The governor of the Banque de France makes new proposals concerning the Livret A and the Livret d'épargne populaire.
The Governor of the Bank of France, François Villeroy de Galhauproposed this Wednesday, January 15 to reduce the Livret A rate to 2.4% au February 1against 3% currentlyand to bring back that of Popular savings booklet (LEP)reserved for low-income households, at 3.5%, compared to 4% today.
This new Livret A rate, the compass of French savings, “will make it possible to amplify the very positive movement to revive the financing of social housing and local authorities observed for more than a year”, writes the Banque de France in a press release.
11.8 million booklets
This drop is a first since the start of the health crisis. In February 2020, the rate increased from 0.75% to 0.50%. Such a significant drop had already been noted in summer 2013. “Savings are not only protected, but they allow real assets to increase”, assured Eric Lombard a few days ago.
Concerning the Popular Savings Booklet, the Banque de France adds in its press release that: “The efforts undertaken have enabled the net opening of more than 3.5 million LEPs over the last two years.”
If the governor of the Banque de France wants to change setting the LEP rate at 3.5%, it is to “maintain a significant gap with the Livret A rate and to promote this product.” At the end of last year, the number of booklets stood at 11.8 million while the potential exceeded 19 million.
France
