diff --git a/services/loopback/common/models/client.js b/services/loopback/common/models/client.js
index c9c7cec00..9a246fac1 100644
--- a/services/loopback/common/models/client.js
+++ b/services/loopback/common/models/client.js
@@ -40,12 +40,24 @@ module.exports = Self => {
         min: 3, max: 10
     });
 
-    var validateIban = require('../validations/validateIban');
-    Self.validateBinded('iban', validateIban, {
-        message: 'The IBAN does not have the correct format',
-        allowNull: true, // FIXME: Ignored by loopback when it's false
-        allowBlank: true
+    Self.validateAsync('iban', ibanNeedsValidation, {
+        message: 'The IBAN does not have the correct format'
     });
+    var validateIban = require('../validations/validateIban');
+    async function ibanNeedsValidation(err, done) {
+        let filter = {
+            fields: ['code'],
+            where: {id: this.countryFk}
+        };
+        let country = await Self.app.models.Country.findOne(filter);
+        let code = country ? country.code.toLowerCase() : null;
+        if (code === 'fr')
+            return done();
+
+        if (!validateIban(this.iban))
+            err();
+        done();
+    }
 
     Self.validateAsync('fi', tinIsValid, {
         message: 'Invalid TIN'