The main French banks are announcing price increases on bank services and cards for 2025. An increase which is part of the increase in banking fees observed in 2024.
The prices of the services of the main French banks are expected to continue to increase in 2025, confirming an upward trend in prices.
Over the period 2023/2024, according to the report from the 2024 Banking Rates Observatory, there was a “controlled increase in banking rates”.
According to the OTB, out of 14 main services offered by financial institutions, seven have seen their prices increase significantly. The main increases concern account maintenance fees and payment card rates. The other half of the services show stable or decreasing prices.
An increase lower than inflation in the long term, but higher in 2023/2024
Prices therefore increased by 3% between June 2023 and June 2024, compared to 2.2% for general inflation.
However, in the long term the increase remains below inflation. Thus from June 2022 to June 2024 the increase in inflation was 6.8% and the increase in prices of banking services was 2.9%. Over 10 years, the increase in inflation is 20% and that of banking services is 15.1%.
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Price increase for 2025 at BNP, La Banque Postale and CIC
In 2025, this trend of increasing prices seems to continue. BNP Paribas, La Banque Postale and CIC have unveiled their price schedules for 2025, confirming an increase in prices for the coming year.
Le Journal du Net analyzed the differences. At BNP Paribas, the services that will increase are as follows: transfers made over the counter will increase by 50 cents (+14.29%) to reach 4 euros. Bank cards are also increasing, with the Visa Electron going from 42 to 43.50 euros (+3.57%), the Visa Classic from 48 to 49.50 euros (+3.12%), the Visa Premier from 140 at 144 euros (+2.86%), and the Visa Infinite from 337 to 347 euros (+2.97%). BNP Paribas believes that the increase in banking rates remains “moderate” compared to inflation, and explains that it is trying to limit its rate changes.
On the CIC side, still according to the Net newspaper, the SMS alert package increases by 6.25% (from 1.60 euros per month it increases to 1.70 euros euros per month). Account maintenance fees increase from 2.10 euros to 2.20 euros (+4.76%). The bank check reaches 15 euros (increase of one euro). Bank cards are also experiencing increases, with an increase between 0.73% for Visa Premier and Gold Mastercard to 2.17% for Visa Classic and Mastercard Standard. Bundled offers are also seeing their prices evolve (+6.37% for the overall personal contract).
Contacted by BFM Business, the CIC explained that its prices for 2025 will increase by 1.3%: “This is a level lower than the inflation forecast for 2025 which will be 1.5% according to the Banque de France” according to the bank.
+166.67% for NPAI mail return costs
According to an analysis by Moneyvox, the 11 million customers of La Banque Postale will also be affected by increases, with the prize of the price increase for NPAI return costs (“does not live at the address indicated” ) which increase by 166.67% to 20 euros. Contacted by BFM Business, La Banque Postale justifies this increase because it had not increased the price in 10 years and that it “concerns very few customers in volume. Account maintenance fees increase by 11.76% to pass at 22.80 euros per year The intervention commission sees its daily ceiling increase by 6% to 8 euros, the regulatory ceiling specifies the organization.
For La Banque Postale, these increases are explained by “an alignment with market prices”, in particular for NPAI return costs which are “on average 22 euros”.
Freebies to be expected in 2025
Some good news to come though. First of all, instant transfers should be free throughout Europe from January 8, 2025. In fact, a European regulation requires them to be aligned with the price of traditional transfers.
In addition, cash withdrawals from cash service ATMs will become free. Cash Services is the new brand of the Automate Services offer, resulting from the partnership between the 3 banking groups: BNP Paribas, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and Société Générale.
A sharp drop in prices for populations in financially fragile situations
Furthermore, in the report of the Observatory of Banking Rates 2024, a major trend emerges: that of the sharp drop in the rates of the specific offer intended for populations in situations of financial fragility (OCF), as well as the fees of incidents applied to customers holding this offer.
For example, the CIC, when contacted, recalls going “beyond its legal obligations” via various measures aimed at a vulnerable public. For example, it offers a package of one euro per month for vulnerable customers, but also the elimination of inheritance banking fees for the middle classes, or even a 0% student solidarity loan and a free banking package for associations.
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