Managing corporate or individual treasury in France: why ETFs beat term deposits

In France, billions of euros sit in term deposits or non-yielding accounts. While these options may appear safe, they typically provide low returns and restrict access to funds. For both businesses and individuals, this results in a loss of value due to inflation and missed opportunities for performance.

This article explores why ETFs (exchange-traded funds) represent a smarter alternative to term deposits for corporate and individual treasury management.

The limits of term deposits

French banks promote term deposits as a secure way to park excess cash. But this solution has major drawbacks:

• Low yields: often below inflation, eroding purchasing power.
• Lack of flexibility: funds are locked for months or years.
• Opportunity cost: capital remains idle instead of generating market returns.

For CFOs and private investors alike, term deposits no longer meet the needs of modern treasury management.

Why ETFs are smarter for treasury management

ETFs combine liquidity, diversification, and efficiency—key advantages over term deposits:

• Liquidity: ETFs can be traded daily, allowing companies or individuals to access their money when needed.
• Diversification: exposure to different asset classes (bonds, equities, money markets) reduces concentration risk.
• Performance: ETFs such as the Amundi Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF or the Amundi EUR High Yield Corporate Bond ESG UCITS ETF ACC are designed to provide higher yields than traditional deposits while controlling risk.
• Responsible finance: ESG bond ETFs allow investors to align treasury management with sustainability goals.

How Velesios makes ETF investing simple

At Velesios, we remove the complexity of accessing ETFs by providing a seamless experience through our platform:

• Account opening made simple: clients open their individual or corporate securities account directly on Velesios. We connect in the background with Interactive Brokers to ensure execution quality.
• Lower fees through order aggregation: by grouping client trades, we reduce transaction costs, making ETFs more cost-effective than traditional bank products.
• User-friendly dashboard: designed to make ETF investments as easy as online banking.
• Tailored selection: we help clients choose ETFs adapted to their liquidity needs and risk profile.

Conclusion

In today’s environment, leaving money in term deposits means losing out on performance and flexibility. ETFs offer a modern, liquid, and diversified alternative for managing corporate or individual treasury in France.

With Velesios, companies and individuals can access ETFs effortlessly, reduce costs, and put idle cash to work.

FAQ: managing treasury with ETFs in France

Are term deposits safe but low yielding?
Yes. They offer capital protection but very limited returns, often below inflation.

Why are ETFs better than term deposits?
They provide liquidity, diversification, and potential for higher performance without locking funds.

Can both companies and individuals use ETFs for treasury?
Yes. Through Velesios, both corporate and personal investors can open a securities account and access ETFs.

Do ETFs carry risks?
Like all market products, ETFs carry some risk, but money-market and bond ETFs are designed for stability and controlled exposure.

Does Velesios reduce costs compared to banks?
Yes. By aggregating orders, Velesios lowers transaction fees, making ETF investing more efficient than bank deposits.

Sources & references

• Banque de France – Household savings
• Interactive Brokers – Brokerage solutions
• AMF – Financial markets regulation in France‍
• Amundi Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF – Factsheet‍
• Amundi EUR High Yield Corporate Bond ESG UCITS ETF – Factsheet