Will bank employees who commit fraud soon be registered in a national database?

MP Daniel Labaronne wants to create a national database listing banking sector employees responsible for serious breaches of integrity. His proposed law, tabled on July 7th in the National Assembly, aims to prevent individuals involved in fraud from leaving one institution and then taking up a sensitive position at another bank.

According to figures provided by major banking networks and cited in the explanatory memorandum, nearly 500 serious breaches were identified in 2024, resulting in an estimated loss of €40 million. Some employees are allegedly being used by organized networks to open accounts used to transfer or conceal funds obtained through fraud, social security fraud, or bogus investments.

The file would cover all professional statuses, from permanent employees to temporary workers, including apprentices, interns, and contractors. Banks would only be able to access it for recruitment or the placement of an employee.

A measure that worries the unions

The text stipulates that registration will be carried out by an authorized representative within each institution, following review by an independent panel of professionals in the field. The database would be managed by a public body and limited to identification data, excluding any criminal records. The information would be kept for a maximum of five years, unless legal or administrative proceedings are underway.

The individuals concerned should be informed of their registration and have rights of access, rectification, and appeal. Any bank discovering new information exonerating an employee would be required to request their removal from the register without delay. The precise procedures would be established by a decree of the Minister of the Economy after consultation with the CNIL (French Data Protection Authority).

FO Banques believes, however, that this mechanism could weaken employees' fundamental rights and establish a kind of professional blacklist based on employer decisions. Daniel Labaronne promises amendments to strengthen legal safeguards. His proposal, however, is not yet on the agenda: the MP now hopes to include it in a future government bill dedicated to combating corruption.