Banking

France — Banking: Online Banks

Neobanks and online banks now serve roughly 25% of French people (2026). BoursoBank (formerly Boursorama, Société Générale group) leads with over 7 million customers, offering a French IBAN and a full banking suite (credit, regulated savings, stock trading). Revolut (40M+ global customers) offers a free tier with unlimited SEPA transfers and fee-free FX up to €1,000/month, and launched Revolut Bank France in 2026 offering a French IBAN on Premium+ tiers. N26's Standard tier is free, with Smart/You/Metal tiers adding insurance and cashback. A key practical distinction: BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank!, and Monabanq issue French (FR) IBANs, while Revolut, N26, and bunq typically issue foreign (LT/DE/NL) IBANs, which some French employers, CAF, tax authorities, and landlords still resist accepting.

Expatica / French fintech industry comparisons (Crassula, Freenance) · Last verified 2026-07-20

Key Facts

  • Neobanks/online banks serve ~25% of French people as of 2026.
  • BoursoBank: market leader, 7M+ customers, French IBAN, full banking suite.
  • Revolut: free Standard tier, unlimited SEPA transfers, fee-free FX up to €1,000/month; new Revolut Bank France (2026) offers FR IBAN on Premium+ tiers.
  • Non-FR IBANs (Revolut, N26, bunq) are sometimes rejected by French employers, CAF, tax authorities, or landlords — a real practical friction point.

Costs

  • Revolut FX allowance before fees: €1,000/month fee-free

Common Mistakes

  • Choosing a neobank with a non-French IBAN without checking first whether an employer, landlord, or CAF will accept it — this can cause payment friction.
  • Assuming all neobanks are equally 'full-service' — BoursoBank offers credit and investing, while pure fintechs like Revolut/N26 have narrower product ranges in France.

Related Topics

opening-accountbest-banks
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