The Bank of France published the Observatoire des tarifs bancaires’ 14th annual report, reviewing retail banking fees as of 1 April 2025 across 103 institutions representing 99% of market share and now including N26, Nickel and Revolut. The report finds that prices for banking services increased with a lag after 2023, rising 3.1% between June 2024 and June 2025, while over June 2015 to June 2025 they rose 17.6%, below consumer price inflation of 20.8%. It also reports that pricing for the specific offer for customers in financial fragility (OCF) and the incident fees applied to OCF holders have stabilised at levels below regulatory ceilings. Ten of the 14 main banking services monitored recorded increases in 2025, led by account maintenance fees up 8.95% on average and international payment cards up about 2.9%, with 76 institutions charging the same price for immediate and deferred debit cards. The average first paid cash withdrawal outside a bank’s network reached EUR1, but average withdrawals per person (1.6 per month in 2024) remained below the free out-of-network withdrawals typically included in packages (2.76 on average in 2025). For OCF, 99 of 101 institutions charge no more than EUR12 per year, 57 levy no incident fees and 64 do not apply intervention commissions. On overdraft charging, practices were broadly stable versus 2023 among 95 institutions, although the average flat-rate minimum debit-interest charge fell 5.8% to EUR6.05. The Treasury Directorate General indicated that rules transposing Directive (EU) 2023/2225 on consumer credit will include such minimum charges in the annual percentage rate (TAEG) calculation. Only six institutions offer free stop payments on cheques or chequebooks, while 92 charge typically EUR10-20 per cheque and EUR15-30 per chequebook, and no institution now charges a renewal fee; in overseas France, gaps narrowed in Pacific collectivities but eight of 14 tariffs in euro-area overseas departments and collectivities remain above mainland levels.
Bank of France 2025-10-07
Bank of France reports 3.1% annual rise in banking service prices and stable low fees for financially fragile customers
The Bank of France's Observatoire des tarifs bancaires 14th annual report shows a 3.1% increase in retail banking fees from June 2024 to June 2025, with a 17.6% rise over the past decade, below the 20.8% consumer price inflation. Account maintenance fees rose by 8.95% on average, while international payment cards increased by 2.9%. Overdraft charging practices remained stable, and the Treasury Directorate General will include minimum charges in the annual percentage rate calculation under Directive (EU) 2023/2225.