The best banks in the UK 2023

Do you need to join a bank to get the best budget support? It's time to choose the bank that meets your needs, in other words, the one that can adapt to your lifestyle. Find the best bank with our comparative guide on the subject.

Société Générale 1
8/10

Best value for money

Société Générale

The best bank in 2021

A true pillar of the French banking sector, Société Générale offers a wide range of advantageous services for individuals and professionals. For its 6 types of cards and products, there are no income requirements.

See the offer
Boursorama Bank 2
8/10

Best value for money

Boursorama Bank

The best entry-level bank

Ranked the cheapest bank in 2019, Boursorama offers many services: payments and withdrawals in the UK or abroad, free bank cards... As a bonus, you will get €80 when you open your account.

See the offer

At Boursorama Banque, all new customers will be entitled to a bonus of €80, offered for the first account opening. The offers are available in 3 formulas. The Ultim offer is available without income conditions and gives the right to a free bank card. Abroad , withdraw money from distributors, without any fees. Access Boursorama online services on your cell phone.

The Kador offer comes with a free Visa Classic card. International payments are also free. It is possible to control the use of the card: blocking the contactless payment option, tracking expenses... With the Welcome package, you have a free Visa Classic card. Among the many advantages, we find the possibility of carrying out various banking operations free of charge: online transfer in euros in the SEPA zone, withdrawal, payment by bank card abroad, bank cheque...

BNP Paribas 3
9/10

Best premium bank

BNP Paribas

The best high-end bank

By joining the 2000 BNP Paribas branches, you will benefit from the best traditional banking services. You will be able to open a current account, savings, loans and various investments.

See the offer

When you open an account with BNP Paribas, you will have access to a checking account, a checkbook, an online account management tool and a bank card. In this regard, BNP Paribas cards come in 5 categories: Visa, Classic, Plus, Electron and Infinite. The fees related to the use of these cards will be between 38 and 340 euros.

The activities related to your account can be done from the online platform or directly in the branch. In either case, the bank distinguishes itself by a good quality of service. Then, it puts forward some savings books, adapted to all the needs: Livret A, Livret A Baby, Holiday savings, BNP savings, Innovation savings, young people's savings book, sustainable development and solidarity savings book, popular savings book.

N26 4
8/10

Convenient neobank

N26

The neobank that has an answer for everything

Here is the neobank adapted to all profiles and which has answers to all questions. N26 is constantly developing its financial products and its reputation through interesting offers at low prices.

See the offer

N26 is a French 100% mobile bank, with guaranteed paperless services and no hidden fees. This institution allows you to manage your money in real time from your smartphone Note that you can start making mobile payments as soon as you open your bank account. The mobile interface that N26 offers has received many positive reviews for its smoothness and simplicity. The account is opened without any income requirements.

The rates for current operations are very competitive, with relatively cheap international transfer possibilities. For travelers, payments and withdrawals are easy in the euro zone and outside the euro zone. Thanks to the application on your smartphone, you will have a permanent follow-up of your account situation thanks to the regular notifications of update according to your operations.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best bank

Any specific needs?

The best bank in 2021

The best entry-level bank

The best high-end bank

The neobank that has an answer for everything

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best banks

TOP OF THE LINE CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Société Générale 5
8/10
Boursorama Bank 6
8/10
BNP Paribas 7
9/10
N26 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
Société Générale
Boursorama Bank
BNP Paribas
N26
A true pillar of the French banking sector, Société Générale offers a wide range of advantageous services for individuals and professionals. For its 6 types of cards and products, there are no income requirements.
Ranked the cheapest bank in 2019, Boursorama offers many services: payments and withdrawals in the UK or abroad, free bank cards... As a bonus, you will get €80 when you open your account.
By joining the 2000 BNP Paribas branches, you will benefit from the best traditional banking services. You will be able to open a current account, savings, loans and various investments.
Here is the neobank adapted to all profiles and which has answers to all questions. N26 is constantly developing its financial products and its reputation through interesting offers at low prices.
Customer service
Welcome offer
Up to 130 euros
80 euros offered
1 year free
No
Bank cards
6
4
5
3
Mobile app
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mobile payment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

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How to choose your bank

Given the proliferation of the banking industry, the following criteria should be considered when choosing the best bank to support you in your various financial activities.

