Banking fees to rise in France

According to the Banque de France's Observatory of Banking Fees, banking fees in France are expected to increase by 2.7% in 2026. This figure, although moderate, highlights underlying economic complexity, including systemic pricing fragmentation that allows banks to maintain opacity despite legal obligations to display information.

Differences in pricing between institutions

The Observatory of Banking Fees indicates an average increase of 2.7% for 2026, but this average masks considerable differences between institutions and customer profiles. Traditional banks show stronger increases, while online banks generally offer lower rates.

Challenges in transparency

Although regulation requires institutions to communicate a standardized document listing all their fees and an annual summary of fees, these measures do not ensure effective transparency. Few customers consult these documents, which are often lost in a flow of banking information.

Overdraft penalties as a revenue source

Overdraft penalties represent an important source of revenue for banks. In addition to proportional fees based on the amount and duration of the overdraft, they impose fixed minimums that heavily penalize small overdrafts.

Frequency of overdrafts among French people

According to Panorabanques, 41% of French people find themselves in overdraft at least once a year, and 16% at least once a month. The average overdraft amounts to 229 euros, exposing these households to significant fees.

New rules for overdraft management

Starting November 20, 2026, institutions will have to check the repayment capacity of their customers before authorizing an overdraft, a measure that could paradoxically exclude some households from access to short-term credit.

Implementation of the CCD2 directive

The transposition of the CCD2 directive will take effect in France on November 20, 2026, prohibiting fixed minimum fees for overdrafts. This will eliminate a particularly punitive practice for small overdrafts.

European harmonization efforts

European harmonization aims to facilitate comparison between institutions and between countries. In France, the 2026 simplification law anticipates part of these requirements by imposing common definitions.

Customer tools for comparison

Faced with this structural opacity, several levers are available to customers. A public and free comparator allows evaluating the main fees between institutions, although its coverage remains partial.

Remaining challenges in banking transparency

The prohibition of fixed minimum overdraft fees is a step forward, but it does not resolve the fundamental question: how to make banking pricing truly comparable and understandable? The CCD2 directive lays the foundation for European harmonization, but its effectiveness will depend on its concrete implementation and the appropriation by customers of the tools available to them.