# Decoding Your Bank Statement and Its Fees: What the Bank Doesn't Explain > Read your statement line by line, understand the intervention commission, overdraft interest, and rejection fees, and know which are capped or disputable. *Updated 2026-02-26* ## In short - The annual statement of bank charges, mandatory and free every year during January since 2009, is your best tool for spotting everything your bank charges you. - The intervention commission is capped at €8 per transaction and €80 per month for a standard customer, and at €4 / €20 for customers in a situation of vulnerability or benefiting from basic banking services. - Intervention commission, overdraft interest, and rejection fees are three different things: only the intervention commission is capped per transaction and per month, with overdraft interest bounded by the usury rate. - Fees charged beyond the legal caps are disputable with your bank and then the banking ombudsman, with no automatic refund guaranteed. ## Account statement vs annual fee statement: two documents not to confuse When people talk about a "bank statement", they often blur two documents that don't play the same role. The **account statement** is the one you receive each month (or check in your app). It lists all your transactions: what comes in, what goes out, and your balance. It's your day-to-day logbook. The **annual statement of bank charges** (relevé annuel de frais bancaires), on the other hand, deals with only one thing: how much the bank has charged you over the year. It's mandatory, free, and arrives every year during January[\[5\]](#source-5). It's your best tool for sorting things out, because it gathers everything that otherwise gets lost among hundreds of lines. Understanding the difference changes everything: the monthly statement shows you _when_ a fee landed, the annual statement shows you _how much_ you paid in total. ### The account statement, line by line On an account statement, each line generally contains: a **description** (the name of the transaction, sometimes cryptic), an **amount** on the debit or credit side, and two dates. * **The transaction date** (date d'opération): the day the transaction was recorded. * **The value date** (date de valeur): the day the money is actually counted to calculate your balance (and any overdraft interest). A value date can fall one or two days after the transaction date, which sometimes explains an overdraft you didn't see coming. The useful habit: spot the descriptions that don't match any purchase you recognise. That's often where the fees charged by the bank itself are hiding. ### The annual statement of bank charges, your best tool Is it really mandatory? Yes. Since 1 January 2009, your bank has had to provide you, free of charge and every year during January, a separate document summarising the total of the amounts charged the previous year for managing the account, with subtotals by category[\[4\]](#source-4). It's a legal obligation set out in Article L.314-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (code monétaire et financier)[\[4\]](#source-4). This statement distinguishes three families of fees[\[6\]](#source-6): * subscription and membership fees (bundled packages, cards, payment-means insurance); * operating fees (account maintenance, withdrawals, transfers); * incident fees (overdraft interest, intervention commissions, returned cheques or direct debits). One thing to know: this statement only covers the management of your current account. It does not include fees tied to the stock market, life insurance, or a PEL/PEA[\[6\]](#source-6). ## Reading a statement line by line: decoding the descriptions Let's go back to the three families, because that's exactly how your bank classifies your fees. ### Subscriptions and memberships These are the recurring fees you accepted when signing your account agreement (convention de compte): your bundled package (the famous "package"), your bank card's membership fee, payment-means insurance. They land at regular intervals, often monthly or yearly. They aren't "hidden", but many people pay for an oversized package compared with what they actually use. ### Operating fees Here you'll find account maintenance, certain withdrawals (notably outside your bank's network), transfers, and transactions abroad or in foreign currencies. Worth knowing: for an account that's active and used normally, there is no general legal cap on account-maintenance fees. The price depends on each bank and is set out in your account agreement. The only case where the law caps these fees is the inactive account, which we come back to below. ### Incident fees This is the trickiest family, because it mixes three very different types of fee that are easily confused: the **intervention commission** (commission d'intervention), the **overdraft interest** (agios), and the **rejection fees** (frais de rejet). These are the ones the bank explains the least, and that's precisely where you can get money back. We'll detail them one by one. ## What is an intervention commission? An intervention commission (commission d'intervention) is the amount your bank charges you when it "reviews" a transaction that would put your account into an irregular position, for example a payment that would push you past your authorised overdraft. It charges for the act of having examined the transaction, whether or not it accepts it. ### Its legal caps The intervention commission is capped by law: **€8 per transaction and €80 per month** for a standard customer[\[1\]](#source-1). This cap is set by Article R.312-4-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, introduced by Decree no. 2013-931 of 17 October 2013 and in force since 1 January 2014[\[1\]](#source-1). France's Ministry of the Economy (ministère de l'Économie) confirms these amounts[\[2\]](#source-2). For people who benefit