France's Livret A sees record net outflows as rate rises to 1.7%

The French government‑backed Livret A savings account recorded its worst first‑half performance since 2008, with net withdrawals of €5.93 billion between January and June 2026. Combined with the Livret de développement durable et solidaire (LDDS), total outflows reached €6.89 billion, the largest semi‑annual de‑collection on record. The Caisse des Dépôts, which manages the accounts, highlighted that the decline follows a fall in the Livret A rate to 1.5 % in February.

To curb the outflow, the rate is set to increase to 1.7 % on 1 August 2026 and will remain at that level until 31 January 2027. Analysts note the boost is modest; a fully‑funded account at the new rate will earn €367.20 in 2026, only €19 more than under the 1.5 % rate. Meanwhile, online bank BforBank is promoting its Livret Bfor+ with a 2.80 % gross rate for new customers, positioning it as more attractive than the Livret A.

Financial advisers also remind savers to transfer funds from non‑interest‑bearing current accounts before 31 July so that deposits qualify for the higher rate under the “quinzaine” rule, maximizing returns from the August change.