Online bank comparison in France: which offer to choose?

Updated on 17 July 2026

The best online bank in France depends on your profile: BoursoBank and Monabanq stand out on low fees, Fortuneo and BforBank on premium cards, Hello bank! on access to the BNP Paribas branch network, and Revolut on multi-currency features. This article compares the offers of 6 online banks and neobanks to help you choose yours.

Key takeaways

• Online banks charge low or no fees on everyday transactions, but almost always require an initial deposit when the account is opened.
• Since 2023, 10% of French people have made an online bank their main bank, a figure that has doubled in 5 years according to Capgemini.
• Customer service at online banks, often overloaded at peak times, remains a weak point despite extended opening hours.
• Switching banks is free and takes 22 working days at most, thanks to the bank account switching service.
• Neobanks such as Revolut and N26 stick to everyday transactions and offer neither mortgages nor overdrafts, unlike full online banks.

If you also want to optimise your investments, see our comparisons of the best bank for a PEA, the best savings accounts, the ordinary securities account and the trade-off between Livret A and life insurance.

What is an online bank?

An online bank, or internet bank, is a credit institution that offers its services entirely online. In practice, online banks do everything a “traditional” bank does (they hold the same legal status of credit institution), with one difference: they have no physical branches. Like their high-street counterparts, they let customers open a bank account, track their transactions, take out a loan or subscribe to insurance, all 100% online.

The advantages of an online bank

Branchless as they are, online banks have several notable characteristics. From low fees to welcome offers, here is what sets this new generation of banks apart.

Far lower fees

First, the fees charged by online banks are far lower than those of traditional banking institutions. The vast majority of online banks charge nothing, or very little, for everyday transactions such as transfers and direct debits. Account maintenance fees are also often zero. On top of these favourable terms, many banks compete on perks such as a free bank card or welcome bonuses.

A full range of banking services, 100% online

An online bank is also very practical for anyone who wants to centralise all their banking on a single interface. With an online bank you can easily track your accounts, invest in the stock market, and even take out a loan in a few taps from your smartphone, 24/7. No more trips to a branch: thanks to their considerable flexibility, online banks give you simple, self-directed management of your day-to-day finances, from opening the account to the most complex transactions.

Personalised service

While they have no physical branches, most online banks do have a qualified customer service team with advisers reachable by chat, by email and also by phone over long opening hours. Often backed by large French banks, some online banks even let you access certain services in a branch.

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What are the drawbacks of an online bank?

Online banks have three main drawbacks: customer service that is sometimes overloaded, free services conditional on usage thresholds, and transactions such as depositing cheques or cash that are more awkward than in a branch.

Customer service is often overloaded

This is a direct consequence of the very low fees online banks charge. While they do compete on long customer-service hours and a choice of contact channels, the absence of physical branches and the small headcount can quickly lead to overloaded customer service. At an online bank, the wait to reach an adviser can therefore vary, fairly unpredictably, from a few minutes to several hours.

Free services come with conditions

At an online bank, many products and services are free only subject to specific usage minimums. There is no cause for alarm, though: free bank cards, even premium ones, generally require one or two transactions a month, while free account openings often call for a deposit of a few hundred euros.

Some transactions are more awkward

Given the absence of physical branches, some transactions can be slightly slower or more involved with an online bank. That is notably the case for depositing cheques and paying cash into an account. Note, however, that sending your money by post is no longer necessarily required: more and more online banks now offer fully digital services, which greatly reduces the constraints.

How long does it take to open an account?

The time to activate an online account ranges from a few days to a few weeks, while your supporting documents are checked. Unlike opening an account in a branch, this is almost never instant, even though the electronic signature has shortened it considerably in recent years. Note that the bank card usually arrives later.

Do you need to make a deposit to open an account?

As with traditional banks, a deposit is often mandatory to open an online account. The amount varies quite a lot from one bank to another: it can range from a few tens of euros to several thousand euros for the most “premium” offers.

How to choose your online bank

To choose your online bank well, we recommend paying particular attention to several criteria:

• How usable the platform is: the point of an online bank is fast access to your accounts and easier transactions, so the quality of the interface is essential.
• The range of products and services offered: look at both the bank-card line-up and, depending on your needs, the savings, investment, insurance and credit solutions.
• Fees: compare account maintenance fees, transfer and withdrawal fees (in France but also abroad), bank card fees and the fees attached to exceptional situations (lost card, overdraft, and so on).

