What is a bank imprint?
Bank imprint: money blocked to guarantee payment
A bank imprint is a pre-authorization operation made when paying by bank card, without immediate debit, intended to temporarily block an amount on the holder’s account to guarantee solvency or cover a future payment. The merchant ensures that the card is valid and that there are sufficient funds.
A deposit for hotels, restaurants and car rental
The bank imprint is mainly used in situations where a professional must ensure the client’s solvency or protect themselves against possible subsequent charges, without making an immediate debit.
- Hospitality and accommodation : in order to guarantee a reservation or to cover possible additional costs (damage, additional consumption, etc.).
- Rental of vehicles or goods : as a financial guarantee, in particular to cover a deposit. It can also be used to fill up with gas at a gas station.
- Restaurants and service providers : to secure a reservation and limit the risks linked to late or non-honored cancellations.
How does a pre-authorization or bank imprint work?
Imprint on bank card: operating principle
Concretely, the imprint temporarily blocks funds corresponding to the amount of the upcoming transaction. The service provider thus has the assurance of being paid. We also speak of a bank imprint when a merchant attempts to debit less than or equal to one euro (then reimbursed) to verify that a bank card is operational.
Bank imprint: an undebited sum
This operation results in blocking the sum of money corresponding to the purchase in the customer’s bank account in order to guarantee payment. This is not not strictly speaking a flowbut rather a sort of bank guarantee. If the bank card holder does not have the necessary funds in his bank account, the transaction is canceled.
A banking footprint greater than the purchase price
It is possible that the blocked amount is higher than the actual purchase price. For example, if the CB is used abroad for a purchase in a currency other than the euro, an authorization request higher than the price may be requested for exchange costs. The amount debited will however correspond to the final price of the transaction.
Do you need to have money in your account for a bank imprint?
Sufficient funds must be available
For a bank imprint to be accepted, the cardholder must have sufficient funds in his account (or an equivalent payment ceiling). Even if there is no immediate debit, the bank imprint corresponds to a pre-authorization: the bank therefore verifies that the amount can be blocked. Otherwise, the operation is refused.
Bank imprint without funds
A banking footprint cannot be carried out without provision. If the available balance or the card limit is insufficient, the bank rejects the authorization request. There is therefore no “overdraft” bank imprint: the temporary blocking of funds assumes that they are available at the time of the request.
Fingerprint on a credit card refused
A bank imprint may be refused for several reasons, including:
- an insufficient balance or a payment limit reached;
- card type restrictions (certain cards with systematic authorization do not allow fingerprints);
- a blocking of the card or security measure of the bank;
- use abroad without an international payment option enabled.
In this case, the professional may require another means of payment or refuse the reservation.
How long does a bank imprint last?
A duration that varies depending on the bank and type of card
The duration of blocking of a bank imprint is not fixed. Depending on the issuing bank and the type of bank card, the corresponding amount may be blocked usually between five and seven days when the merchant does not confirm the payment. At the end of this period, the imprint is automatically lifted.
Longer deadlines depending on the sector of activity
In certain sectors, the duration may be longer. This is the case for hotels, vehicle rental and certain services carried out over several days. The imprint can then be maintained until 15, even 30 daysin order to cover the entire service or any additional costs.
Bank footprint: is there a ceiling?
No specific cap on the banking footprint
There does not exist no specific ceiling specific to the bank imprint: its amount is charged to the card’s payment limit, in the same way as a traditional payment. As long as the imprint is active, it therefore reduces the available ceiling. The amount accepted then depends on the type of card, the rules of the payment network, the policy of the bank and the merchant.
Factors Determining the Amount Allowed
The amount of a bank imprint varies depending on the banks and several combined parameters:
- The type of bank card (immediate or deferred debit, high-end card).
- Payment network rules (Visa, Mastercard), particularly in terms of duration and terms of pre-authorization.
- The policy of the issuing bankwhich sets the ceilings and conditions of acceptance.
- The merchant’s sector of activitycertain areas (hotels, vehicle rental) requiring higher footprint amounts.
Special case of systematic authorization cards
The cards systematic authorization (e.g. Visa Électron, Maestro, certain neobank cards) may refuse any bank imprint, regardless of the amount, because they do not allow extended pre-authorizations, which are essential for the operation of bank imprints.
