For around fifteen years, online banks have made free bank cards their trademark. But this does not necessarily mean that their customers do not pay any fees, since other products and services can add to the bill… However, it is easy to ensure this, establishments being required to provide an annual summary of fees to their clients.
Available with the account statement for the month of January, this document includes all of what was invoiced to the customer the previous year, for example the fee for a bank card, the costs of withdrawing cash from the ATM, those linked to transactions carried out abroad or payment incidents. Fees charged for investments are not included in this statement.
The “100% mobile fan” profile of the 2024 barometer of banking rates, established by Panorabanques for The world, manages to pay nothing during the year at BoursoBank and Fortuneo. A situation which clearly reflects the reality of these two establishments: 69.6% of Fortuneo customers and 59% of BoursoBank customers have not paid a cent of euros in 2022. It is therefore possible to benefit from the services of a bank, provided you remain vigilant.
It all starts with choosing the free offer from these establishments. Please note, most impose conditions on the use of the bank card: you must carry out at least one transaction per month at BoursoBank, Fortuneo and Hello Bank.
If you do not do so, fees ranging from 3 euros (Fortuneo, Hello Bank) to 9 euros (BoursoBank) are charged. “We recognize a right to make mistakes: the customer can request reimbursement of these inactivity fees directly online once a year”, however, indicates Benoit Grisoni, the general director of BoursoBank. Special mention to BforBank, whose free offer is not subject to any conditions.
Withdrawals abroad
The neobanks N26 and Revolut also do not provide conditions of use, but they charge delivery fees for the bank card, respectively 10 euros and 7.99 euros. “Our free account works with a virtual card allowing you to pay online or by mobile. Almost half of new customers of the standard offer do not request a physical card »however, specifies Jérémie Rosselli, general director of N26 for France and the Benelux.
Another potential source of fees to take into account, some establishments charge cash withdrawals at the ATM, a common practice in network banks which tends to develop in online establishments. Withdrawals in the euro zone, and therefore in France, are chargeable (1 euro) at Hello Bank with the free Hello One offer, unless the customer chooses an ATM from the BNP Paribas group.
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