Altaprofits survey finds over 10% of French keep all savings in current accounts

Altaprofits, together with IFOP, released its eighth annual Barometer of Savings in France and the regions on 4 June 2026. The online questionnaire was completed by 2 412 adults between 30 March and 8 April. 95 % of respondents said they own at least one savings product. Overall, 79 % prefer low‑risk, low‑return instruments – up from 73 % a year earlier – while only 3 % use higher‑risk options.

For the second consecutive year, 13 % of French savers keep all of their money in a current‑account, with an average cash cushion of €6 845. The tendency is strongest among older households, women and lower‑income families. Regional differences appear: 83 % of residents in Bourgogne‑Franche‑Comté favour risk‑free products, compared with the national average, whereas 77 % in Auvergne‑Rhone‑Alpes do so, and 5 % there hold risky assets, double the national rate.

The survey also examined attitudes to the postponed 2023 pension reform. Seventy‑five percent of active‑age respondents expect a decline in living standards after retirement, and 43 % believe all pension income will derive from the pay‑as‑you‑go system. Only 22 % of people in Auvergne‑Rhone‑Alpes know the amount of their future pension entitlement. Regarding defence financing, 30 % would consider investing in a national‑defence savings product, while 70 % oppose it, citing political, ethical or moral concerns.