#1 - Your profile

It is never too early or too late to open a bank account. But before taking this important step related to your budget management, first define your profile in the field, because the bank you are going to join depends on it: student, professional, asset holder or frequent traveler, to each profile corresponds a bank that offers appropriate offers.

#2 - Your projects

Then, determine your needs and projects so that you have the right guidelines in the search for your bank: current management, savings or credit? Current account, joint account or business account? Support by a rough financial assistance or more autonomous management? Standard or personalized services? The possibilities are vast, the decision is yours.

#3 - Services offered

After developing your "banking self-definition," begin the information gathering about the multiple banks you know: what are the basic services, additional services, payment tools available, savings procedures, credit approaches, as well as all the devices that keep you in constant contact with the bank. Find the services that are closest to your needs, while taking into account their fees.

#4 - The scope of the banking network

Proximity is a more appreciable criterion in the choice of a bank: you will struggle to move yourself if you opt for a bank whose branch is miles away from your area. Also, make sure that the geographical scope of the bank you choose is wide: in case you have to travel, you will be obliged to cash in all the cash you need if the bank does not cover your destination.

#5 - Interest

Being a member of a bank is an alternative that should make your budget management easier. Later on, your loyalty to your bank can give you the opportunity to improve your living conditions through various forms of credit or optimized service interest rates. So, take the time to study the opportunities that the bank is able to offer you before choosing.

The main roles of the bank

To better assist you in managing your budget, the bank sets up many services that you can use.

The main role of the bank lies in the management of the means of payment: these allow its customers to access their account by means of optimized tools. The bank is constantly innovating its means of payment to ensure secure transactions for its customers. Depending on the rules in force in each state, payment methods are admissible everywhere for the same bank.

For each customer profile, the bank grants well analyzed credits beforehand, provided that they do not contribute to a remarkable deficit. For this purpose, numerous studies are carried out in order to define the type of project to be financed, the profitability of the project that will lead to the regulatory repayment of the credit. A guarantee agreement must be signed between the client and the bank.

The bank allows its customers to save on their accounts, while taking into account the standards in force dictated by the State. Life insurance is one of the products most adopted by French customers. The bank accompanies its faithful in the trips that meet the savings, especially the questions of taxation.

Depending on the type of bank and the profile of the customer, the forms of assistance are still very broad because each customer requires a different approach in the management of his account.

The different types of banks

Before you decide on the best bank for you, find out which of these different types suits your lifestyle.

Traditional banking

As the name suggests, this type of bank has the highest percentage of customers so far. The traditional bank works by the classic system of opening a bank account with service packs and card included. In a traditional bank, you can contact your advisor at any time in the branch for regular monitoring of your transactions or resolution of other problems related to your account.

Online banking

This

innovative system is being implemented in the banking sector and is gaining momentum on the interest of the French. It is simply about managing your bank account on the Internet, with almost the same routines as the traditional bank but without a branch. Online banking is distinguished by its free access and its relatively cheaper fees. Here, everything is done online, including customer support. The online bank also proposes interesting offers such as real estate credit, consumer credit, various insurances, etc.

Mobile banking

Mobile banking, even more modern, operates without a banking license unlike online

banking.

This ingenious method allows you to access all your banking services through mobile applications on your smartphone. Opening an account on mobile banking is free. The mobile bank, convenient but stricter, does not allow overdraft as the traditional bank. You have a bank card for your current operations upstream.

Bank or mutual fund?

Bank

By definition, a bank is a private institution that, under government authorization, provides banking services to the general public. The bank takes in deposits from its customers at low rates and then exchanges them for loans to debtors at high rates, thereby earning profits for the shareholders who run it. To further develop its market, the bank carefully studies the needs of its target audience and deploys various offers that facilitate the daily life of its customers, especially in terms of credit.

Mutual fund

A mutual caisse is a non-profit cooperative that is managed by its members. It mainly encourages savings in order to allow members to benefit from each other at practically low rates. The caisse concept evolved more significantly in the 19th century. The caisse does not offer as many products and services as the banks, but its interest rates are more interesting.

Verdict

If you're not sure whether to join a bank or a credit union, consider the long-term benefits. With a bank, you will be able to develop your projects quickly and enjoy the profitability of your business, even if its fees are higher than those of a caisse.

