Fortuneo is also a good free online bank. Even the credit cards are free as long as you use them once a month.
At that price per month @Farthing? They’re having a laugh. Even by French banking standards.
I am wondering if you have a similar deal to Shiba without being aware of it - eg a more expensive card with some limit increases, insurance benefits etc.
I think UK banks use “free” banking as a sprat to catch a mackerel - they make their money back on overdraft fees and by selling you insurance etc.
If you are always in credit and never need the other services then yes UK banks are cheaper. And banking in the USA is more expensive than Europe.
It turns out it includes my Protection Juridique (4.50 pm), but also a ‘Gold’ Mastercard at a premium fee for which I’m not sure I get any useful benefit.
The bank never mentioned an ordinary card at less than half the price. So yes, if not laughing at me its certainly poor banking conduct…
ha ha - they never caught a mackerel with me. I only use my fee free UK bank for small online purchases…
I currently use a membership/payment card that is linked to one of our bank accounts that is from a third party, not our bank. Subsequentially we do not keep, or pay for, a C/B from the bank. It has cost me nothing in the last two years and gives me, amongst other things, many discounts on events, hotels, resto’s etc. full travel insurance, including repatriation, and medical téléconsultations. Clearing of the payments is made monthly, like a credit card, and is taken from the nominated bank account without any further charges.
I, and maybe many others, would like to know of a card or scheme that provides full travel insurance and repatriation for absolutely no cost whatsoever…
Do share
Interesting pray tell us more
I have to presume that Google search is not working.
I have the “Ultimate” card, which I see is now chargeable, but the “Explorer” is still free.
https://all.accor.com/loyalty-program/payment-cards/index.fr.shtml
For the first year and then chargeable.
If by ‘free’ you mean limited promotions, then yes, I guess you could flit between cards offering such, but I doubt anyone offers a totally free card with insurances.
But I have one and for two years now.
Except you said yourself that the Accor Ultimate card is “now chargeable” -and it’s €34 a month! And their basic “Explorer” card is not free - it’s €13.50 a month after the first year.
https://all.accor.com/loyalty-program/payment-cards/ultimate/index.fr.shtml
Exactly my experience with La Banque postale, David. I don’t understand why people cary on banking with Britline - their charges are crazy, and their Xchange rates/charges via their ‘partner’ company are also poor.
Surely that’s easy to answer.
Their charges are pretty much in line with comparable institutions; you can use another fintech to do your forex; and the knowledge that you can speak to an Anglophone when things go wrong is well worth a couple of euros a month.
Personally, Porridge, I use La Banque P for my routine standing orders, for a chequebook, and for the ease of a face-to-face visit if I ever want it - I don’t live in Normandy.
Then for everything else, including my Visa debit card, I use Wise - totally online, ultra-easy to use, accounts in both £sterling and €uro. Instant switch between the two.
As for Britline costs, they are not ‘in line with other comparable instititutions’, as you put it. Here’s a link of their complex charges - it’s 7 pages long, so Good Luck! - Britline
As for having to pay €24 a year for the privilege of ‘speaking to someone when things go wrong’ - they should be paying you in this situation!!
I am not sure of your point.
“And their basic “Explorer” card is not free - it’s €13.50 a month after the first year…” and read another way “And their basic “Explorer” card is free - for the first year.” So does that not make it a free card? My Ultimate card is still free, certainly until the end of next Dec, unless they waive the fee…again, for the third time. It is chargeable to new applicants, those that were late to the very well advertised party.

It is chargeable to new applicants,
OK - but since we were looking for a solution to the OP’s question, who wants to find a fee-free card now, the fact that you were grandfathered in on a special deal some years ago which is not available to new applicants, makes it something of a moot point. “Free for 12 months” is not “free for the foreseeable future”.

Here’s a link of their complex charges - it’s 7 pages long, so Good Luck! - Britline
I’d say that was clear and easily comprehensible.

“Free for 12 months” is not “free for the foreseeable future”.
It is exactly that, the foreseeable future is 12 months.