Travel Tips Travelling to the UK

Société Générale France pound sterling fees: exchange rates and bank charges

Soufiane Baba
Soufiane Baba
11.11.25
Read time 3 minutes

Here’s everything you need to know about Société Générale’s pricing for pound sterling transactions — payments, withdrawals, and transfers.

To benefit from fair exchange rates when travelling to the UK, use the Wise card. You’ll avoid hidden markups and save money on every purchase and withdrawal abroad.

Discover the Wise card

Société Générale bank fees for pound sterling withdrawals and payments

The fees Société Générale charges for payments and withdrawals in pounds come in addition to your card’s monthly subscription.
On top of this, the bank applies a markup on the exchange rate — Société Générale does not use the mid-market rate for euro-to-pound conversions.¹

When withdrawing cash, you may also face additional fees from the local bank operating the ATM — often not disclosed in advance.

Paying in pound sterling with Société Générale

Here are the fees applied to purchases in pounds from a Société Générale euro account:¹

Card typeAmount ≤ €10Amount > €10
CB Visa Infinite2%€1 + 2%
Other cards2.70%€1 + 2.7%

Pound sterling withdrawal fees with Société Générale

Here are the commissions for cash withdrawals:¹

  • CB Visa Infinite: €3 + 2%
  • Other cards: €3 + 2.7%

Société Générale pound sterling exchange rate

Société Générale uses Visa or Mastercard’s exchange rate for euro/GBP conversions.
These rates include a margin compared to the true market rate — meaning you effectively pay an indirect fee with each transaction.¹

With Wise, you always get the mid-market exchange rate — transparent and without hidden costs.

wise_debit_card

Sterling transfer fees at Société Générale

Transfer commissions vary depending on the amount, fee option chosen, and where the transaction is made.

If you make a transfer via the Société Générale app or website:¹

Amount“Share” Option“Our” Option
≤ €500€9€9 + €23
> €500€13€13 + €23

If the transfer is made in a branch:¹

Amount“Share” Option“Our” Option
≤ €500€13€13 + €23
> €5000.10% (min. €26, max. €70)0.10% (min. €26, max. €70) + €23

Incoming transfers are free if the amount is less than or equal to €150. Beyond that, you’ll pay €22.¹

Lowering pound sterling transaction fees: Société Générale’s International Option

The International Option starts from €2/month and offers a number of foreign currency withdrawals and payments with no extra charges.¹

You must be at least 16 years old and hold a Sobrio or Jazz package to subscribe.

Here’s an overview:¹

PackageMonthly costFee-free withdrawalsFee-free paymentsFee-free non-SEPA transfers
Initial€10/month2/month6/monthNone
Intense€17.50/monthUnlimitedUnlimitedNone
Unlimited€25/monthUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Student (under 30)€2/monthUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited

Discounts also apply depending on age and situation:¹

  • -20% if aged 25–29.
  • -30% with Sobrio/Jazz Duo.
  • -50% if aged 18–24.
  • -50% if aged 25–34 and with Banque Française Mutualiste.

Note: only one discount applies — the most advantageous one.

Traveler Option

The Traveler Option costs €28/month and exempts you from foreign transaction and withdrawal fees outside the eurozone.¹

You’re eligible if you hold one of the following cards: CB Visa, CB Mastercard, CB Visa Premier, CB Gold Mastercard, CB Visa Infinite, CB Visa Kapsul, or CB Visa Évolution (except Généris or Basic Banking Services).¹

Unlike the International Option, this plan doesn’t require a Sobrio or Jazz subscription — but Sobrio customers get a 20% discount.¹

💡 Did you know? Wise gives you local account details in 8+ currencies, including pound sterling!

Tips to reduce Société Générale pound sterling fees

Refuse dynamic currency conversion (DCC)

When making a withdrawal in the UK or paying in a shop, you may be asked: “Would you like to pay in euros or in pounds?”

Always choose pounds.
If you select euros, the conversion will be done by the merchant or ATM operator at a poor rate — costing you more overall.

Use a pound sterling card

You have two main options:

  1. Order an international multi-currency card from a provider like Wise.
  2. Open a local UK bank account.

A currency card supports multiple currencies and can be managed online.
A local bank account may offer better withdrawal rates thanks to local ATM networks, but opening one typically requires visiting a branch in person — and the card will only be useful in the UK.

💳 Want to pay like a local in the UK? Try the Wise card!

The Wise card: a better way to pay in pound sterling

With the Wise card, you can pay in pounds without commission if you already hold GBP in your account.
If you don’t, the conversion will use the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees.

You also get British pound sterling details, so you can receive GBP transfers for free — just like a local.

Wise also includes two free withdrawals per month (up to €200); beyond this, fees are just 1.75% + €0.50 per transaction.

Order your Wise card

Source:

  1. Société Générale Tariffs

Last verified on October 6, 2025.

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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