Tips

Lighten your banking offer

As a member of a bank, you have probably subscribed to an offer that you feel is appropriate for your needs. Sometimes you may not need certain services included in your package, but you are still paying for them. Know that you can pay for the services you need on a per-service basis, so you can save some money.

Stay within your overdraft

As much as possible,

avoid exceeding your overdraft limit, this will avoid a multitude of additional fees that will surprise you by their cost: intervention commission, mail fees, check or direct debit rejection, etc. Anti-overdraft applications are available to offer you regular monitoring.

Optimize your withdrawals

As the

number of free withdrawals is limited, favor contactless payment as long as the environment allows it. Currently, you can also withdraw your change in cash from some cashiers. This will allow you to have some cash on you, free of charge!

Expand your subscription

You

joined a bank in the hope that it would cover all or part of your transactions. However, it turns out that for some transactions, other specialized organizations offer less expensive fees than your bank. Don't hesitate to expand your network according to your needs.

Be vigilant

Attention

, the code of your bank card is strictly confidential. The bank still applies penalties to the card owner in case of negligence. So, keep your means of payment in a secure place and in case of theft, loss or fraudulent use, react immediately by filing a stop payment.

FAQ

What is the best bank?

The best bank depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buyer's guide to find the best products out there today.

How to close a bank account?

You

must send a closing letter to your bank if you want to close your account. In principle, closing an account is free, unless you have a debit balance.

What is the exact purpose of the account maintenance fees?

Account maintenance fees are deducted by the bank from the current account of its customers to cover its management: they are made known to the customer at the time of subscription

.

What to do if the bank card is refused by the ATM?

Contact

your advisor directly: either the ATM has a chronic malfunction, or your card has expired and you need to get a new one from the branch

.

How long does it take to cash a check?

After

endorsing a check, there is a 1-year time limit on cashing it

.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. The best banks, lesfurets.com
  2. Ranking of the best French banks in 2020, bankifox.com
  3. Ranking of French banks in 2020, culturebanque.com
  4. Criteria to choose your bank BoursedesCrédits, boursedescredits.com
  5. Caisse or bank: what's the difference?, caissealliance.com
  6. Banking: six tips to save money, notretemps.com
  7. What's the point of banking?, lafinancepourtous.com
  8. Best banks : Find the best bank for your profile, lesfurets.com
  9. Best banks in 2020 : our top 10, reassurez-moi.com
  10. Banking : the functions and definition of banking, wikimemoires.com
  11. La Banque Postale : bank and citizen - La Banque Postale, labanquepostale.fr
  12. Banque Populaire : Success is in you - Bank and ..., banquepopulaire.fr
  13. Banking comparison site | Bank accounts comparison - lesfurets, lesfurets.com
  14. BNP Paribas | My online banking, mabanque.bnpparibas
  15. Société Générale - Banking and Insurance, particuliers.societegenerale.fr
  16. Banking & Insurance - Crédit Agricole, credit-agricole.fr
  17. Banking and Insurance | Individuals | Caisse d'Epargne, caisse-epargne.fr
  18. Carrefour Banque : Credit, Savings, Insurance, Credit Cards ..., carrefour-banque.fr
  19. Banking - Wikipedia, fr.wikipedia.org
  20. Orange Bank - So simple, so mobile, orangebank.fr
  21. InG bank: 0€ for everyday operations, ing.fr
  22. HSBC Individuals France: Online banking and services ..., hsbc.fr
  23. Online banking account | Online account - AXA Bank, axa.fr
  24. BforBank online, the bank according to me, bforbank.com
  25. Home - Banque Chabrières, banque-chabrieres.fr
  26. Individuals - NetSBE, netsbe.fr
  27. You want to become a customer Chaabi Bank, chaabibank.fr
  28. Individuals | Bank of Tahiti, banque-tahiti.pf
  29. Banking definition: what is a bank? Ooreka, banque.ooreka.fr
  30. Bank comparison : Comparison of fees and services ..., panorabanques.com
  31. Crédit Mutuel, creditmutuel.fr
  32. Boursorama Banque - The bank we want to recommend., boursorama-banque.com
  33. bpost banque | Soyons claires, bpostbanque.be
  34. Solutions bancaires aux particuliers | Banque Nationale, bnc.ca
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Société Générale 9
Société Générale
Boursorama Bank 10
Boursorama Bank
BNP Paribas 11
BNP Paribas
N26 12
N26

Lecteurs

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