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French online banks in 60 seconds
The market
- 5 French online banks left in 2026: Boursobank, Fortuneo, Hello bank!, Monabanq, BforBank.
- ING, Orange Bank and N26 retail in France have all shut down.
- All 5 are licensed by the ACPR and protected by FGDR up to €100,000.
For expats
- Most ask for a French IBAN at signup. Boursobank accepts EU IBANs.
- If you only hold a foreign account, start with Revolut for an instant SEPA IBAN.
- French online banks are French only: use your phone's translator if needed.
Top online banks in France in 2026
Five French online banks survived the 2026 market consolidation: Boursobank (cheapest), Fortuneo (cleanest fees), Hello bank! (highest welcome bonus), Monabanq (best customer service) and BforBank (relaunched in 2024). All five offer a Visa card for free or near-free, with no income condition for student or young-adult plans. Revolut is added at the top of the comparison table for expats who do not yet hold a French IBAN.
Most French online banks require a French IBAN at signup
Fortuneo, Hello bank!, Monabanq and BforBank all need a French IBAN in your name to fund the first deposit. Boursobank is the exception, it accepts EU IBANs. If you have just landed and only hold a foreign account, your simplest first stop is Revolut (10-minute signup, instant Lithuanian IBAN), then open a French online bank afterwards.
Boursobank
Free Ultim or Welcome card. EU IBAN accepted at signup.
- Monthly fee
- €0
- Welcome bonus
- up to €130
Fortuneo
Free Fosfo card, no FX fee in eurozone, no inactivity charge.
- Monthly fee
- €0
- Welcome bonus
- up to €140
Hello bank!
BNP Paribas-backed, branch deposit access, free Hello One.
- Monthly fee
- €0
- Welcome bonus
- up to €260
Full comparison table
Below are the five French online banks in 2026 plus Revolut as the immediate-signup alternative. Welcome bonuses are tiered and conditional on activation criteria (typically a card payment within 30 days and, for the highest tiers, a salary domiciliation or referrals).
| Bank | Card | €/mo | FR IBAN | Bonus | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 RevolutNo FR IBAN needed |
Standard (Visa/MC) | €0 | Not needed (LT IBAN) | varies (€0-€10) | Open → |
| Boursobank |
Welcome / Ultim Visa | €0 | EU IBAN accepted | up to €130 | Open → |
| Fortuneo |
Fosfo Mastercard | €0 | Required | up to €140 | Open → |
| Hello bank! |
Hello One Visa | €0 | Required | up to €260 | Open → |
 Monabanq |
Pratiq+ Visa | €3 | Required | up to €160 | Open → |
 BforBank |
Visa Classic / Premium | €0 (cond.) | Required | up to €80 | Open → |
Prices and bonuses checked in May 2026. Some "Open" buttons are sponsored — see our methodology.
In-depth: each French online bank
Each of the five French online banks below is covered in detail, with the parent group, conditions of access, what we like and what to watch out for.
🥇 Boursobank: the cheapest French bank, 16 years running
Boursobank (rebranded from Boursorama in 2023) is owned by Société Générale and serves over 7 million customers. Awarded "cheapest French bank" by Le Monde Argent 16 years in a row. Two main plans for individuals: Welcome (free, no income, debit card, basic services) and Ultim (free if you make one card payment per month, premium card, no FX fee in eurozone). Boursobank is the only French online bank that accepts EU IBANs at signup, making it the natural pick for arriving expats.
What we like
- Genuinely free card with no hidden fees.
- EU IBAN accepted, useful for expats.
- Strong trading platform if you want to invest.
Watch out
- App and website are French only.
- €5/month penalty on Ultim if no card payment for 30 days.
- Customer support in French only.
Fortuneo: the cleanest fee schedule
Fortuneo is owned by Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and operates in France since 2009. The Fosfo Mastercard is free with no income condition. Uniquely, Fortuneo charges no FX fee on euro-zone transactions and no inactivity fee. The trade-off is a slimmer welcome bonus and a card with fewer perks than Boursobank Ultim.
What we like
- Truly fee-free, no nagging conditions.
- Free withdrawals across the eurozone.
- Solid investment platform side.
Watch out
- French IBAN required at signup.
- App less polished than Boursobank's.
- French residency required.
Hello bank!: the most generous welcome bonus
Hello bank! is the online arm of BNP Paribas. The Hello One Visa is free with no income condition (under 28), and the welcome bonus tops the table at €260. The killer perk for expats and rural users: because Hello bank! sits inside BNP, you can deposit cheques and cash at any of BNP's 1,800+ French branches.
What we like
- Branch access via BNP for cash and cheque deposits.
- Highest welcome bonus in the table.
- Strong app, slick mobile-first onboarding.
Watch out
- Above 28, income condition kicks in (€1,000+/month).
- Service in French only.
- Welcome bonus tiered, full €260 needs referrals.
Monabanq: best customer service
Monabanq is owned by Crédit Mutuel CIC. It charges €3/month on its entry plan (Pratiq+) but offers the best customer service in the segment, winning the "Customer Service of the Year" award seven times running. Welcome bonuses are very generous (up to €160). Monabanq is the only French online bank that lets you deposit cheques in physical CIC branches.
What we like
- Award-winning customer service.
- No income condition, generous welcome bonus.
- Cheque deposits at CIC branches.
