A list of the top banks in France

Thinking of moving to France? It’s a beautiful place, with romantic views, gourmet food and handy location not far from the UK.

But before you start thinking about your first glass of French wine though, you may want to consider how you’ll manage your money while abroad.

Whether you’re going to study, live, or work there, you’ll need to know how French banking works. And more importantly, which French banks and accounts will best suit your needs.

Read on, as we’ve put together a guide to the top banks in France to help you make an informed decision.

Banking in France (an overview)

The French banking system is made up of around 266 banks (as of 2023), overseen by the central bank - the Banque De France.¹

The three main types of bank accounts you’ll be offered will probably sound familiar to you if you’re coming from the UK. These are:

• Current Account (compte courant) - a basic bank account for everyday use.
• General savings account (Livret) - a savings account that allows for easy money transfers.
• Long-term savings account (Compte à Terme or Compte d’Epargne Logement) - a savings account offering higher interest rates for those saving for a large purchase.²

In order to open your French bank account, you’ll need a few things to prove your identity. Firstly, and most obviously, your passport. You’ll also need proof of address, such as a utility bill or rental certificate. And if you’re an expat, you’ll need proof of residential status, such as your visa.²

The majority of the traditional banking offers you’ll encounter in France will come with a fee for using them. This includes high fees for sending money abroad, or for using your debit card in other countries.

If you need to manage your money internationally and want to save money, check out the Wise account instead.

Learn more about the Wise account

Top 10 banks in France

Here are our 10 picks for the banks with the best offers for incoming expats making their homes in France:

BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is the biggest bank in France, with over 200 years of experience in the industry.

They offer individual and joint checking accounts, as well as a range of savings options for personal, business, private and professional use. The most promising and popular of these is the Livret A savings account.

Societe Generale

Another of France’s oldest and most reputable financial organisations, Societe Generale offers the standard range of current and savings accounts with reasonably low fees.

It also has a variety of financial solutions for students and young people under the age of 29. So if you’re a student looking to study in France, then this might be a good option for you. Check out their offers here.

Credit Agricole

Credit Agricole is one of the largest retail banking groups in Europe and serves customers all across the world.

Its long list of bank card offers is impressive, with pretty much every base covered. For everyday banking, you can take your pick from the bank’s Essential, Premium and Prestige packages. Plus, they offer accounts specifically for under 25s and international accounts for users outside of France.

Banque Populaire

Part of the larger Groupe BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France, Banque Populaire focuses on retail banking, providing a range of products and services to individuals, small businesses and professionals.

Their offers come with a range of different cards and fees to fit your specific needs, as well as solutions adapted to the requirements of the customer, such as a range of products for young people.

Caisse d'Epargne

Another part of Groupe BPCE, Caisse d’Epargne is a very reputable banking group offering a range of financial products and services.

Their banking offers come in ‘Initial’, ‘Comfort’ and ‘Optimal’ packages, each with a different fee. However, the higher brackets tend to be on the pricier side of this list.

La Banque Postale

One of the newer options on this list, La Banque Postale was established in 2006 as a subsidiary of the French postal system, La Poste.

Alongside the standard selection of offers, they also provide a ‘simplicity account plan’ (Formule de Compte Simplicité) designed for customers with a poor credit history.

HSBC France

You’ve probably heard of HSBC, as it’s one of the largest financial banking organisations in the world. It has products ranging from everyday banking to private banking and wealth management.

Their French division, known as HSBC Hexagone, offers a variety of cards. They also give you the option of opening an international account that can be run in your home currency from anywhere in the world.

A good choice for expats wanting to simplify their financial transition, you can learn about HSBC France’s range of cards here.

LCL

LCL, or Le Credit Lyonnais, is a retail bank offering a range of financial products and services to individuals and business customers.

The most popular of these is the ‘Essentiel’ bank account. For €2 per month, this gets you an international card, a dedicated advisor and the LCL app.³

AXA Banque

AXA Banque is a subsidiary of AXA Group, one of the largest insurance companies in the world. The bank lets you choose from a wide variety of accounts, the most interesting of which is the Livret A savings account.

This account is tax-free, with a competitive interest rate and a low minimum balance.¹¹ The perfect option for expats looking to keep their money safe at their destination. Learn more about their offers here.

CIC

CIC (Credit Industriel et Commercial) is a retail bank that offers every kind of financial support you can imagine. Their site is full of advice to help anyone in any financial situation they may find themselves in, from opening an account as a entrepreneur to rearranging your finances after a divorce.

Its personal banking solutions offer “the essential daily products” in one package, and if you need further advice you can contact an advisor on their site for more help.

Best online bank accounts in France.

If you’re more interested in digital banking solutions, here are some of the most popular online banks in France:

• Boursorama - A digital banking solution, it’s well-known for its user-friendly online platform and competitive interest rates.
• Hello Bank! - A subsidiary of the aforementioned BNP Paribas, Hello Bank prides itself on offering a user-friendly, innovative, digital banking solution.
• N26 - Not strictly a French solution, but as one of the best digital banks in the world with full support in France, this one shouldn’t go overlooked.

Manage your money internationally? Check out the Wise account

If you want to send money internationally, or use your debit card when you travel, you could find it expensive with a French bank.

The good news is that there’s an attractive alternative – the Wise account. Cutting out the complexities of a bank, this allows you to send money worldwide for low fees* and a fair exchange rate, with no complicated markups to consider.

Plus, you can get an international debit card that supports 150+ countries, including France. This automatically converts your money to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate.

Join Wise today

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 28-Apr-2023