By What you need to know
Three main families
- Traditional banks for in-branch service and full product range.
- Online banks for free cards and lower fees (French IBAN required).
- Neobanks for app-only banking with no residency proof.
Pick for your situation
- New arrival, no French IBAN yet → start with a neobank (Revolut, N26, Bunq).
- Need English customer service → CCF (formerly HSBC France retail) or a neobank.
- Long-term resident → an online bank (Boursobank, Fortuneo) for low fees.
Quick picks: open with our partner banks
Apply directly with one of the banks our team partners with. Some links on this section are sponsored.
How many banks are there in France?
France has 40 active retail banks open to private customers, split between traditional networks, online banks, neobanks and mutualistes. Four banking groups — BNPP, Crédit Agricole, BPCE (Banque Populaire + Caisse d'Épargne) and Société Générale — own more than 80% of the retail market.
HSBC France no longer exists
HSBC sold its French retail arm in 2024. The branches were rebranded as CCF (Crédit Commercial de France). CCF is now the main option for expats who want a traditional bank with some English support.
Cheapest banks for expats in France
The cheapest French current accounts cost €0/month — but they all share the same catch: you already need a French IBAN to open one. For new arrivals, that creates a chicken-and-egg problem with only one real workaround.
French banks ask for a French IBAN to open your first French account
Boursobank, Fortuneo, Hello Bank!, Monabanq, BforBank — every French online bank asks for an existing French IBAN/RIB as part of the signup form. If you have just landed in France with only a foreign account, that requirement makes no sense — you cannot get a French IBAN without first opening a French account.
Only Revolut lets you open an account online from France without a French IBAN. You simply need to be geolocated in France and provide a French address. Once your Revolut account is active, you can use its IBAN to open any cheaper French online bank afterwards.
| Bank & offer | Monthly cost | French IBAN at signup | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
Revolut StandardBest for new arrivals
Free plan, online sign-up
|
€0
|
✗Not required |
ID + geolocated in France + French address. Lithuanian IBAN, accepted SEPA-wide.
|
N26 Standard
Free plan, German licence
|
€0
|
✗Not required |
ID + EU residency. German IBAN, fully accepted in France.
|
Boursobank Welcome
Free card on conditions
|
€0
|
✓Required |
French IBAN + 1 card payment per month (otherwise €5/month).
|
Fortuneo Fosfo
No income required
|
€0
|
✓Required |
French IBAN + 1 card payment per month, no income required.
|
Hello Bank! Hello One
Income from €1,000/mo
|
€0
|
✓Required |
French IBAN + €1,000/month minimum net income.
|
BforBank Visa Classic
Income from €1,200/mo
|
€0
|
✓Required |
French IBAN + €1,200/month minimum net income.
|
Nickel Standard
In person, no IBAN needed
|
€2.08/month
€25/year |
⚡Issued on the spot |
ID + visit any tobacconist in France. French IBAN delivered immediately.
|
Monabanq Pratiq+
No income condition
|
€3/month
|
✓Required |
French IBAN, no income required, no minimum deposit.
|
Bunq Easy Bank
Dutch IBAN
|
€3.99/month
|
✗Not required |
ID + EU address. Dutch IBAN, accepted in France.
|
Sorted by monthly cost. Pricing as of April 2026 — check each bank's terms before applying.
Choosing a French bank: the criteria that matter
Every bank has its own strengths, so a single "best bank" does not exist. Compare on the four points below — the right bank for you is the one that scores best on the criteria that match your situation.
Income and deposit requirements
Most online banks ask for a minimum monthly income (typically €1,000 to €1,800) or a minimum deposit at sign-up (€50 to €300). Neobanks like Revolut, N26 and Nickel waive both. Traditional banks ask for proof of income but rarely set a strict floor. Check the conditions before applying — banks can refuse without justification.
Card fees and free-card conditions
A "free card" usually means free under conditions: typically one card payment per month minimum, otherwise a €3 to €5 monthly fee applies. Read the small print, especially for online banks. See our guide on free bank cards in France.
Services and products
Some neobanks do not offer cheque books, mortgage loans or savings accounts (Livret A, LDDS). Traditional and online banks usually do. Ask yourself: do I need a chequebook, a home loan, life insurance? Pick a bank that covers your needs.
