Visa exchange rates: what are they and how can you benefit from them when paying from France?
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Banque Postale withdrawal abroad from France: what are the fees?
Are you a La Banque Postale customer planning to travel abroad? Instead of visiting a currency exchange bureau once you arrive, you can use your bank card to make withdrawals and payments directly.
However, with La Banque Postale, international withdrawals can involve several fees. Between fixed and variable charges — applied on transactions or currency conversions — it can be difficult to keep track.
In this article, we’ll go through La Banque Postale’s international fee schedule and suggest a practical alternative to help you avoid unnecessary costs: the Wise card, which lets you withdraw cash at a low cost in most countries around the world.
Before you go
To avoid any issues when abroad, take a few simple steps before you travel:
- Check that you have an international Visa or Mastercard. Without one, you won’t be able to withdraw cash or make payments abroad. Both networks are accepted in most countries.
- Verify your card’s expiry date. If it’s due to expire soon, request a new card before departure.
- Inform your bank about your trip to prevent transactions from being blocked by the anti-fraud service.
- Review your international withdrawal and payment limits, and adjust them if needed.
- Keep your card cancellation number in a separate place from your wallet for safety.
How much do international withdrawals and payments cost with La Banque Postale?
International ATM withdrawal fees
| Transaction type | At ATMs (outside La Banque Postale) | At other banks’ branches |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal in foreign currency¹ | €3.30 + 2.30% | €6 + 2.30% |
International card payment fees
| Transaction type | Fees |
|---|---|
| Payment in foreign currency¹ | * Visa Platinum and Visa Infinite cards: 1.15% * Other cards: 2.30% * Youth Account Package: free |
Payments in foreign currencies are converted at the rate applied by Visa on the day of the transaction, and additional fees may apply.¹
How to reduce La Banque Postale’s international withdrawal fees
If you’re not careful, bank fees can quickly add up when you withdraw money abroad. Here are a few ways to keep them under control.
Use your own bank’s network when possible
Whenever possible, withdraw money from La Banque Postale ATMs. As mentioned earlier, withdrawals from other banks’ networks incur extra costs.
Limit the number of withdrawals
Each withdrawal in a foreign currency includes both a fixed and variable fee. To minimise costs, try to make fewer, larger withdrawals — but remember that carrying large amounts of cash increases the risk of theft.
Pay by card instead of withdrawing cash
While withdrawals incur fixed fees, card payments generally do not. Whenever you can, pay directly with your card to avoid accumulating ATM fees.
La Banque Postale’s international packages and options
La Banque Postale offers several packages designed to reduce international fees. For example, the Prepaid Card for 18–25 year olds and the Regliss Card for 12–17 year olds include free payments outside France (excluding exchange rate fees). For details, contact a La Banque Postale advisor.¹
Consider a prepaid or multi-currency card
For more security, you can travel with a prepaid card that you’ve topped up in advance. This helps protect your main card and limits risks in case of theft or fraud.
Alternatively, choose a multi-currency card — these are increasingly popular and usually optimised for international use. For instance, Wise offers a multi-currency account and international Visa debit card.
With a Wise account, you can manage up to 40+ different currencies and convert your money at the mid-market exchange rate. The Wise debit card lets you pay in 150+ countries without fees if you already hold the transaction currency in your account and no conversion is required.
How to avoid hidden fees
Currency exchange fees: what are they?
The total cost of your international transactions depends on your bank’s exchange rate, which usually includes a markup — an added commission on top of the interbank rate.
To make sure you’re getting a fair rate, compare your bank’s rate with the mid-market rate using an online currency converter. The greater the difference, the more you’re paying in hidden costs.
Withdraw in local currency
When using an ATM abroad, you might be offered the option to withdraw in local currency or in euros. This is known as dynamic currency conversion.
Always choose to be charged in the local currency. If you choose euros, your bank will apply conversion fees on top of withdrawal fees, costing you more overall.
Make your international withdrawals at a lower cost with the Wise card
Withdrawing money abroad via La Banque Postale can be expensive. Outside the SEPA zone, each ATM transaction at another bank incurs a €3.30 + 2.30% commission.
With the Wise card, you can withdraw up to €200 per month for free (up to 2 withdrawals). Beyond that, fees of €0.50 + 1.75% apply.
You also won’t need to visit a currency exchange office after your trip — you’ll only convert what you actually spend.
Order your Wise card for a one-time delivery fee of €7, with no monthly subscription fees.
Source:
Last verified on September 26, 2025.
This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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