France has one of the most competitive online-banking markets in Europe — and that is great news for expats. Alongside the traditional branch giants, a crop of online banks (banques en ligne) offer genuinely free accounts with real French IBANs, a big deal in a country where landlords, employers and utilities often insist on an FR IBAN for direct debits (prélèvements).
This guide compares four of the most popular options among expats — BoursoBank, Fortuneo, BNP Paribas and Revolut. We present them as options with honest trade-offs, not a single "#1 best". Bonuses, fees and conditions change regularly, so always verify on the provider's official site before applying.
Quick comparison: bank accounts for expats in France
| Account | Monthly fee | French IBAN | Signup needs | Language | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BoursoBank (Welcome) | €0, no conditions | Yes | EU IBAN accepted | French only | Arriving expats, zero-fee banking |
| Fortuneo (Fosfo) | €0 (1 card payment/month; €3 otherwise) | Yes | French IBAN required | French only | Fee-free eurozone card use |
| BNP Paribas | Monthly fees apply | Yes | Branch or online onboarding | French (some English) | Branch banking & in-person help |
| Revolut (Standard) | €0 | No (LT IBAN) | Nothing — instant signup | English | First account on day one |
1. BoursoBank — the cheapest French bank, and the expat's friend
BoursoBank Welcome (Visa)
BoursoBank (rebranded from Boursorama in 2023) is owned by Société Générale, serves over 7 million customers, and has been awarded "cheapest French bank" by Le Monde Argent 16 years in a row. For expats, its standout trait is unique in France: it accepts EU IBANs at signup, so you can fund your first deposit from an account in your home country before you have a French IBAN of your own.
The Welcome plan is the most no-conditions free card in France in 2026: no income requirement, no minimum spending, no inactivity fee. You get a free Visa debit and a real FR IBAN with euro ATM withdrawals and card payments free in euros. The premium Ultim card is also free as long as you make at least one card payment per month (a monthly penalty applies if you skip a month — check the current tariff), and adds free payments in the eurozone.
The trade-offs: the app and support are French only (a browser translator becomes your friend), and outside the eurozone, card withdrawals carry a 1.69% commission. Welcome bonuses — up to around €130 — are real but conditional: typically a card payment within 30 days, with the largest bonuses requiring salary domiciliation.
2. Fortuneo — free card with no FX fee in the eurozone
Fortuneo Fosfo (Mastercard)
Fortuneo, owned by Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, is the only major French online bank offering no foreign-exchange fee on eurozone transactions on its free Fosfo Mastercard — handy if your life spans multiple euro countries. The card stays free as long as you make at least one card payment per month; skip a month and a €3 inactivity fee applies.
You get a real FR IBAN, free withdrawals anywhere in the EU, and access to a strong investment platform if you later want a PEA or life-insurance (assurance-vie) product. Welcome bonuses up to around €140 are advertised, conditional on activation criteria.
The catch for expats: Fortuneo requires a French IBAN at signup for the initial deposit — a chicken-and-egg problem if you've just landed. The practical workaround used by many expats: open Revolut or BoursoBank first (BoursoBank accepts EU IBANs), then open Fortuneo. The app is also French-only and less polished than BoursoBank's.
3. BNP Paribas — the branch bank for face-to-face banking
BNP Paribas current account
BNP Paribas is one of France's largest banks, with branches in virtually every town. Unlike the online banks above, it charges monthly account fees on most current accounts (bundled service packages are the norm in France — check the current tariff before signing). You pay for the privilege of walking into a branch.
What the fee buys: in-person help with mortgages, insurance, and complex admin; English-speaking advisers in many larger branches and international desks used to expat paperwork; and a full product range — savings (Livret A), credit cards, and investment products — under one roof. For expats buying property in France or wanting a banker they can sit across from, that still matters.
Onboarding can be done online or in-branch; expect the usual French paperwork (ID, proof of address, and often proof of income). If your French is limited, book appointments at larger city branches where English support is more likely.
4. Revolut — the instant account before you have a French IBAN
Revolut Standard
If you've just landed in France with only a foreign account, Revolut is the simplest first stop: ten-minute signup, an instant Lithuanian IBAN, and a fully English app while you sort out French paperwork. Currency exchange is free up to €1,000 per month on the Standard plan (1% fair-usage fee beyond that in the euro area), with roughly 1% weekend markup outside market hours.
The limitation in France is the IBAN: many French landlords, employers and administrations want an FR IBAN for direct debits. SEPA rules say a Lithuanian IBAN must be accepted, but "IBAN discrimination" persists in practice. The expat playbook: start on Revolut, then open BoursoBank (which accepts your Revolut IBAN at signup) to get your FR IBAN.
The expat's France banking sequence
- Day 1: Open Revolut (10 minutes, English, instant IBAN) for spending while you settle in.
- Week 1: Open BoursoBank Welcome using your EU/Revolut IBAN — free, no conditions, real FR IBAN.
- Later: Add Fortuneo Fosfo for fee-free eurozone card use and investing, or BNP Paribas if you want branches and a mortgage.
Practical tips for expats opening a French account
- Documents: passport/ID, proof of French address (utility bill or lease), and often proof of income or a tax notice. Online banks verify documents via the app; approval can take a few days to a couple of weeks.
- French-only apps: BoursoBank and Fortuneo operate in French. A browser translator and a basic banking vocabulary (virement = transfer, prélèvement = direct debit, RIB = account details) go a long way.
- Welcome bonuses: they're real but conditional — read the activation criteria (card payment within 30 days, minimum first deposit, sometimes EasyMove transfer of your direct debits) so you actually receive them.
- Droit au compte: if you're legally resident and every bank refuses you, France's "right to an account" procedure via the Banque de France can force a bank to open a basic account.