At the bank, the French are often in the red – Le Figaro

VIDEO – They are 61% to exceed the overdraft limit authorized by their bank at least once a year, reveals the study Panorabanques. Deviations which cost on average 59.80 euros per year per client.

The French see red. They are 61% to meet at least once a year beyond the overdraft limit set by their banks, according to a study of online comparison Panorabanques revealed by RTL and Le Parisien . The overdraft, negotiated between the bank and client, allows to operate the account over a period and a specific amount, even if it does not have the money to regulate the flows. Nearly seven out of 10 French (68%) want to use this possibility, the study found. Beyond this limit, customers are exceeded, “the account then changes from red to bright red, explains Guillaume Clavel, founder of the comparator. Customers then exceed the authorized overdraft limit. ” A quarter of the French are in this situation once a month. And among people who are never exceeded 42% want to have anyway of an overdraft.

An emergency exit in case of hard knocks. Passengers cash problems are the primary reason for exceeding authorized overdraft, explains the study. Of those surveyed, a third has an overdraft of 500 euros. 52% of French people who say make higher monthly payments to 3,000 euros (allowances, salaries, etc.) admit exceed the limit set by their bank at least 1 time per year. Poor management of their bank account also requires French to resort to this system. “The short is very popular, analysis Guillaume Clavel. It is not automatic and not always free, but a spare tire. “

But they are temporary or not, these differences can be expensive. For if banks allow it discovered, they is big because it often causes more where lower fees. These premiums, paid to banks when they honor the payments instead of customers, correpondent to “Interest expense” and are freely determined by the bankers. “Interest rates are around 10 to 12% per year,” explains founder Panorabanques. But if exceeded, intervention commission fees are in addition to bank charges, which increase them to reach “16 to 20% per year.” The interventions commissions are limited to 8 euros per payment application review and capped at 80 euros per month. Online banks often offer classic–contrary to banks, intervention commission costs below these eight euros. The cost of these overdrafts – excluding premiums – averaged 59.80 euros per year per client, detailing the study, against 59.70 euros the previous year and 58.90 euros in 2014.

to avoid these bad news monthly, more resources are made available. First, prevent its banking advisor if discovered. Action rather simple as nearly half of respondents do not, the study notes. “When we realize that we are just with overdraft protection, you can ask that it be increased, and it avoids paying commissions intervention,” notes Guillaume Clavel. Same thing if blow-off “in this case, we ask the bank to increase the authorization just for this period that difficult”

The customer can also monitor the situation via applications on its. smartphone: that his bank enables it to see the evolution of his accounts in real time, “banks are digitized, you can put alarms when a deadline approaches,” he added. The application offers Linxo for its several features to better manage money … and predict the risk of bank overdrafts.