Updated October 2026. In France the choice splits in two. Licensed online banks like BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank!, and Monabanq give you a French IBAN and FGDR cover, and BoursoBank Welcome has been free with no condition since 27 February 2026. N26 (since 29 June 2023) and Revolut (since 2024) give new French customers a French IBAN, under their German and Lithuanian deposit schemes. Nickel sells a French IBAN in tabacs for €25 a year.
Key takeaways
- Licensed French online banks (BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank!, Monabanq) give a French IBAN and FGDR cover up to €100,000.
- BoursoBank Welcome is the only unconditionally free online account; Ultim, Fosfo and Hello One charge €3 to €9 a month if you skip the monthly card payment.
- N26 and Revolut give new customers a French (FR) IBAN; deposit cover stays under the German and Lithuanian schemes.
- Wise still uses a Belgian (BE) IBAN, must be declared on form 3916, and carries no deposit guarantee.
- Nickel is a compte sans banque at €25 a year, opened at a tabac in minutes, ring-fenced rather than FGDR-covered.
What is the difference between an online bank and a neobank?
An online bank is a fully licensed credit institution. In France that means a French IBAN, supervision by the ACPR, and FGDR deposit cover. A neobank is either a bank licensed in another EU country, such as N26 (Germany) or Revolut (Lithuania), or an e-money or payment institution such as Wise or Nickel, which safeguards funds instead of carrying deposit insurance.
French online banks still ask for more paperwork than neobanks. BoursoBank wants a French address and a first transfer from a French account in your name, and Hello One requires French tax residence, which rules out most people in their first year. Revolut opens with a foreign address, and Nickel needs only ID and a French mobile number. Support language differs too: Revolut, N26 and Wise work fully in English, while BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank! and Nickel are French-only.
Which are the best online banks and neobanks in France?
Our ranking favours a French IBAN and FGDR cover first, then onboarding speed and fee structure. Licensed French online banks lead, neobanks follow for travel and app-first users, and BoursoBank tops the list as France's largest online bank, with 8.8 million clients at the end of 2025. Prices are as of October 2026; confirm current fees on each site.
Customer sentiment reinforces this order. BoursoBank is the most positively rated online bank for a free account, a very complete app, and credit in a few clicks, with the caveat that customer service is now a chatbot and web form only. Fortuneo is close behind for its free Gold Mastercard and a phone line answered in 5 to 10 minutes. N26 is liked for a polished app, while Revolut wins on FX and multi-currency. Hello bank! is valued as a bank-and-app hybrid backed by the BNP Paribas network.
BoursoBank
France's largest online bank and a licensed credit institution, owned by Société Générale. The Welcome account and Visa card have been free with no usage or income condition since 27 February 2026; the Ultim card adds 0% FX fees if you pay with it once a month. Read our BoursoBank facts page for details.
Why we recommend it: A licensed French bank with a French IBAN, FGDR cover, and the only unconditionally free online account in France since February 2026.
Best for: Residents with a French address who want a full-service French IBAN account at €0.
Pros
- +Welcome account free with no condition since 27 February 2026
- +Ultim card: 0% FX fees and 3 free non-euro withdrawals a month
- +Full bank: overdraft, consumer credit, mortgage, PEA
- +Licensed French bank with a French IBAN and FGDR cover
Cons
- −Ultim costs €9 a month if you skip a card payment
- −Welcome card charges 1.69% outside the euro
- −Chatbot and web form only, no phone line
- −New clients can deposit only about €250 of cheques per 30 days
- Full French IBAN (FR) and bank details (RIB)
- Supervised by the ACPR
- Needs a French address and a first transfer from a French account
Fortuneo
A licensed French online bank of the Crédit Mutuel Arkéa group. The Fosfo Mastercard is free with one card payment a month (otherwise €3 a month), and the Gold Mastercard is free if you show €2,200 net monthly income, both with 0% FX fees on card payments.
Why we recommend it: Zero FX fees, a free Gold card with real insurance for salaried residents, and phone support answered in minutes.
Best for: Salaried residents who want a free Gold card with travel insurance and a phone line that answers.
Pros
- +0% FX fees on card payments worldwide
- +Free Gold Mastercard with insurance from €2,200 net income
- +Phone support answered in 5 to 10 minutes (forum reports)
- +Accepts US Persons, unlike most French online banks
Cons
- −Gold costs €12 a month if the income condition lapses (one source says €9)
- −Overdraft needs a paper file and is often capped at €500
- −No physical branches
- Full French IBAN (FR) and RIB
- Supervised by the ACPR
- Savings and brokerage in-app
Hello bank!
