Unlike the taxpayer or the social insured, which must comply with the tax authorities and social security instructions, customer relations with their bank are based on the concept of contract. To open a current account or place your savings on any product, you must agree with both parties. Conversely, the customer and the bank can unilaterally decide to end the relationships started.
It is not uncommon, thus, that the automatic closing bank The current account of a customer whose overly frequent overdrafts can lead to a risk of solvency. In terms of investment, it also happens that the popular savings book of an holder is terminated when his income exceeds the ceilings in force.
The mail that will receive from hundreds of thousands of savers is more surprising: their bank will tell them that they must close their accommodation plan. And it will not be the fruit of the bank’s decision but the result of a reform dating from 2011. The lifespan of the PEL opened since that date is capped at 15 years. Consequence: as of March 1, 2026, all the PEL opened after this date will be automatically transformed into a classic savings book after their fifteenth anniversary, a booklet whose rate of return will be freely set by the bank.
According to the Banque de France, this reform should relate to 36% of the booklets for the period 2026-2030 for an overall sum of 93 billion euros. More than a third of PELs are therefore affected by a closure in the months and years to come, which represents more than 3 million savers.
As annoying as it is, this automatic fence is not a disaster for the concern concerned. Indeed, the rates of open plans since 2011 do not bring a lot in terms of interest: 2.25% at best for those open in 2024. And above all, these interests are now tax and subject to social security contributions.
On the other hand, PEL holders open before March 1, 2011 should rather keep them since the rate of return is completely honorable. And the bank cannot therefore terminate them unilaterally.