Choosing a bank involves balancing recurring fees, services actually used, and a savings capacity suited to one’s situation. The French banking market distinguishes three categories of institutions with very different pricing logics: traditional banks with branches, online banks linked to a physical network, and neobanks accessible only via mobile. Understanding what separates these models in terms of actual costs, and not just the displayed rates, helps avoid paying for unused services.
Banking Fees: An Increase Faster Than Inflation
Comparisons freeze prices at a given moment. They do not show how an institution evolves its rates over time. According to the 2026 report from the Banking Tariff Observatory, banking fees increased by about 2.7% between 2025 and 2026, while general inflation during the same period was around 0.9%.
This discrepancy has a direct consequence: a competitive offer at the time of subscription can become more expensive than the competition in two or three years. The most affected items are usually account maintenance fees, credit card fees, and commissions on foreign transactions.
To identify institutions that regularly implement increases, there are platforms that centralize the historical pricing of banks and allow for long-term comparisons. You can learn more about Take The Capital, which offers this type of comparative analysis between institutions.
Traditional Bank, Online Bank, or Neobank: How the Pricing Model Changes Things
The distinction is not limited to “with or without a branch.” Each model relies on a different revenue structure, which determines what the customer pays and when.
Traditional Bank with a Network of Branches
The cost of the physical network is reflected in monthly fees and transaction costs. In return, these institutions offer services that other models do not cover: cash and check deposits at the counter, face-to-face wealth management, and dedicated support for home loans.
A customer who regularly deposits cash has no viable online alternative. This criterion alone can justify staying within a traditional network, despite higher fees elsewhere.
Online Bank Linked to a Banking Group
BoursoBank, Fortuneo, or Hello Bank operate with reduced operating costs due to the absence of branches. They often offer free credit cards subject to income or balance conditions. A common trap: the conditions for obtaining the free card change, and falling below the income threshold triggers a monthly charge that is rarely anticipated.
Mobile Neobanks
Nickel, Revolut, or N26 target simplified daily use. Neobanks generally do not offer checkbooks or home loans. Their appeal lies in the speed of account opening and managing payments abroad, with exchange fees often lower than those of traditional banks.
Banking Inheritance Fees: A Cost Often Ignored in Bank Choice
Banking choice guides focus on everyday fees. They almost systematically overlook an item that can weigh heavily: the fees charged by the bank upon the account holder’s death.
Since November 13, 2025, a decree regulates these fees. They are now limited to 1% of the total amount of accounts and savings products, with a cap set at 857 euros as of January 1, 2026. This cap is revised annually based on inflation.
Exemptions apply in several specific cases:
- Simple succession without particular legal complexity (one heir, no disputes)
- Account holder is a minor at the time of death
- Total balance of accounts and savings products below a threshold of around 5,900 euros
Before this decree, some institutions charged several hundred euros in fixed fees, regardless of the amount at stake. Comparing banks on this item is relevant for modest estates, where these fees represented a disproportionate share of the transmitted balance.
Concrete Criteria Grid for Comparing Banking Offers
Rather than a list of features, here are the real friction points that generate costs or blockages after subscription:
- Annual account maintenance fees and their historical evolution over three years, not just the current rate
- Conditions for free credit cards (income threshold, number of monthly transactions, minimum balance)
- Pricing for payment incidents (intervention fee, notification letter for bounced checks), capped by regulation but varying from one institution to another
- Access to home loans or loan renegotiation, a service absent at most neobanks
- Account closure fees and actual transfer time via the banking mobility service
The banking mobility service, regulated by the Macron law, requires the new bank to handle the transfer of recurring direct debits and transfers. In practice, the announced 22 business day timeframe is not always respected, and some organizations (insurance, administrations) take longer to update contact details.
Multibanking: Combining Two Institutions to Reduce Fees
Using two banks in parallel sometimes allows you to combine the advantages of each model without suffering their respective limitations. A traditional bank account for home loans and cash deposits, coupled with a free online bank card for everyday expenses, reduces the overall bill while maintaining access to physical services.
Multibanking is only worthwhile if the second account is genuinely free. Checking for the absence of inactivity fees on the second account is the first thing to verify. Several online banks charge for an unused account after a few months.
The choice of a bank rarely hinges on a single criterion. A low rate today does not guarantee anything for the following years, and cost items like inheritance fees remain invisible unless actively sought. Cross-referencing historical pricing, services actually used, and exit fees provides a more reliable picture than a one-off comparison.