French banks that round up cents on purchases and send to savings
Many online banks and apps offer this ‘pain free’ way of saving - we look at how it works
A €2.50 coffee could be rounded up to €3 and €0.50 transferred to a savings account
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Most people in France (80%) put their savings into a state-regulated Livret A bank account, but it is not the only way to look after the centimes.
Many online banks and apps now offer customers round-up services, known as arrondis.
They allow the change from smaller purchases to be deducted and put into a savings account.
For example, a €2.50 coffee could be rounded up to €3 and €0.50 set aside. Done regularly, it can soon become a tidy sum.
Read also: France will keep Livret A savings rate the same for next 18 months
Round up method with a twist
Most apps round up the purchases to the nearest euro, but there are exceptions.
LCL customers can increase it to €5, and even split their savings between their account and a charity.
Ma French Bank also offers the chance to give to a good cause, as well as a choice of saving options.
Customers can either have up to €5 saved from purchases over €15, or set a percentage.
Plum users can automatically add an extra euro to the amount rounded up.
N26 allows users to multiply what they round up by one, two, three or five times.
Banking app Ismo does things slightly differently. Each Monday, if you have accumulated at least €5 in rounded-up savings, it takes that money and invests it.
If you do not meet the €5 threshold, it rolls to the next week.
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