The online bank of BNP Paribas, a licensed institution with a French IBAN. Hello One is free with one card use a month (otherwise €6 a month) but requires French tax residence; Hello Prime adds a Visa Premier for €5 a month flat.
Why we recommend it: Backed by BNP Paribas, it pairs a French IBAN and FGDR cover with free withdrawals across the BNP Paribas ATM network.
Best for: Residents who already file French taxes and want free withdrawals at BNP Paribas ATMs.
Pros
- +Free withdrawals across the BNP Paribas ATM network
- +Visa Premier insurance for €5 a month with no income proof
- +Licensed French bank with a French IBAN and FGDR cover
Cons
- −Hello One requires French tax residence
- −2% FX fee on card payments outside the euro
- −French-only support
- Full French IBAN (FR) and RIB
- Supervised by the ACPR
- BNP Paribas infrastructure and ATMs
Monabanq
A licensed French online bank of the Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale group, known for service-led accounts with a French IBAN. Its Compte Rentabilis savings account pays a boosted 3.00% for 12 months (October 2026), and the current account costs €3 a month after the first year.
Why we recommend it: A licensed French bank with a French IBAN and FGDR cover, paired with the longest boosted savings rate among online banks.
Best for: Residents who want a French IBAN plus a 12-month boosted savings rate.
Pros
- +Licensed French bank with a French IBAN
- +Compte Rentabilis at 3.00% for 12 months, up to €150,000
- +FGDR deposit protection
Cons
- −Current account costs €3 a month after year one
- −Savings rate drops to about 1.70% after the boost
- −No physical branches
- Full French IBAN (FR) and RIB
- Supervised by the ACPR
- Customer-service focused packages
Nickel
A compte sans banque with a French IBAN that you open in about 10 minutes at one of roughly 7,000 tabacs or online, with ID and a French mobile number. Nickel Standard costs €25 a year (October 2026). It is a payment account, not a full bank.
Why we recommend it: Fastest path to a French IBAN for newcomers without a fixed address: ID and a French mobile number only, no Banque de France file check.
Best for: Newcomers without a fixed address who need a French IBAN fast, opened at a tabac.
Pros
- +French IBAN (FR76) accepted for salary and CAF
- +No proof of address, no income proof, no credit check
- +Opens in about 10 minutes at a tabac
Cons
- −Funds are ring-fenced, not FGDR-covered
- −Cash deposits cost 3%; card FX fee 2% plus €1
- −Accounts can freeze abruptly pending documents
- French IBAN (FR) and RIB
- Opened at partner tabacs or online
- No overdraft, credit, cheques or Livret A
N26
A licensed German bank with a polished mobile-first account. It has issued a French (FR) IBAN to every new French customer since 29 June 2023; older German IBANs move to FR by invitation only. The Standard plan is free, with a €10 fee for a physical card.
Why we recommend it: Polished English-language app, a French (FR) IBAN, and no fee on card payments in foreign currencies.
Best for: App-first users who want a French IBAN and an English-language app.
Pros
- +Free Standard plan, 0% fee on foreign-currency card payments
- +Full English app and support
- +French (FR) IBAN for new customers since 29 June 2023
Cons
- −Deposit protection sits under Germany's scheme, not the FGDR
- −Only 3 free euro-area withdrawals a month, then €2
- −No overdraft, cheques or cash deposits on Standard
- French (FR) IBAN since June 2023
- Paid plans: Smart €4.90, Go €9.90, Metal €16.90 a month
- Mobile-first onboarding
Revolut
A multi-currency neobank that gives new French sign-ups a French (FR) IBAN since 2024 and is migrating older Lithuanian IBANs through 2026. Onboarding is app-based and works with a foreign address, so you can open it before you arrive.
Why we recommend it: Best for travel and multi-currency spending, and the one account you can open before you arrive in France.
Best for: Newcomers still abroad, frequent travellers and multi-currency spenders.
Pros
- +Opens before arrival with a passport and foreign address
- +Competitive FX and multi-currency accounts
- +French (FR) IBAN for new sign-ups since 2024
Cons
- −Weekend FX markup of about 1% on the free plan
- −Free ATM allowance is €200 or 5 withdrawals a month
- −Lithuanian deposit scheme until its French entity takes over
- Full English app, support and contracts
- Multi-currency and FX tools
- Standard plan free; paid plans on top
What does a free online bank cost if you miss the usage condition?
