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Digital banks in France
What you need to know about mobile banking in France, including how to find the right one for you.
Mobile banking puts your finances at your fingertips 24/7. There’s a host of challenger banks, digital-only banks and personal finance apps available now, designed to give you better, faster control of your cash.
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know so you can decide if digital banks are right for you.
What is digital banking?
Digital banking, also called mobile banking, is a way to control your money, usually through a smartphone app or web app. It allows you to log into your account anywhere with Internet access, giving you constant visibility of your money and helping you understand the best way to manage it.
Why should I use a digital bank account in France?
There are several advantages to mobile banking:
- Banking access in your pocket
- Many companies offer 24/7 access to banking support
- Instant spending notifications
- Many banking apps offer ways to automatically save money
Compare a range of digital banks in France
Updated March 15th, 2020
Updated March 15th, 2020
Updated March 15th, 2020
What you should know about mobile banking
Here are a few things that you may not know about using your mobile as your main point of contact with your bank:
Cash and cheques aren’t fully supported
In France, digital banks usually have limitations on how many ATM withdrawals you can make a month and do not offer cheque facilities.
You don’t need to be a French resident to apply
Most digital banks have limited eligibility criteria and do not require you to be a French resident to open an account. You also do not need to visit a branch to open an account; you can sign up on your smartphone in a few minutes.
Everything is managed on your smartphone
You will generally not get access to online banking on a computer with digital banks. Everything is handled on your smartphone.
Managing multiple currencies is easier
Digital banks tend to have better services in terms of foreign currency. Some let you hold multiple currencies in your account while others let you make international transfers faster and more cheaply than standard banks.
If you forget your pin or lose your card, most mobile banks won’t panic
A benefit of a digital bank is having full access to your account at all times. Lots of mobile banks allow temporary freezing of your account in the case of a lost card, so if you find it again it’s not as much hassle to get a replacement. If you forget your pin, the banking apps also tend to have access to a pin reminder after you complete a couple of security questions.
The fees can be higher
Some mobile banks charge higher monthly fees for premium accounts which offer features such as insurance, discounts and more. This means a higher cost at first which will negate your ongoing costs.
What digital banks are available in France?
There are a number of mobile banks available in France. These include:
- Revolut. Revolut is a global banking app that offers budgeting tools, international currency exchange, travel insurance, cryptocurrency facilities, virtual cards and more.
- N26. This is a digital bank account that lets you save and budget. Using N26 you can transfer money to other N26 users, use optional travel insurance and benefit from cashback.
- bunq. A bank account designed for global citizens, bunq offers up to 25 bank accounts with unique IBANs, savings and budgeting tools, money transfers through Transferwise and no foreign exchange fees.
- Monese. With Monese, you’re able to open a UK current account with no proof of address required. You can then receive real-time notifications and make ATM withdrawals and foreign currency transfers up to a certain limit.
How to get started with a digital bank
You can sign up with a French digital bank by downloading your chosen bank’s app onto your smartphone. You will need a few of your personal details to sign up, including your full name, date of birth, address and email address. You will need to confirm your identity and may need to deposit funds into your account to make it active. Then, your bank account will be created.
Read more on this topic
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Revolut ou N26 : Comparatif d'experts pour mieux choisir. N26 et Revolut proposent toutes les deux des solutions bancaires innovatrices et pratiques — mais laquelle convient le mieux à votre situation ? Consultez notre guide pour comparer les services, avantages et inconvénients de ces deux néobanques populaires.
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Revolut ou bunq : Comparer pour mieux choisir Nous comparons les néobanques Revolut et bunq pour vous aider à comprendre les similarités et les différences entre elles, et faciliter votre choix de nouvelle banque en ligne.
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Avis sur Hello bank! Les comptes bancaires Hello bank! vous proposent nombreuses fonctionnalités intéressantes, y compris un compte gratuit et sans justificatif de revenus, les paiements et retraits à l'étranger gratuit, et le dépôt de chèque et d'espèces.
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Avis sur Orange Bank Notre avis détaillé des comptes courants proposés par Orange Bank, y compris les avantages et inconvénients principaux. Plus, comparer à d'autres banques digitales et en ligne avant de faire votre choix.
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Avis sur Boursorama Banque en France Notre avis détaillé de Boursorama Banque – Tout ce qu'il faut savoir pour faire votre choix de banque digitale.
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Avis sur Wirex Notre avis détaillé de Wirex et sa nouvelle carte Visa Wirex, qui vous permet de régler vos achats en cryptomonnaie comme en devises traditionnelles.
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Notre avis sur la nouvelle néobanque néerlandaise bunq vous permet de créer plusieurs comptes bancaires et vous offre des virements concurrentiels via TransferWise. Voici ce que vous devez savoir à leur sujet avant de vous inscrire.
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Notre avis sur la banque digitale Revolut Ce que vous devez savoir sur Revolut en France avant de vous inscrire, y compris la sécurité, les frais et les fonctionnalités.
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Notre avis complet sur la néobanque Monese Monese vous donne un compte bancaire au Royaume-Uni, sans exiger d'attestation de résidence. C'est ce que vous devez savoir avant de vous inscrire en France.
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Notre avis sur la banque mobile N26 La N26 est populaire auprès des expatriés, des voyageurs et des professionnels. Nous passons en revue toutes les fonctionnalités et les coûts de la N26 en France, afin que vous puissiez voir si elle est approprié pour vous.