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Online banks and neobanks compared

Now that you have everything you need to understand online banks, here is our comparison of the main offers on the market.

Monabanq

A subsidiary of the group Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, Monabanq was voted “Customer Service of the Year” 2026. It offers several card packages with no income requirement, plus a full range of banking and savings products. Monabanq gives its customers access to the CIC / Crédit Mutuel branch network so they can deposit cheques and cash.

Its offer:

BoursoBank (formerly Boursorama Banque)

A subsidiary of Société Générale, BoursoBank (the new name of Boursorama Banque) claims more than 8 million customers and is regularly named among the cheapest banks on the market. It offers 3 bank cards with low fees, plus a broad range of competitive savings and investment products.

Fortuneo

A 100% subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, Fortuneo offers a broad choice of low-fee banking products and a well-designed mobile app. It remains the only online bank to offer two card networks, Mastercard and American Express. Fortuneo still does not offer a business account.

Hello bank!

A 100% subsidiary of BNP Paribas, Hello bank! sits halfway between an online bank and a high-street bank thanks to the BNP Paribas branch network. Its mobile app gives access to a range of cards, savings products and credit. Customer-service waiting times remain a known weak point.

BforBank

A subsidiary of Crédit Agricole, BforBank stopped selling its Visa Classic, Premier and Infinite cards in 2023 (kept only for existing customers) in favour of two new cards with no income requirement. BforBank still does not offer a business account.

Revolut

Although Revolut is a neobank rather than an online bank in the strict sense (see the question “What is the difference between an online bank and a neobank?” below), its popularity and the breadth of its offer justify its place in this comparison. Founded in 2015, Revolut operates in France under a Lithuanian banking licence (Revolut Bank UAB) through its French branch supervised by the ACPR; an application for a French banking licence has been under way since July 2025.

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Our verdict: which online bank should you choose?

There is no single “best” online bank: BoursoBank and Monabanq suit people looking for low fees, Fortuneo and BforBank those who want premium cards, and Hello bank! those who want to keep access to physical branches. For multi-currency use and frequent travel, Revolut remains a relevant option, although it works as a neobank rather than a traditional online bank. Compare the offers that best match your actual usage (cards, savings, switching) before deciding, using each bank's official fee schedule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an online bank and a neobank?

An online bank holds a full banking licence and offers credit, savings and insurance like a traditional bank, online only. A neobank such as Revolut (covered above in this comparison, from €0 to €60/month depending on the plan) or N26 (free to €16.90/month) sticks to everyday transactions and does not offer mortgages directly.

How do you switch online bank?

Thanks to the bank account switching service, transferring between two banks is free and automated: the new bank contacts the old one, which passes on transfers, direct debits and account details. The legal maximum is 22 working days.

Is an online bank as safe as a traditional bank?

Yes: online banks such as BoursoBank, Fortuneo and Monabanq hold the same credit-institution licence as traditional banks and are supervised by the ACPR. Deposits are protected up to 100,000 euros by the Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution, as at any French bank.

Can you have several online banks at the same time?

Yes, nothing stops you opening accounts at several online banks, for example to collect several welcome bonuses or to spread cards and services across your needs. Watch out, though, for account maintenance fees tied to a usage minimum, which can apply if an account stays inactive.

What documents do you need to open an account with an online bank?

Most online banks ask for a valid ID document, proof of address less than 3 months old and a first deposit. Some, such as Fortuneo, accept a simplified opening with a video selfie from the mobile app, with no paper documents to send.

Sources

Capgemini & IN BANQUE, Les Français et leur banque, 2023

Service-public.fr, bank account switching service

Monabanq, offers and pricing

BoursoBank, overview and pricing

Fortuneo, special offers

Hello bank!, Hello Prime offer

BforBank, bank account

N26, pricing

Comparabanques.fr, N26 vs Revolut comparison

Milesopedia, Revolut subscription price increase, July 2026

MoneyVox, Revolut Kids & Teens

Clubic, Revolut Business

Yahoo Finance, Revolut ends commodities in the EU

Wise, Revolut's regulatory status