The short answer for expats
ExpatMoneyEU verdict: BNP Paribas wins for most expats — bigger international network, more English-speaking staff in expat-heavy cities, and stronger international services. Société Générale wins if you want its online-bank ecosystem (BoursoBank, free) or you live near an SG branch. Open a neobank first; upgrade to one of these once your French paperwork exists.
BNP Paribas and Société Générale are France's two largest banking groups, and both run branch networks across the country. For an expat, the choice is not about which is “bigger” — it is about which one lets you bank in English, accepts your documents without a fight, and charges a fair package fee for what you actually use. This guide compares them on the criteria that matter to newcomers, not to French natives.
One honest note first: neither bank is the fastest first account in France. Both usually require a French address and residence documentation, and both onboard mainly in French. The smart order is a neobank (Revolut for a French IBAN, or N26) in week one, then BNP or SG once your titre de séjour and address exist. The comparison below assumes you are at that second stage.
Key fact: Deposits at French banks are protected up to €100,000 by the French deposit guarantee fund (FGDR) — the same €100,000 protection that covers accounts at BNP Paribas, Société Générale and their online brands.
→ Best Bank Accounts in France for Expats — October 2026 Guide
Expert-Score comparison: BNP Paribas vs Société Générale
| Criteria | BNP Paribas | Société Générale |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly package fee | €5–€20 typical (Esprit Libre) | €5–€20 typical (Sobrio) |
| French IBAN | Yes | Yes |
| English support | Better in expat-heavy cities | Thinner outside major cities |
| Branch network | ~1,700 branches in France | ~1,500 branches in France |
| Online bank brand | Hello bank! (free card offers) | BoursoBank (France's largest online bank) |
| International network | Stronger (65+ countries) | Strong in Europe and Africa |
| Expat onboarding | More international desks | Branch-dependent |
| Expert Score | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 |
Branch counts and package fees are approximate and change over time — verify the current price list at your local branch before opening an account. Scores are editorial, never ranked by commission.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links below may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you — see our affiliate disclosure.
Ready to open an account? These are our top picks for this corridor — free to open, no monthly fee on the standard plans:
Open Wise Account →Open Revolut Account →Open N26 Account →→ Best Bank Account for Filipinos in France — October 2026 Guide
1. BNP Paribas — the international pick
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is France's largest bank and the most international of the two: a presence in more than 65 countries, international desks in major French cities, and services built for clients who live across borders. For expats, the practical advantages are English-speaking advisers in Paris, Lyon, Nice and other expat-heavy cities, and international account services that smaller French banks do not offer.
The Esprit Libre package bundles the current account, a card, insurance and services for a monthly fee that typically lands in the €5–€20 range depending on the card tier (illustrative range — verify the live price list). BNP also runs Hello bank!, its online brand, which suits expats who want a French IBAN with lower fees and mostly digital service.
Limits to know: onboarding still usually requires a French address and residence documentation, branch English varies sharply outside major cities, and international wires from BNP cost far more than a Wise transfer — keep Wise beside the account for transfers.
→ Best Bank Account for Turks in France — October 2026 Guide
2. Société Générale — the ecosystem pick
Société Générale
Société Générale is France's third-largest bank by assets and the group behind two of the best digital brands in the country: BoursoBank, France's largest online bank with 6.3 million customers in 2024, and Shine, the digital bank for freelancers. For expats, the SG ecosystem is the argument: open an SG branch account for in-person service, then add BoursoBank free for everyday digital banking, or Shine if you freelance.
The Sobrio package bundles account, card and services in the same €5–€20 typical range as BNP (illustrative — verify live prices). SG's branch network is slightly smaller than BNP's, and English support is thinner outside major cities, so check your local branch's English capacity before committing.
Limits to know: same onboarding friction as BNP (French address and residence documents), and SG's own app and online experience lag BoursoBank's — most digital-first expats end up using BoursoBank day to day and SG only for branch services.
→ Best Bank Account for Filipinos in Italy — October 2026 Guide
Fees side by side: what you actually pay
Traditional French banks charge for the package, not just the account: the monthly fee usually bundles the card, account maintenance, and insurance options. The honest comparison is the total yearly cost of the package you would actually use. A basic card package at either bank typically runs €60–€240 per year (illustrative range from the €5–€20 monthly band) — versus €0 at BoursoBank, Hello bank!, N26 or Revolut. That gap is why most expats keep a free digital account alongside, or instead of, a branch account.
Watch for the extras that move the total: fees for non-eurozone card payments, fees for paper statements, and charges for overdraft facilities. Both banks publish full price lists (brochures tarifaires) — read the one for your package before signing, and re-check it every January when banks revise prices.
→ Best Bank Account for Nigerians in Italy — October 2026 Guide
Scenario framework: which bank fits you?
- Newly arrived expat. Neither yet — open Revolut (French IBAN) or N26 in week one, then upgrade to BNP or SG once your French address and residence permit exist.
- Professional in Paris, Lyon or Nice. BNP Paribas — more English-speaking advisers, stronger international services, and a branch near your office.
- Digital-first expat. BoursoBank (SG group) free for everyday banking, with an SG branch account only if you need in-person service.
- Freelancer / auto-entrepreneur. Shine (SG group) for a French IBAN plus invoicing, with Wise beside it for international transfers.
The pattern: one branch bank for the services only a branch provides, one free digital account for everyday money, and Wise for transfers. Three accounts sounds like a lot — in practice it is one app for daily life and one branch relationship for everything else.
→ Best Bank Accounts in France for Expats — October 2026 Guide
How we compared: the methodology
How we compared
Fees and features checked: provider price lists plus the October 2026 expat banking comparison tables. Criteria and weights: monthly cost (25%), French IBAN + easy onboarding (20%), English-language support (15%), international services (20%), branch and digital access (10%), banking licence and deposit protection (10%). Scores are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — not financial advice. Any worked fee examples on this page are illustrative figures showing our comparison method; always verify current fees with the provider before opening an account.
→ Best Bank Account for Filipinos in France — October 2026 Guide
Practical tips: opening a French branch account
- Documents: passport, titre de séjour, French address proof (rental contract or utility bill), and sometimes proof of income — bring originals plus copies to the branch appointment.
- Book an appointment: French branch banks work by rendez-vous — book online or by phone, and ask in advance whether an English-speaking adviser is available.
- RIB immediately: ask for your RIB at the appointment — employers and landlords need it before your first salary or rent payment.
- Read the brochure tarifaire: the full price list for your package — check the card tier, non-eurozone fees and overdraft terms before signing.
→ Best Bank Account for Turks in France — October 2026 Guide
What changes in 2027
French banks typically publish revised price lists in January — re-check your package fee each new year rather than assuming nothing changed. Both groups keep shifting everyday banking to their apps and online brands (Hello bank! and BoursoBank), and SEPA instant transfers are now standard across the eurozone. None of this is a reason to wait: open the free digital account now, and add the branch account when your paperwork is ready.
→ Best Bank Accounts in France for Expats — October 2026 Guide
Ready to open an account? These are our top picks for this corridor — free to open, no monthly fee on the standard plans:
Open Wise Account →Open Revolut Account →Open N26 Account →