Does the bank imprint appear on the account?
A bank imprint, or pre-authorization, can appear temporarily in the bank account, often in pending transactions or as a temporary authorization, with the transaction amount and the name of the merchant. These permissions disappear on their own unless the final transaction has been completed.
When does a bank imprint disappear?
The removal of the imprint can take place either automaticallyupon expiry of the maximum period provided, either fasterif the merchant cancels the pre-authorization or transforms the imprint into payment. It is important to note that, even after the imprint is lifted, it may take 24 to 72 hours to restore the balance or available limit.
How does the banking footprint end up as a guarantee?
At the end of the service, four scenarios are possible.
In case of purchase corresponding to the imprint
If the amount of the bank imprint corresponds to that of the final expenditure, the pre-authorization is converted into effective flow of the same amount. The imprint then disappears in favor of a classic payment, without any particular action from the customer. On the bank statement, only the debit transaction appears.
In case of higher amount
When the amount of the bank imprint is greater than the actual expenditure, only the amount actually due is debited. The unused amount is released and becomes available again, although the redisplay time may vary depending on the bank. This release may take several days.
In the absence of payment
If no payment is ultimately required, the bank imprint is lifted automatically on the expiry date of the deadline. No debit entry then appears on the cardholder’s bank statement. Throughout the duration of the blockage, the amount nevertheless remains unavailable and reduces the payment limit.
In case of distance selling
In the context of a distance sale or when the final amount exceeds that of the imprint, the professional can debit the difference or request regularization. This situation assumes that the customer has accepted the general conditions of sale. In the absence of agreement or sufficient provision, the additional transaction may be refused.
In the event of a dispute or dispute
In the event of disagreement on the amount debited or on the lifting of the imprint, the customer can contact his bank to contest the transaction. The bank then acts as an intermediary to verify the compliance of the transaction. If the dispute persists, a complaint to the merchant may be necessary
How to make a bank imprint on a credit or debit card?
Have a compatible bank card
It is necessary to have a valid bank card, but mostly compatible with pre-authorizations. Not all debit cards allow this: certain cards with systematic authorization (Visa Électron, Maestro, certain neobank cards) may refuse imprints, regardless of the available balance.
Know the conditions required by the merchant
Before the service, it is recommended to inquire with the merchant (article R111-1 of the Consumer Code) about:
- the existence of a guarantee by bank imprint;
- THE Rising of the imprint;
- there blocking duration planned;
- the conditions under which it can be transformed into debit and the cancellation conditions.
These elements appear in principle in the general conditions of sale or service.
Present the card for pre-authorization
On site (or more rarely remotely for an online purchase), the customer presents his bank card to the seller, who makes a pre-authorization request via an electronic payment terminal (TPE). The bank then checks the card validitythe available ceiling and the sufficient provision.
Validation of the bank imprint
Depending on the amount and type of card, the imprint can be validated by confidential codeby signature (increasingly rare case) or automatically, without additional action from the customer. There is not always a signature in the strict sense: this point depends on the terminal, the payment network and the applicable security rules.
How to cancel a bank imprint?
Cancellation of a bank imprint depends on the merchant, the bank only having a technical role.
Request cancellation from the merchant
The most effective method is to contact the merchant or service provider who made the imprint. Only he can cancel pre-authorization or close it without debit if no payment is due. Once the cancellation is registered, the bank releases the funds, subject to technical deadlines.
Wait for the imprint to automatically lift
If no action is taken by the merchant, the bank imprint is automatically lifted upon expiry of its maximum duration. This delay varies depending on the bank, payment network and sector of activity. In current practice, it is often between five and seven daysbut can go up to 15 or 30 days.
Contact your bank
The bank cannot cancel a valid fingerprintbecause it results from an authorization given to the merchant. It can, however, confirm the origin and duration of the imprint, check whether it has expired and intervene in the event of an obvious anomaly (imprint maintained beyond the authorized time limits).
In the event of a dispute or abnormal blockage
If the imprint persists without justification (service canceled, goods returned, service not provided), the customer can send a written complaint to the merchant. Then, in the absence of a response, he can seize your bank with the supporting documents, and, as a last resort, initiate a dispute procedure.
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