If you need to arrange a loan in France it pays to shop around. Interest rates vary considerably depending on the loan amount and repayment term. Ask friends and colleagues for their bank recommendations. All loans will be subject to your credit rating, income and amount of existing debt. A life insurance policy may be required as a condition of the loan. Under French law, it is illegal for any bank to agree a loan where repayments would equate to over 30% of your net income.

The lending criteria with French and overseas banks have become stricter in recent years, and business loans are particularly difficult for foreigners in France to obtain. If you encounter difficulty, it may be worth approaching a bank experienced in dealing with foreigners - one such example is the Banque Transatlantique: http://www.transat.tm.fr/index.asp?l=2

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