When changing phones, resetting a browser, and trying to check your balance on La Banque Postale’s website, the “10-digit identifier” field remains frustratingly empty. This number, assigned when the account was opened, cannot be guessed and isn’t easily found with a simple search in your emails. Here’s where to look for it specifically, and how to avoid getting stuck a second time.
Where your La Banque Postale identifier is physically stored
The 10-digit identifier is neither an account number nor an IBAN. It is a personal access code, distinct from the 6-digit password that you enter later on the virtual keyboard. Confusion between these two elements causes most login blocks.
When you opened an account at La Banque Postale, this 10-digit identifier for La Banque Postale was communicated by postal mail, on a paper document sent to your home. Some clients also received it directly at the post office when subscribing.
The first reflex is to search through your paper archives. Look for a letter from La Banque Postale dated around the time your account was opened, often titled “Your online banking access codes” or something similar. The number is clearly stated there.
Check the browser or mobile app
If you checked the option “Remember my identifier” on the login page, the field would have been automatically filled. Changing browsers, clearing cookies, or updating the app erases this memory without warning.
On an old device that still works (phone, tablet, computer), open the password manager of the browser. In Chrome, you can find it under Settings > Passwords. In Safari, it’s under Preferences > Passwords. The identifier may be saved there associated with the login URL of La Banque Postale.
Lost identifier without original mail: concrete remedies
The paper mail is gone and no browser has kept a record. This situation is common, especially for accounts opened several years ago.
Contact customer service by phone
The most direct way is to call La Banque Postale’s customer service. An advisor can retrieve your identifier after verifying your identity (name, first name, date of birth, account number, or security questions). The identifier will be sent back to you by postal mail, not by phone or email, for security reasons.
This postal delivery time usually takes a few business days. You won’t recover a lost identifier in five minutes, and no online channel allows it to be displayed directly.
Visit a post office with an ID
The alternative is to go to a post office. A bank advisor can, upon presentation of a valid ID, initiate the reissue procedure. The outcome remains the same: receipt of the new identifier by mail to the address registered in the customer file.
One point to check before you go: not all post offices have a dedicated bank advisor. Smaller branches only provide postal services. It is recommended to check in advance the availability of banking services at the targeted post office.
Obsolete phone number and Certicode Plus: a common trap
Finding your identifier is not always enough to reconnect. La Banque Postale requires enhanced authentication via Certicode Plus to validate many online transactions. This system relies on the smartphone associated with the customer file.
The problem arises when you have changed your phone number without updating your banking file. In this case, even with the correct identifier and password, Certicode Plus validation fails because the notification is sent to the old number.
- Make sure the phone number registered in your client area matches your current line before any login attempt
- If the number is outdated, the update must be done at the post office or by mail, not online (since you can no longer log in)
- Once the number is corrected, you need to reactivate Certicode Plus on the new smartphone by following the procedure in the La Banque Postale app
Feedback varies on the time it takes to process the new number. Some clients report activation within 24 hours, while others mention several days. Allow some time before needing to make a transfer or a sensitive transaction.
Forgotten password or forgotten identifier: two distinct procedures
People often confuse the two. The “forgot password” procedure accessible from La Banque Postale’s login page does not allow you to retrieve the identifier. It is only used to reset the 6-digit code, provided you already know your identifier.
In practical terms, if you have lost your identifier, the “forgot password” link will not help you. You need to go through customer service or the post office, as described above.
However, if you know your identifier but have forgotten your password, the reset can be done online. The site guides you through an identity verification process, then a new 6-digit password is assigned to you.
Avoid losing your identifier a second time
- Note the 10-digit identifier in a secure password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, iCloud Keychain, or equivalent)
- Keep the original mail in a folder dedicated to your banking documents, either physical or digitized
- If you use the browser’s automatic memory feature, also save the identifier elsewhere: a cookie cleanup is enough to erase everything
The 10-digit identifier does not change over time. Once noted in a reliable place, there’s no need to request it again. The only case for reissuing a new identifier concerns situations of fraud or account compromise, which are handled directly by the bank.