BoursoBank Welcome is the only French online account that stays free with no condition at all, since 27 February 2026. The other "free" accounts are free only if you pay with the card at least once a month. Miss it and BoursoBank Ultim charges €9, Hello One €6 and Fortuneo Fosfo €3 for that month. A second account you only keep for travel is exactly the one that goes unused, so this is the fee people actually pay.
The table below shows the worst case: the monthly fee multiplied by 12 if the card sits in a drawer all year. It also shows the card FX fee, because the cheapest account at home is not the cheapest abroad: Welcome charges 1.69% outside the euro while Ultim, Fosfo and the Fortuneo Gold charge 0%. Every bank must publish a standard tariff extract (extrait standard des tarifs), so check the current grid before you open.
| Account | Condition to stay free | Fee if missed | Worst case per year | Card FX fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BoursoBank Welcome | None | €0 | €0 | 1.69% |
| BoursoBank Ultim | 1 card payment a month | €9 a month | €108 | 0% |
| Fortuneo Fosfo | 1 card payment a month | €3 a month | €36 | 0% |
| Fortuneo Gold Mastercard | 1 payment a month and €2,200 net monthly income | €12 a month | €144 | 0% |
| Hello One | 1 card use a month (French tax residence required) | €6 a month | €72 | 2% |
| Hello Prime | Flat fee | €5 a month | €60 | 2% |
| Nickel Standard | Flat fee | €25 a year | €25 | 2% plus €1 |
| N26 Standard | None | €0 | €10 once, for a physical card | 0% |
| Revolut Standard | None | €0 | €0, plus a card delivery fee | 0% on weekdays within plan limits |
Does the IBAN country matter for your account?
Refusing a euro IBAN from another SEPA country for salary or a direct debit is illegal under EU Regulation 260/2012 (article 9), and you can report it to the DGCCRF. It still happens: payroll software, letting agencies and some gyms and internet providers bounce foreign IBANs, and it is the most-reported practical problem for foreign-IBAN holders in France. N26 has issued a French (FR) IBAN to every new French customer since 29 June 2023, so the older forum threads about N26's German IBAN being refused are dated. Revolut gives new sign-ups a French IBAN since 2024 and is still migrating older Lithuanian ones.
Wise is now the main exception, with a Belgian (BE) IBAN and no deposit guarantee. An account held outside France, like Wise, must be declared every year on form 3916 with your income tax return, and its interest is not taxed at source, as the income tax guide explains. The table shows where each provider stands in October 2026.
| Provider | IBAN country | Licence | Deposit protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, LCL, Banque Populaire, Caisse d'Épargne, La Banque Postale, Crédit Mutuel | FR | French banks | FGDR, €100,000 |
| BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank!, Monabanq, BforBank | FR | French banks (online) | FGDR, €100,000 |
| Revolut | FR for new sign-ups since 2024; legacy LT being migrated | Revolut Bank UAB, moving to a French entity | Lithuanian scheme, €100,000; FGDR after migration |
| N26 | FR for all new customers since 29 June 2023; legacy DE by invitation | N26 Bank AG (German licence), Paris branch | German scheme, €100,000 |
| bunq | FR from the Core plan; NL on the Free plan | bunq B.V. (Dutch licence) | Dutch scheme, €100,000 |
| Trade Republic | FR (French branch since January 2025) | Trade Republic Bank GmbH (German licence) | German scheme via partner banks, €100,000 |
| Wise | BE | Wise Europe SA (Belgian e-money institution) | None: safeguarding only |
| Nickel | FR | Nickel SAS (French payment institution) | None: ring-fenced (cantonnement) |
| Sumeria (ex-Lydia) | FR | French e-money institution | Safeguarding at BNP Paribas |
| PCS, Transcash | FR | E-money institutions sold at tabacs | None: safeguarding only |
| Vivid | DE | Vivid Money GmbH with a partner bank | Partner-bank structure, not verified |
| Qonto, Shine, Finom, Indy (business) | FR | Payment or e-money institutions | Safeguarding only (Hello Business is FGDR-covered) |
Are your deposits protected at an online bank or neobank?
Deposits at a licensed French bank are protected by the FGDR up to €100,000 per depositor per bank, with a payout target of 7 business days. That covers BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank! and Monabanq. N26 and Revolut carry the same €100,000 ceiling under the German and Lithuanian schemes, and the FGDR's own note on neobanks confirms that Trade Republic cash sits under the German scheme, not the FGDR.