Welcome offers
Most online banks pay €80 to €160 when you open an account. Monabanq runs a long-running €240 offer, paid in monthly instalments. Welcome offers are nice-to-haves — never the main reason to pick a bank.
List of traditional banks in France
Traditional banks operate physical branches across France and offer the full product range — current account, savings (Livret A, LDDS, PEL), home loans, life insurance and investment services. They are the default choice for long-term residents, French homeowners and anyone who values in-person advice.
Axa Banque
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas International
Banque Populaire
CCF
CIC
Crédit Agricole
Crédit Coopératif
LCL
Société Générale
Source: Selectra Banking API — refreshed daily. Trustpilot scores are updated periodically.
BNP Paribas
Founded in 1822, BNP Paribas is France's largest bank and the second-largest in Europe by market cap. It serves around 30 million customers worldwide and runs a dedicated BNP Paribas International branch for expats moving to France.
Société Générale
Created in 1864, Société Générale operates in 67 countries. It owns Boursobank (the leading French online bank). In 2023 it merged its Crédit du Nord network into the SG brand, closing around 600 branches.
LCL
A subsidiary of Crédit Agricole since 2003, LCL focuses on urban customers with around 1,500 branches in city centres. It has launched several digital tools and offers student-friendly accounts.
CIC
Founded in 1859, CIC is the oldest deposit bank in France. It is owned by the Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale group and runs around 1,800 agencies under five regional brands.
Banque Populaire
Banque Populaire is a federation of 12 regional banks under the BPCE group (which also owns Caisse d'Épargne). Pricing and offers vary from one region to another.
CCF (formerly HSBC France)
CCF is the rebranded retail arm of HSBC France, sold to My Money Group in 2024. It kept around 240 branches and most of HSBC's English-speaking advisers, making it a relevant option for expats who want a traditional bank with some English service.
Crédit Coopératif
Part of the BPCE group, Crédit Coopératif specialises in ethical and cooperative finance. It funds NGOs, social enterprises and cooperatives. A relevant choice if you want your deposits to support the social economy.
BNP Paribas International
A specialised BNP Paribas branch dedicated to expats. You can open the account before arriving in France, set up everything in English and get a Visa card mailed to your French address once you land. Particularly useful for non-EU citizens with a long-stay visa.
Axa Banque
The banking arm of insurer AXA. Smaller branch network — most operations are handled by phone or via AXA insurance agents. Strongest if you already have AXA insurance products.
Crédit Agricole
A mutualiste rather than a strictly traditional bank, Crédit Agricole was founded in 1894 for farmers and is now France's largest retail banking group, with around 39 regional Caisses and ~28 million customers. Each Caisse sets its own pricing and welcome offers.
List of online banks in France
An online bank operates without physical branches — everything happens via the website or a mobile app. Most are subsidiaries of traditional banks (Boursobank → SG, Hello Bank → BNP Paribas, BforBank → Crédit Agricole, Monabanq → Crédit Mutuel). They charge less than traditional banks but require a French IBAN in your name to open an account.
French online banks need a French IBAN
If you have just moved to France and do not yet have a French bank account, you cannot open an online bank as your first account. Start with a neobank (Revolut, N26, Bunq) or a traditional bank, then switch later.
BforBank
Boursobank
Fortuneo
Hello bank!
Monabanq
Source: Selectra Banking API — refreshed daily.
Boursobank
Formerly Boursorama Banque (rebranded in 2023), Boursobank is France's largest online bank with more than 6 million customers. Its Welcome offer is free with no income requirement (one card payment per month). Backed by Société Générale.
Fortuneo
Founded in 2006, Fortuneo is owned by Crédit Mutuel Arkéa. It offers free Visa cards (Classic, Gold and Premier) under income conditions (€1,200/month for Gold, €1,800/month for Premier) and a strong stock-market brokerage platform.
Hello Bank!
BNP Paribas's online bank. Hello Bank! customers keep access to the BNP branch network for cash deposits and cheque drop-offs, which is rare among online banks.
Monabanq
Owned by Crédit Mutuel, Monabanq is the only online bank with no income requirement. Its monthly fee starts at €3, which is more than free competitors but still below traditional banks. Generous welcome offers — typically up to €240 spread over 12 months.
BforBank
Crédit Agricole's online bank, founded in 2009. Initially focused on wealth management, it has since opened to a wider audience with a free current account on conditions.
