Transparent, accessible communication with the public has recently become a key part of central banking in the U.S. and in the Eurosystem. This thesis is a case study on the application of plain language at the Federal Reserve and the Banque de France, using one text sample from each central bank. The main methodological approach is a comparative textual analysis, the findings of which are benchmarked against the plain writing guidelines applicable to each context of publication. Based on these samples, both banks adhere to plain writing guidelines to some extent – however, the French sample consistently diverges from certain guidelines. For French-to-English translators, this implies a choice of either domesticating to plain style or retaining non-plain structures in the target text. Lastly, I discuss the pitfalls of applying English-specific guidelines across languages, underlining the importance of developing plain French on its own terms.