Watch out
- €3/month not free, despite the "online" tag.
- French IBAN required at signup.
- French only, no English support.
BforBank: the relaunched challenger
BforBank is owned by Crédit Agricole. The bank fully relaunched its retail offering in 2024 after years of high entry barriers. Today, it offers a free Visa Classic card under conditions (one card payment per month) with reasonable welcome bonuses. The Visa Premium tier (€8/month) targets travellers with broader insurance coverage.
What we like
- Crédit Agricole licence, deposit guarantee solid.
- Modern app after 2024 rebrand.
- Free Visa Classic if you use the card.
Watch out
- Smaller welcome bonus (up to €80).
- French IBAN required.
- Brand still re-establishing post-relaunch.
Revolut: the immediate-signup alternative for expats
Revolut is licensed in Lithuania and is technically not a French online bank. But for expats arriving in France with no French banking details, it is the practical default: opens in 10 minutes from your phone with just a passport, instant Lithuanian IBAN (LT prefix) accepted across SEPA, free Standard plan, multi-currency wallet (GBP, USD, EUR side by side at the interbank rate). Use Revolut to unlock a true French online bank later.
N26 (Germany, DE IBAN) is a credible second option for expats but its non-resident options are less specifically aimed at France. If you want a real French IBAN immediately, see our non-resident accounts guide.
Open a Revolut account →Online bank vs neobank vs traditional bank
The terms get used interchangeably in the press, but they cover three distinct categories with different licences, regulators and product depth. The table below summarises what sets them apart for an expat in France.
| Type | Examples | Licence | Branches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online bank (banque en ligne) | Boursobank, Fortuneo, Hello bank! | Full ACPR licence in France | No | FR residents wanting low fees |
| Neobank | Revolut (LT), N26 (DE), Lydia, Nickel | EU e-money or banking licence | No (Nickel via tobacconists) | Travel, fast signup, expats |
| Traditional bank | BNP Paribas, SG, LCL, CCF | Full ACPR licence in France | Yes, branch network | Mortgage, branch advice, complex needs |
All three types deposit-protect you up to €100,000 via the FGDR (French banks) or equivalent national scheme (neobanks).
Why pick an online bank over a neobank?
Both are app-first, but the online bank gives you a real French IBAN (FR prefix), full ACPR oversight, French-language local customer service, and access to French savings products like the Livret A or PEL. Neobanks are best at travel and instant signup, but they fall short on French utilities, CAF, and most landlords still prefer FR IBANs.
Pros and cons of French online banking
Choosing an online bank over a traditional French bank can save you €200 to €350 per year in fees, but it is not the right fit for every situation. The honest balance below is what we tell our own friends moving to France.
Pros
- Free or near-free: card, account fees, SEPA transfers all included.
- Welcome bonuses up to €260 you keep after activation.
- Real FR IBAN for direct debits and CAF.
- Modern app, mobile-first onboarding.
- Same FGDR deposit guarantee as traditional banks.
Cons
- French only: app, website, customer service.
- Most require a French IBAN at signup.
- No physical branch (except Hello bank! and Monabanq for cheques).
- Mortgage approval is harder without a long banking relationship.
- Inactivity penalties on most plans (€5/month if you stop using the card).
How to open a French online bank account
Sign-up for a French online bank takes 15 minutes online for the form, plus 5 to 10 days for the postal delivery of your card and signed contract. The whole process is mobile-first: you upload your ID via a webcam capture, sign electronically, and receive your IBAN within 24 hours.
The French IBAN paradox
Fortuneo, Hello bank!, Monabanq and BforBank all want a French IBAN to fund the first deposit, even though you signed up to get a French IBAN. The two workarounds: open Boursobank first (it accepts EU IBANs), or open Nickel at any tobacconist (10 minutes, ID + €25, instant FR IBAN). Once your first French IBAN is live, you can open any of the other 4 online banks as a second account.
Documents you will need
- Valid ID: passport or EU national ID card.
- Proof of French address: utility bill, rent receipt or tax notice less than 3 months old.
- Proof of legal stay for non-EU citizens: visa or residence permit.
- French IBAN in your name (or EU IBAN for Boursobank only).
- Proof of income: 3 most recent payslips (only required for premium plans or above-28 customers at Hello bank!).
- French tax ID (numéro fiscal), if you already have one.
The 5 sign-up steps
- Pick the bank and plan, click "Open an account" on its website.
- Fill the personal details form (10 minutes).
- Upload your ID, address proof and IBAN; sign electronically.
- Make the initial deposit (typically €10 to €50) via SEPA transfer from your existing IBAN.
- Wait for your card and signed contract to arrive by post (5-10 days).
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a French online bank account without a French IBAN? ShowHide
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Can I switch from a traditional bank to an online bank for free? ShowHide
What happened to ING and Orange Bank in France? ShowHide
How we ranked these banks
We ranked the 5 French online banks against six weighted criteria: card price (8/10), conditions of access (6/10), welcome bonus (3/10), foreign-exchange charges (5/10), customer service score (4/10) and English support quality (2/10). Card price and conditions of access carry the most weight; bonuses are treated as a tie-breaker between similarly priced offers.
Sources used: official bank pricing schedules (brochure tarifaire), Banque de France 2025 retail-banking survey, public welcome-offer pages updated to May 2026. Prices change frequently; we refresh this page every 6 months and on every major rebrand or rate change.