Launch of the "Rendez-Vous de l’Épargne"

As part of its main remit to protect savings invested in financial instruments, the AMF, together with the ACPR, whose primary mission is to protect clients of the banking and insurance sectors, are carrying out these actions to inform the public, with the support of Banque de France, the operator of the national strategy for financial education.

On 25 November 2019, at the meeting of the financial education strategic committee, the French Minister for the Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, announced the organisation of "savings forums all over France for the general public, in order to provide insights into the changes to the economic context of savings and savings products", as part of the actions to be implemented in 2020.

With the backing of Banque de France, these "Rendez-Vous de l’Épargne" are therefore aimed at the general public and will be held in some forty towns as from September 2020.

Due to the current health crisis, these conferences will be held in the form of webinars.

The "Rendez-Vous de l’Épargne" events are aimed at the general public, current and future investors alike, who want to build up savings or invest in the economy over the longer term and gain a better understanding of the range of savings products.  They will explain the main principles and concepts to know before investing, such as performance, risk, liquidity and diversification.

Bruno Le Maire stated: "At a time of far-reaching changes in the financial landscape, managing their savings better is a concern for everyone in France. Mobilising savings will also be crucial for economic recovery because it will contribute to providing additional support to French businesses. Organised throughout France for the first time, the "Rendez-Vous de l’Épargne" will provide concrete answers to make savings a lever of economic recovery."

François Villeroy de Galhau, the governor of Banque de France, pointed out that "saving is a value cherished by many people in France. However, it is currently raising even more questions, at a time of low interest rates and uncertainties about the post-Covid era. Answering these questions during the "Rendez-Vous de l’Épargne" is part of our central mission to provide economic and financial education to the public."

"Since November last year, in particular with the listing of Française des Jeux and the lockdown period, some 700,000 new retail investors have joined or returned to the equity markets. It is important to support these new investors by informing them about the reflexes that they need to acquire to invest wisely. This renewed appeal of the stock markets shows that private investors can also contribute to the effort to boost the equity of companies, which is one of the central challenges of the recovery", said the AMF Chairman Robert Ophèle.

Find out more about the "Rendez-Vous de l’Epargne", the conference schedule and how to register on "mes questions d’argent", the website of the national strategy for financial education.

About the AMF
The AMF is an independent public authority responsible for ensuring that savings invested in financial products are protected and that investors are provided with adequate information. The AMF also supervises the orderly operations of markets. Visit our website https://www.amf-france.org

About the Banque de France
The Banque de France, member of the Eurosystem, is an independent institution with three core tasks: monetary strategy, financial stability, and the provision of services to the economy. It contributes to the definition of euro area monetary policy and ensures its implementation in France. It supervises banks and insurance companies, and works to mitigate risks. It also offers a range of economic services to businesses and private individuals. Visit our website at https://www.banque-france.fr/en

About the ACPR
The Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution is the administrative authority operationally attached to the Banque de France that supervises the banking and insurance sectors and ensures financial stability. The ACPR is also responsible for protecting the customers of the supervised institutions and ensuring the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. It also has resolution powers. The ACPR’s operational departments come under its General Secretariat. Visit our website at https://acpr.banque-france.fr/