from basic banking services (the right to an account, droit au compte) or who have taken out an offer adapted to a situation of financial vulnerability, the cap drops to **€4 per transaction and €20 per month** (Article R.312-4-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code)[\[1\]](#source-1). ### Not to be confused with overdraft interest Here's what the bank rarely explains: on a single transaction that goes into overdraft, you can pay two separate fees. The intervention commission (capped per transaction and per month) and the overdraft interest (agios, the interest on your overdraft). These are two separate things: the intervention commission is added on top of the overdraft interest, and only the intervention commission is capped per transaction and per month[\[7\]](#source-7). Understanding this distinction is already half the work of checking your bill. ## Overdraft interest and overdrafts: how it's calculated Is overdraft interest capped? Not by a fixed amount. Overdraft interest (agios) is the debit interest (plus any fees and commissions) charged in return for an overdraft. Its rate cannot exceed the **usury rate** (taux d'usure), the maximum legal rate published by the Banque de France. It remains distinct from intervention commissions and is not affected by the per-transaction or per-month cap[\[3\]](#source-3). In other words, the deeper and longer your overdraft, the more the overdraft interest climbs, with no fixed numerical cap, within the limit of the usury rate at the time. ### Authorised vs unauthorised overdraft The difference is huge for your wallet. * **Authorised overdraft** (découvert autorisé): your bank grants you a negative margin up to a certain amount. You pay overdraft interest, but in principle no intervention commission as long as you stay within that limit. * **Unauthorised overdraft** (découvert non autorisé, going over the limit): here, each transaction that digs beyond your limit can trigger an intervention commission, on top of the overdraft interest. This is the most expensive scenario. If overdrafts are a recurring issue for you, our article on [revolving credit and overdrafts](/en/blog/revolving-credit-overdraft-avoiding-debt-spiral) goes further on how to avoid the downward spiral. ## Cheque and direct-debit rejection fees: the caps to know When a transaction is rejected for lack of funds, the bank charges rejection fees. These too are capped by law, but this time by a fixed amount per incident. ### Cheque rejection The rejection fees for a cheque with insufficient funds cannot exceed **€30 for a cheque of €50 or less**, and **€50 for a cheque of more than €50** (Article D.131-25 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, Decree no. 2007-1611 of 15 November 2007)[\[8\]](#source-8). ### Direct-debit or transfer rejection The rejection fees for a direct debit or a transfer due to insufficient funds cannot exceed **the amount of the rejected order, within a limit of €20** (Article D.133-6 of the French Monetary and Financial Code)[\[8\]](#source-8). In practice, if a €12 direct debit is rejected, the fees cannot exceed €12. ## Financial vulnerability: protective caps There is a specific framework for people whose bank identifies them as being in a situation of financial vulnerability (fragilité financière). Note: these overall caps apply only to those customers, not to everyone. * For a person in a situation of financial vulnerability who does not take out the dedicated offer, all incident fees are capped at **€25 per month**[\[9\]](#source-9). * For those who take out the dedicated offer for vulnerable customers (offre spécifique clientèle fragile, or OCF), incident fees are capped at **€20 per month and €200 per year** (since 1 July 2019)[\[10\]](#source-10). * This dedicated offer costs **€3 per month at most**[\[10\]](#source-10). If you're hitting one incident after another, this is a scheme worth knowing about and asking for: it can sharply cut your monthly bill. ## Which fees are avoidable or disputable? ### Avoidable fees Many fees disappear with a bit of organisation: * **Avoid going over the limit**: staying within your authorised overdraft removes intervention commissions and limits overdraft interest. * **Choose a suitable package**: if you're paying for services you never use, switch to a different offer. * **Spot an inactive account**: for an account considered inactive (under the Eckert law, loi Eckert, since 1 January 2016), fees and commissions are capped at **€30 per year**, a cap revised every 3 years according to the INSEE consumer price index[\[3\]](#source-3). If you have an old account you no longer use, check that it isn't nibbling away at you every year. ### Disputable fees Some fees are outright reclaimable: * an intervention commission charged beyond the legal caps (€8 / €80, or €4 / €20 for the customers concerned)[\[1\]](#source-1); * rejection fees above the caps (€30 / €50 for a cheque, €20 for a direct debit)[\[8\]](#source-8); * duplicates or fees not provided for in your account agreement. The steps to take: first you write to your bank (in writing, quoting the line and the cap), then, if the answer doesn't satisfy you, you refer the matter to the banking ombudsman (médiateur bancaire), which is free. A dispute is possible, but a refund is never automatic: the outcome depends on your bank and then, where applicable, on the ombudsman. Don't assume an amount will be returned to you as a matter of course. That said, a fee charged above the legal cap is a strong argument. ## A 4-step method to audit your fees 1. **Pull out your annual fee statement** (the January one) and look at the total. That's your numerical starting point. 2. **Sort each line** into one of the three families: subscriptions, operating, incidents. Incidents are the priority. 