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French bank statement quiz: débits, crédits and dates

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a French relevé de compte: débit, crédit, solde, prélèvement, virement, CB, date de valeur. Twelve questions on a sample statement.

In short

On a French relevé de compte, money out is in the Débit column and money in under Crédit. Prélèvement is a direct debit, virement a transfer, CB a card payment, retrait DAB a cash withdrawal, and le solde is the balance.

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A person reviewing a completely blank bank statement beside a wallet, plain card and calculator with blank display.
Everyday finances give context to le relevé de compte. Illustration: Atelier
Sample statement · Compte courant · mars
DateLibelléDébitCrédit
01/03Solde précédent1 240,00
02/03VIR SALAIRE ATELIER SARL2 150,00
03/03PRLV LOYER IMMO SUD780,00
05/03CB CARREFOUR 04/0364,35
08/03RETRAIT DAB LYON40,00
12/03PRLV EDF ÉNERGIE58,90
15/03VIR M. DUPONT REMB.25,00
31/03Solde au 31/032 471,75
  1. Question 1No account needed
    How much was the rent?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    €780.00. PRLV LOYER: the rent direct debit, €780.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    VIR SALAIRE is…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    a salary transfer in. VIR = virement, here incoming salary.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    PRLV stands for…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    prélèvement (direct debit). A direct debit taken by a company.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    What does RETRAIT DAB mean?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    cash withdrawal from an ATM. DAB: distributeur automatique de billets.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    The card payment at Carrefour was made on…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    4 March. CB CARREFOUR 04/03: paid on the 4th, recorded on the 5th.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Who sent €25?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    M. Dupont, a refund. REMB. = remboursement: refund.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    What is the closing balance?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    €2,471.75. The last line, Solde au 31/03, gives it.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    EDF on a statement usually means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    an electricity bill. EDF is a major electricity supplier.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Which column shows money going out?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Débit. Débit: money leaving the account.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Le libellé is…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the description of the transaction. The label describing each line.

  11. Question 11No account needed
    Date de valeur is…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the date the money is actually counted. The value date used for interest and balance.

  12. Question 12No account needed
    Solde débiteur means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the account is overdrawn. A negative balance: you are à découvert.

Statements are full of capital-letter abbreviations because the libellé field is short. Others you'll see: CHQ (cheque), ECH PRET (loan instalment), COTIS CARTE (card fee), REM CHQ (cheque deposit) and SEPA (European transfer or debit).

French banks also charge frais or commissions (fees), shown in the Débit column, and an agios line appears if you go overdrawn (à découvert). To set up a direct debit, a company asks for your RIB (relevé d'identité bancaire), a slip with your IBAN.

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