The boundary between banking services for individuals and for businesses is blurring due to new regulatory protections and technologies that are reshaping the offering. What gaps remain between these two worlds in terms of guaranteed rights, digital services, and banking mobility costs?
Free account closure and right to an account: what the May 2026 law changes concretely
Since the law n° 2026-403 of May 26, 2026, the closure of any deposit account or savings account is free, whether the holder is an individual or a legal entity. This measure removes a financial barrier that dissuaded many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from changing banks.
The right to an account, long perceived as a provision reserved for individuals, now explicitly covers any individual or legal entity domiciled in France. In case of refusal to open an account, the Banque de France can intervene and impose the opening of an account with a basic service package within a few days.
To compare what this foundation actually covers, it is useful to distinguish the banking services of BANKGeheimen from the standard offerings of a regular account, as the legal package remains narrower than what most clients imagine.
Basic services guaranteed by the right to an account
| Service | Individuals | Businesses (legal entities) |
|---|---|---|
| Account opening and maintenance | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Account closure | Free (law 2026-403) | Free (law 2026-403) |
| Account statements | Yes | Yes |
| Direct debit domiciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Payment card with systematic authorization | Yes | Not guaranteed |
| Remote consultation means | Yes | Variable depending on the institution |
| Access to a dedicated advisor | Not included | Not included |
The table highlights a notable gap: the payment card with systematic authorization is not guaranteed for legal entities. Businesses benefiting from the right to an account obtain a functional base but must negotiate payment instruments separately.
Proactive banking and artificial intelligence: adoption gaps between individuals and professionals
The concept of proactive banking redefines the banking client relationship. The idea is that the bank anticipates needs instead of waiting for the client to contact an advisor. In practice, this translates into personalized alerts, automated budgeting recommendations, and product proposals triggered by account flow analysis.
On the individual side, adoption is rapid. Mobile applications already integrate multi-bank account aggregation functions, made possible by the European Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The client can view all their balances and transactions from a single interface, regardless of the number of banks used.
On the business side, the situation differs. The artificial intelligence tools deployed by large banks primarily aim at optimizing cash flow and detecting fraud, not providing individualized advice. Small businesses often remain excluded from these systems, which are reserved for professional accounts generating sufficient transaction volumes.
Account aggregation and open banking
- Aggregation allows individuals to view current accounts, savings accounts, and loans from multiple banks in a single application, thanks to the APIs mandated by PSD2.
- For businesses, open banking facilitates the connection between accounting software and bank accounts, reducing manual reconciliations and processing times.
- Neobanks and fintechs exploit this openness to offer payment and management services without holding a full banking license themselves.
Payment security: common threats, differentiated responses
The report from the 2025 Payment Means Security Observatory, published by the Banque de France, confirms that fraud affects both individuals and professionals. Techniques are evolving (fraud by fake advisors, targeted phishing on business transfers), but banking responses are not symmetrical.
Individuals benefit from a more protective reimbursement framework in case of unauthorized transactions. For businesses, the burden of proof lies more heavily on the account holder, and compensation limits vary according to contracts.
Strong customer authentication (SCA), generalized for online payments by individuals, is gradually extending to business transfers. However, large amount SEPA transfers between businesses sometimes still escape real-time checks, making them a prime target for fraudsters.
Banking mobility and portability: a theoretical right, uneven practice
The free account closure established in May 2026 removes a pricing obstacle, but banking mobility remains simpler for individuals than for businesses. The mobility mandate allows an individual client to automatically transfer their direct debits and recurring payments to a new bank.
No equivalent provision exists for professional accounts. A business changing banks must notify its suppliers, update its SEPA mandates, and reconfigure its management tools. The administrative cost, invisible in pricing grids, remains the main barrier.
- For individuals: operational banking mobility mandate, automatic transfer of direct debits within a few weeks.
- For businesses: manual transfer, updating bank details with each business partner, reconfiguring accounting flows.
- For both: account closure is now free, but ancillary fees (issuance of new payment methods, reissuing of checkbooks) may still apply.
Regulatory convergence between individuals and businesses is progressing on the foundation of rights (opening, closure, basic services). In terms of digital tools and effective mobility, the gap remains significant. Businesses, particularly the smallest ones, inherit protections without always having the practical mechanisms to take advantage of them.
