Despite the context, the population is not growing, according to the central bank. The number of people identified by the Banque de France as being in a situation of financial fragility was stable in France in 2022, at 4.1 million, despite the pressure of rising prices on household budgets. It publishes this Monday the annual report of the Observatory of banking inclusion, complete on the subject, but made public some first figures earlier in the day.
Banks apply a whole series of criteria to identify this population, based in particular on banking incidents: bad checks, overdrafts, etc. The subject of banking inclusion has been sensitive since the return of inflation in France (measured at 5.1 % over one year in May, according to INSEE) which compresses the household budget.
Decrease in over-indebtedness in 2022
Last November, the Banque de France announced the establishment of a single telephone number, 3414, in particular to simplify access for this vulnerable public. The central bank also unveiled a preview on Monday of an increase in microloans last year, the outstanding amount of which grew by 14% last year to reach 1.95 billion euros.
This type of financing for personal or professional purposes is aimed at “people excluded from the traditional banking system due to insufficient income and/or a situation of social insecurity”, she specifies. Finally, it highlights a number of over-indebtedness files down 7% in 2022 compared to 2021, a figure already published at the start of the year and regularly questioned by the unions who do not consider it exhaustive.