and the check digits; its example is FR1420041010050500013M02606, which shows that the account part can contain letters. Verification of payee is the EU name check: before a euro transfer is sent, the payer's provider compares the name given with the name on the IBAN and returns match, close match, no match or other.
| Detail | Format | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | 27 characters starting FR; 5-digit bank code first | Identifies bank and account |
| Beneficiary name | Legal name exactly as registered with the bank | Checked by verification of payee on euro transfers |
| Bank SWIFT/BIC | 8 or 11 characters | Needed for SWIFT wires |
| Company form | For example SAS, SARL or SA, as part of the legal name | Part of the name the bank checks |
| Reference | Invoice number | Lets the supplier match the payment |
Sources: Swift IBAN Registry, Release 103 (September 2026); European Central Bank. As published on 29 October 2026.
Use our SWIFT code lookup to confirm the BIC, and confirm any new bank details by phone with a contact you already know.
Pay in euros or in US dollars?
France has few controls on foreign exchange. The International Trade Administration states that, in general, all inward and outward payments must be made through approved banking intermediaries by bank transfer, that residents may use foreign bank accounts, and that there is no restriction on transfers of profits, interest, royalties or service fees made through approved banks. For a US payer, that simply means paying a French bank account by transfer, which is what you would do anyway.
If the supplier invoices in euros, pay its euro IBAN by SEPA and no conversion happens at the French bank; dollars sent to a euro account are converted by the French bank.
| Point | Position in France |
|---|---|
| Exchange controls | Few; payments through approved banking intermediaries |
| Foreign bank accounts for residents | Permitted |
| Transfers of service fees and royalties | No restriction through approved banks |
Sources: International Trade Administration, France. As published on 29 October 2026.
For euro values, see the USD to EUR currency page.
Rails and arrival times
All large French banks have correspondent arrangements with US banks, and many have subsidiaries or branches in the United States, according to the International Trade Administration, so a wire to a large French bank usually passes through few intermediaries.
Euros reach a French account fastest as a SEPA credit transfer. Since 9 January 2025, banks in euro area countries that offer euro transfers must also be able to receive instant ones, and since 9 October 2025 they must offer verification of payee, the European Central Bank states. A provider that converts your dollars and pays the supplier's IBAN in euros uses this route.
For a dollar invoice, send a SWIFT wire to the IBAN of the supplier's dollar account. Swift reports that nearly 60% of gpi payments reach the beneficiary within 30 minutes.
| Route | Currency | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| SEPA credit transfer | EUR | Instant receipt required at euro area banks since January 2025; name check since October 2025 |
| SWIFT wire | USD or EUR | Nearly 60% of gpi payments within 30 minutes; almost 100% within 24 hours |
Sources: European Central Bank, Instant Payments Regulation; Swift gpi. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents, reporting and checks
France does not ask a foreign payer for purpose codes, but French banks apply anti-money laundering rules that the International Trade Administration describes as aimed at reducing anonymity in financial transactions. A payment from a payer the supplier's bank does not recognize, with no reference, invites questions. Quote the invoice number, pay from the company named as buyer, and for a French subsidiary state whether the payment covers services, royalties, interest or capital.
If the French supplier asks to be paid into an account outside France, that is permitted for residents, but confirm the request by phone with a contact you already know before you change anything.
On the US side, every payment to a French company must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.
Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR
French banks publish their own charges for receiving payments from outside the EU; ask the supplier what its bank deducts. Euros paid by SEPA keep intermediaries out of the payment, and PSD2 Article 62 makes payer and payee each pay their own provider on EU transfers. For SWIFT wires, see our guide to OUR, SHA and BEN charges: OUR means you pay all charges, SHA lets banks in the chain deduct theirs. Helm does not open accounts for businesses registered in the UK or the EEA; this page is for US companies paying them. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Why payments to France are delayed or returned
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| IBAN mistyped, including the letters in the account part | Copy the IBAN exactly from the invoice |
| Name differs from the account (no match) | Use the full legal name with SAS, SARL or SA |
| Dollars sent to a euro account | Pay euros, or ask for a USD account |
| SHA deductions on a SWIFT wire | Pay euros by SEPA, or send OUR |
| Unverified request to pay an account abroad | Confirm by phone |
Sources: European Central Bank; Swift IBAN Registry; Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
Checklist before you send
- Collect the legal name with its company form, the 27-character IBAN and the BIC.
- Agree EUR or USD on the purchase order.
- Pay euros by SEPA where your provider offers it.
- Confirm any request to pay an account outside France by phone.
- Quote the invoice number in the reference.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
What details do I need to pay a French company?
The legal name exactly as on the account, the 27-character IBAN and, for SWIFT wires, the bank's BIC.
Should I pay a French supplier in euros?
Usually yes, if it invoices in euros. Dollars sent to a euro account are converted by the French bank at its rate.
Does France have exchange controls?
Few. Payments must generally go through approved banking intermediaries by bank transfer, and residents may use foreign bank accounts.
Can a French IBAN contain letters?
Yes. Swift's IBAN Registry example for France, FR1420041010050500013M02606, includes a letter in the account part.
What is verification of payee?
It is the EU name check for euro transfers: the payer's provider compares the name with the IBAN holder and returns match, close match, no match or other.
References
- International Trade Administration: France Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Swift: IBAN Registry, Release 103 (September 2026)
- European Central Bank: Instant Payments Regulation
- Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (PSD2), Article 62: Charges applicable
- Swift: Fast, transparent and trackable payments (gpi)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC: Who must comply with OFAC sanctions? (FAQ 11)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.