The Bercy Files That Track Your Accounts and Contracts

Although little known to the general public, the Ficoba and Ficovie databases play a central role in financial and estate transparency. The former lists all bank and similar accounts in France, while the latter lists life insurance and capitalization contracts. Now accessible under certain conditions, they allow anyone to verify the existence of accounts or contracts in their name, as well as to prevent fraud and omissions during the probate process.

Ficoba: A Comprehensive Registry of Bank and Similar Accounts
The Registryof Bank and SimilarAccounts (Ficoba), managed by the General Directorate of Public Finance (DGFiP), lists all accounts opened in France: checking accounts, savings accounts, securities accounts, and even bank safety deposit boxes. For each account, the registry records the account holder’s identity, the financial institution, the account type, and the opening and closing dates.
 

Since January 6, 2025, access to this file has been simplified. Individuals can view it directly from their online account at impots.gouv.fr (under the “Other Services” section), or by sending a written request to the tax office. The goal is to verify that no account has been fraudulently opened in their name or to locate a forgotten account (such as a savings account opened during childhood).
 

Previously, these requests were handled by the CNIL. The new procedures do not apply only to individuals: legal guardians can also consult the registry for accounts opened in the names of their minor children. The registry is therefore a valuable monitoring tool, particularly for detecting identity theft.

Ficovie: Transparency in Life Insurance Contracts
Less well known, the National Registryof Life Insurance and CapitalizationContracts (Ficovie) has been in existence since 2016. It lists all life insurance contracts, though it does not specify the amount saved. Unlike Ficoba, access to it is more limited.
 

The DGFiP and notaries use this system during tax audits or estate settlements to identify contracts held by a decedent. However, each policyholder retains the right to access and correct their information; to do so, they must submit a request to the Departmental Directorate of Public Finance (DDFiP) in their place of residence. Unlike Ficoba, there is currently no online procedure available to consult this database.
 

In practice, Ficovie plays a crucial role in the probate process. By enabling notaries to identify active contracts, it ensures that designated beneficiaries can assert their rights. It also helps reduce the number of unclaimed contracts, whose funds previously remained unclaimed.