E-money and payment institutions are a different category. Wise, Nickel, PCS and Transcash are in no deposit scheme at all; they safeguard or ring-fence client money at a custodian bank, which protects it if the provider fails but does not pay out like the FGDR. All providers here are supervised in the EU: French institutions by the Banque de France and the ACPR, others by their home-country regulator.
Sources: ACPR, Banque de France, the FGDR, and provider terms, October 2026. Confirm current licence status and fees with each provider.
How do you choose between them?
BoursoBank Welcome is the default for a resident who wants a free French IBAN and FGDR cover, at €0 with no condition. A salaried resident who wants a card with insurance gets more from the Fortuneo Gold Mastercard, free above €2,200 net monthly income, than from Hello Prime at €60 a year. With no fixed address yet, open Nickel at a tabac; still abroad, open Revolut.
French forum regulars rarely pick just one. The standard setup is BoursoBank plus Fortuneo, one Visa and one Mastercard, so a card refused at a terminal or blocked abroad has a backup. If you trade or invest, check the brokerage details before you commit: BoursoBank's PEA has a €200 minimum order, which pushes small monthly investors towards Fortuneo, as our investing guide covers.
What people in France report
- ○ Fortuneo vs BoursoBank service: Finary members say Fortuneo answers the phone in 5 to 10 minutes but caps overdrafts around €500 after a paper file, while BoursoBank grants credit in a few clicks yet limits new clients to about €250 of cheques per 30 days. (community.finary.com, April 2025)
- + Holding both banks: MoneyVox members treat holding both BoursoBank and Fortuneo as the standard setup, one Visa and one Mastercard for travel backup, and confirm Fortuneo's World Elite card needs €4,000 a month in income, with savings no substitute. (MoneyVox forum, May 2026)
- − BoursoBank PEA minimum order: Long-term PEA holders describe moving from BoursoBank to Fortuneo because BoursoBank's €200 minimum order blocks small monthly investing, and because of repeated feature downgrades, a limit invisible on the marketing pages. (avenuedesinvestisseurs.fr, July 2026)
- − Foreign IBAN rejections: A 2026 N26 guide warns that some French landlords, administrations and operators still reject non-FR IBANs despite SEPA rules, and advises using providers that now issue French IBANs, such as N26, Revolut or Trade Republic. (bonusbanque.fr, June 2026)
Paraphrased from public posts, each dated and linked. A small sample, not a representative survey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an online bank and a neobank in France?
An online bank like BoursoBank or Fortuneo is a licensed French bank with a French IBAN and FGDR deposit protection. A neobank like N26 or Revolut is a foreign-licensed EU bank, protected under its home-country deposit scheme rather than the FGDR, though both now issue a French (FR) IBAN to new French customers.
Do online banks and neobanks give you a French IBAN?
Licensed French online banks (BoursoBank, Fortuneo, Hello bank!, Monabanq) and Nickel give you a French IBAN starting with FR. N26 has issued a French IBAN to every new French customer since 29 June 2023, and Revolut has done so for new sign-ups since 2024 while it migrates older Lithuanian IBANs. Wise still issues a Belgian (BE) IBAN.
Which French online bank is free with no conditions?
BoursoBank Welcome has been free with no usage or income condition since 27 February 2026. Fortuneo Fosfo and Hello One are free only if you use the card once a month, otherwise they cost €3 and €6 a month (October 2026).
Are neobanks safe and covered by deposit guarantee in France?
Licensed French banks are covered by the FGDR up to €100,000 per bank. N26 and Revolut are covered up to €100,000 by the German and Lithuanian schemes. E-money and payment institutions such as Wise and Nickel are not in any deposit scheme; they safeguard or ring-fence client funds instead.
Is Nickel really a bank account you can open at a tabac?
Nickel is a compte sans banque with a French IBAN, opened in about 10 minutes at a partner tabac or online with ID and a French mobile number, for €25 a year. It is a payment account rather than a full bank, accepted for salary and prélèvements where a French IBAN is required.
Which online bank is best for a foreigner moving to France?
Newcomers without a French address start with Nickel or Revolut, which open with no proof of address. Once you have an address, BoursoBank Welcome is free with no condition. Hello bank! requires French tax residence, so it suits people who have already filed in France.
Related Guides
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Entity References
Full factual profiles for each brand covered on this page: