Livret A

The Livret A is a financial product offered by French banks. Established in 1818 by King Louis XVIII to pay back the debts incurred during the Napoleonic Wars, part of the funds are now transferred to and re-invested by the Caisse des dépôts et consignations, owned by the French state, to build HLM, or social housing, and repay debt. The remaining funds are used by banks to give loans to French small and medium-sized enterprises. The product acts as a savings account for French citizens and residents, and the annual returns are not taxed. In December 2024, it was owned by 56 million individuals, for a total amount of 442.5 billion euros.