You’re lucky. We do have regular payments going into our account, yet CA Britline seems to limit me to a daily ceiling of 2500€. On the rare occasion we needed < 20k for a car, we had to speak to our account manager and fill out a form. Goodness knows what we’d have do if we needed to transfer anything really large…
By contrast my NatWest current account daily transfer limit is £50k, albeit there’s almost nothing in it…
I’m going to defend the banks 
at least partially.
I spent a lot of the 2000s and 2010s dealing with APP frauds. It was obvious that (UK) banks could easily have stopped the scam, but didn’t, for years.
Meanwhile, in France, you had to provide enough details to allow your bank to be reasonably confident you weren’t the victim of fraud.
When we compare the “ease” of UK bank transfers with the paternalistic approach of French ones, we should remember how many of our grandparents and parents lost money because of the “ease” of a UK bank virement.
I am right in the middle of exactly the sort of transaction I’m talking about because I have just transferred money from my U.K. bank to pay for a car I’m buying. The most I could transfer at one go through my HSBC app and Wise is £25,000. Banque Populaire allows me to make transfers of up to €15000 through their app to established ‘benefactors’. Last week they told me that I could make two virement to the garage, one for €15000 and the other for the balance or they could do the whole amount in one go. They were prepared to do the transfer there and then. In fact I’m going into the bank to do it tomorrow.
I wonder if it’s a difference between banks or simply because of different customer profiles. Over 20 years ago I moved over half of my savings to BP and now have most of my money here. I still get paid in pounds in the U.K. but when the rates are good move pounds into euros. I also have an assurance vie with BP and other investments including shares in the bank itself. I imagine they see me as a long standing trusted customer who regularly pays significant amounts into my current account. It might also help that BP use Wise for international transfers because the money I exchange through Wise arrives very quickly.
I could go into the Soc Gen anytime and do a transfer over the counter. But that’s surely useless for sending money to TorFx because the Soc Gen can’t guarantee the money will arrive within 24 hours.
So basically for someone selling a house in France and wanting to use a specialist currency dealer to send the money to the UK, or transfer their life’s savings, they’re stuck with the crap exchange rate / high fees charged by the French bank.
You obviously have a problem with your bank. Move to another. I am using the bank to do a transfer for me tomorrow because after a recent fiasco with HSBC and Wise where a large chunk of money, part of a three part transfer, went missing for about 14 hours I’d rather send all of the money at once this time. Banque Populaire have promised me that the transfer will be immediate. Why can’t your bank guarantee your transfers?
I’ve no idea David. They’ve always said it takes several working days. I’ll try asking them again.
I’ve been with them for nearly 30 years, with large amounts being paid in every month (the branch is located on the premises of the international organization where I work and all staff salaries are paid into the Soc Gen by default).
Well, I suggest that you go into this bank of yours to withdraw your fortune and go elsewhere, citing that they must be the only Victor Hugo bank left!
All proper banks in the EU make instant transfers and would get your money to TorFx in 10 seconds.
I’ll tell them that on Monday, Adam. Thanks!
I get it with apps, but it’s the same limit with virements done online in the espace personnel. And why do I have to explain to the conseiller what it’s for? It’s none of her business!
They’re taking care of you, Bless. 
I think that’s the money laundering part - they want to know if you are using it to buy a submarine full of cocaine.
Though of course you could (gasp!) lie about that… 
The bit on the American ESTA application where they ask you if you have ever been associated with any terrorist organisations or committed Nazi war crimes always amuses me, on the same basis.
That would cost a lot more than €3000.
I wonder how long it will be before thay ask you if you voted for Trump. 4 years perhaps. 
Depends who your supplier is. 
Do you know some?
Are you buying or selling? 
ETA: Hang out round the back of the Dog & Duck in Kettering on any Thursday after 7pm and ask for “Knuckles” McGee.
But it is her business. Banks have been given a level of responsibility within the international money laundering protection system. The banks have a responsibility to know their customers and to be able to confirm whether money transfers are suspicious or not.
I once met a retired Army intelligence officer. He was explaining that one difficult moment in his career was explaining why he had once been a member of Hitler Youth. He said his explanation that in the 1930s it was seen as the German equivalent of theYHA seemed weak in post war Britain.
They should enquire about large transfers coming in, as they do. They’ve done it twice with me, and that’s OK, but once it’s in the account, I don’t see the need to check when it goes out. Of course, the conseiller needs to know her customers, so that she knows what overpriced investment products, insurances or credits to target them with.
Totally agree.