3. **Check the caps**: intervention commission (€8 / €80), cheque rejection (€30 / €50), direct-debit rejection (€20). Any line above is disputable. 4. **Act**: remove the avoidable (package, inactive account, going over the limit), claim the disputable, and compare with another bank if the total seems high to you. Doing this audit once a year, in January, is enough to take back control. And if you're just starting out managing your money, our [guide to managing your budget when starting out](/en/blog/how-to-manage-your-budget-when-starting-out) helps you avoid the overdrafts that trigger these fees. ## Key takeaways Your statement isn't a black box. Once you know how to tell apart the intervention commission (capped per transaction and per month), the overdraft interest (bounded by the usury rate), and the rejection fees (fixed caps per incident), you can spot what goes over, dispute what should be disputed, and avoid what's avoidable. The January annual statement is your best ally for that. Want to go further and lay solid foundations? The "The Basics / budget" lesson in the FinQuest app walks you through it step by step, with worked examples. ## Key takeaways - The account statement (monthly transactions) and the annual fee statement (a mandatory summary) are two separate documents: it's the second one you use to audit your fees. - Intervention commission: €8 per transaction and €80 per month maximum (€4 / €20 for vulnerable customers or those on basic banking services). - Rejection fees: €30 for a cheque of €50 or less, €50 above that; €20 maximum for a direct debit or transfer, without exceeding the amount of the order. - Overdraft interest is not capped by a fixed amount: its rate is only bounded by the usury rate published by the Banque de France. - An inactive account (Eckert law) has its fees capped at €30 per year; financially vulnerable customers benefit from protective overall caps (€25/month, or €20/month and €200/year with the dedicated offer). ## FAQ ### How do I read my annual fee statement? Your annual fee statement, sent free of charge every year during January, distinguishes three families: subscription and membership fees, operating fees, and incident fees[\[6\]](#source-6). Start with the total, sort each line into one of these families, then focus on the incident fees: that's where the legal caps apply. ### What is an intervention commission? It's the amount your bank charges when it reviews a transaction that would put your account into an irregular position, for example a payment beyond your authorised overdraft. It's capped at €8 per transaction and €80 per month for a standard customer, and at €4 / €20 for customers in a situation of vulnerability or benefiting from basic banking services[\[1\]](#source-1). ### Is overdraft interest capped? Not by a fixed amount. Overdraft interest (agios) is the interest on your overdraft; its rate cannot exceed the usury rate published by the Banque de France, but it is not affected by the per-transaction or per-month cap that applies to intervention commissions[\[3\]](#source-3). ### Can I get bank fees refunded? You can dispute a fee charged beyond the legal caps, a duplicate, or a fee not provided for in your account agreement: you write to your bank first, then refer the matter to the banking ombudsman if needed. The process is possible, but a refund is not automatic and depends on the bank's response and then on the ombudsman. ### Can you pay both an intervention commission and overdraft interest on the same transaction? Yes. On a transaction that goes over the limit, the intervention commission is added on top of the overdraft interest: they are two separate fees, and only the intervention commission is capped per transaction and per month[\[7\]](#source-7). ## Sources 1. [Decree no. 2013-931 of 17 October 2013 (capping of intervention commissions)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000028090270), Légifrance (DILA) 2. [Everything you need to know about bank fees (intervention commission)](https://www.economie.gouv.fr/particuliers/gerer-mon-argent/gerer-mon-budget-et-mon-epargne/tout-savoir-sur-les-frais-bancaires), Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances 3. [Everything you need to know about bank fees (overdraft interest, usury rate, inactive account)](https://www.economie.gouv.fr/particuliers/gerer-mon-argent/gerer-mon-budget-et-mon-epargne/tout-savoir-sur-les-frais-bancaires), Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances 4. [Article L314-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (annual fee summary)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000035731606), Légifrance (DILA) 5. [The annual statement of bank charges](https://www.lafinancepourtous.com/pratique/banque/le-compte-bancaire/les-releves-bancaires/le-releve-annuel-de-frais-bancaires/), La finance pour tous (IEFP) 6. [The annual statement of bank charges (fee categories)](https://www.lafinancepourtous.com/pratique/banque/le-compte-bancaire/les-releves-bancaires/le-releve-annuel-de-frais-bancaires/), La finance pour tous (IEFP) 7. [Bank fees (intervention commissions and overdraft interest)](https://www.banque-france.fr/fr/a-votre-service/particuliers/connaitre-pratiques-bancaires-assurance/compte-frais/les-frais-bancaires), Banque de France 8. [Decree no. 2007-1611 of 15 November 2007 (capping of payment-incident fees)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000706868), Légifrance (DILA) 9. [Capping of bank fees for payment incidents](https://www.lafinancepourtous.com/pratique/banque/le-compte-bancaire/ce-que-coute-un-compte/plafonnement-des-frais-bancaires-pour-incidents-de-paiement/), La finance pour tous (IEFP) 10. [The dedicated offer for financially vulnerable people](https://www.lafinancepourtous.com/pratique/banque/le-compte-bancaire/l-offre-specifique-destinee-aux-personnes-fragiles-financierement/), La finance pour tous (IEFP)