ING Direct (closed)
ING closed its retail bank in France in 2022, transferring its 1 million customers to Boursobank. ING is no longer available to French residents.
List of neobanks available in France
Neobanks are app-only banks, often holding a banking licence in another EU country. The big advantage for expats: no French IBAN required, no proof of residency, no minimum income. Sign-up takes a few minutes with just an ID document. The trade-off is fewer products — usually no chequebook, no mortgage and limited overdraft.
Green-Got
N26
Nickel
Revolut
Sumeria
Tide
Trade Republic
bunq
helios
Source: Selectra Banking API — refreshed daily.
Revolut
Founded in London in 2015, Revolut now holds a Lithuanian banking licence. It offers multi-currency accounts (more than 30 currencies), free international transfers within plan limits, fee-free spending abroad up to a monthly cap, and crypto trading. The free Standard plan is enough for most expats; paid plans add insurance and higher limits.
N26
N26 is a Berlin-based neobank, founded in 2013, with a German banking licence. The free Standard account comes with a virtual Mastercard; paid plans (You, Metal) bundle travel insurance, free withdrawals abroad and a metal card. The German IBAN is fully accepted in France for salary payments and bills.
Bunq
Bunq is a Dutch neobank with a full EU banking licence. It is one of the few neobanks providing genuine multi-currency sub-accounts and a Dutch IBAN. Plans run from €3.99 to €18.99/month. Notable for environmental commitments — Bunq plants a tree for every €100 spent on its Easy Green card.
Nickel
Owned by BNP Paribas, Nickel is the most accessible French account: open it in 5 minutes at any tobacconist (bureau de tabac) for €25/year, with no income or residency requirements. No overdraft, no chequebook, but a French IBAN and a Mastercard included. A solid first account for new arrivals.
Trade Republic
A German neobroker that recently launched a current account with a 3% interest rate (2026). Strong if you also want stock and ETF investments alongside daily banking.
Helios & Green-Got
Two French neobanks focused on sustainable finance — your deposits fund only environmentally vetted projects (no fossil fuels). Both are paid (€6 to €9/month). A relevant choice if ethical banking is a priority.
Banks for minors
For under-18s, dedicated kids' neobanks add parental controls and pocket-money tools. The main option in France is Pixpay — a parent app, a debit card and limited spending controls. Boursobank's Kador account targets the same audience.
List of business and pro banks in France
If you are setting up an auto-entrepreneur, a SAS or an SARL in France, you can open a dedicated pro account at most banks above (BNP Pro, SG Pro, Boursobank Pro, Hello Bank Pro), or use a pro-only neobank. Pro neobanks tend to be cheapest for freelancers, with online accounting integrations.
Boursobank Pro
Finom
Hello bank pro
Indy
LCL Pro
N26 Business
Propulse by CA
Qonto
Revolut Business
Revolut Pro
SG Pro
Shine
Vivid
bunq business
Source: Selectra Banking API — refreshed daily.
Best French bank by profile
The best bank depends on your status — student, worker, freelancer or under-18. Below is what Selectra recommends for each profile.
Best banks for students
Students usually want a free account with no income requirement and a basic Visa or Mastercard. Boursobank's Welcome account, Monabanq (€3/month, no income required) and Nickel all work well. Traditional banks (LCL, BNP, Société Générale) also offer dedicated student packages — useful if you want a chequebook and in-branch advice. See our full guide on student bank accounts in France.
Best banks for employees
If you earn at least €1,200/month net, online banks are the cheapest option. Boursobank Welcome and Fortuneo Gold give you a free card and waive most fees. For Premier or Visa Infinite cards, expect a €1,800 to €4,000/month income requirement.
Best banks for auto-entrepreneurs and freelancers
Freelancers need a separate pro account once their turnover exceeds €10,000/year for two consecutive years. Shine, Qonto, Indy and Propulse by CA are the cheapest options, with online accounting integrations. Boursobank Pro and Hello Bank Pro bundle a Visa Premier card.
Best banks for non-residents
If you do not yet live in France or cannot prove a French address, neobanks are usually the only option: Revolut, N26, Bunq and Wise all open accounts with just an ID. Among traditional banks, BNP Paribas International takes applications from abroad. See our dedicated page on opening a non-resident account in France.