International Transfer from France with Crédit Mutuel: Rates and Fees

Crédit Mutuel is a cooperative, shareholder-independent bank that offers a wide range of banking products, including international transfers. But what do we know about the fees for international transfers through Crédit Mutuel and how to make them? Are there cheaper and easier-to-use alternatives for transferring money abroad from France? Let's find out.

With a Wise account, you can make your international transfers at a lower cost to 140+ around the world and benefit from the mid-market exchange rate when converting currencies. Other benefits of the Wise account will be detailed later in this article.

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Fees applied by Crédit Mutuel for international transfers

This table shows the fees applied for an occasional or permanent non-SEPA money transfer with Crédit Mutuel¹:

In addition to these fees, a €10 exchange fee may apply if the transfer transaction involves currency conversion. Furthermore, the bank specifies that the exchange rate it uses includes its commercial margin (in addition to the exchange rate itself).

Note that there are additional fees to be expected, depending on the type of request¹:

As shown in these tables, Crédit Mutuel's fees for international transfers (non-SEPA, outside the SEPA zone) can be particularly expensive, especially since the bank applies a markup to the exchange rate when converting currencies.

In comparison, the Wise account allows you to make international transfers to 140+ countries, using the mid-market exchange rate when converting currencies to significantly reduce exchange fees.

How do I make an international transfer with Crédit Mutuel?

With Crédit Mutuel, you can make an international transfer online from home in France or at one of their branches. Please note, however, that costs vary depending on the option chosen.

Online International Transfer

To make an online transfer, follow these steps:

• Log in to your personal account by entering your username and password. If you have forgotten your password, contact customer service for instructions on how to recover it.

• Once logged in, click on Transactions in the menu at the top of the page.

• Under the Current Accounts tab, select Transfers.

You will access a navigation page offering several options.

• Select the To an International Account link.

To make a transfer, you must add a beneficiary (identity, IBAN, and bank name). The addition of a beneficiary must be confirmed through a security procedure by sending a code to your mobile phone. The processing time for a new beneficiary varies.

• Once the recipient has been validated by your bank, select and add the necessary information for the transfer (bank details of the account to be credited, amount, currency, execution date, transfer title, and reason for the transfer).

For security reasons, you will receive a second text message or email containing a security code to validate your transfer.

• Enter the code received in the field provided.

Click on the Validate button, then Confirm to finalize the transaction.

International transfer at a branch

To make an international transfer, you can also visit one of Crédit Mutuel's branches. A search engine available on the bank's website helps you find the branch nearest you.

Go to the counter with proof of identity and ask the advisor to make an international transfer from your account. To do this, have the details of the bank account receiving the funds ready. Here is the information you will be asked for:

• Name and contact information of the recipient
• Bank account details of the recipient including their account number in international format (IBAN) and the Swift code (identifying the recipient's bank).
• Amount and desired payment date
• Frequency (one-off or standing order)

Some banks located abroad provide an account number rather than an IBAN. Please note that you may encounter difficulties with this at many traditional French banks. Instead, you can make your transfers more easily by creating a free Wise account.

Essential information for making an international transfer

• Provide your beneficiary's details:

  1. IBAN (number never exceeding 34 digits)
  2. SWIFT or BIC code (alphanumeric code of 8 to 11 characters) designating the receiving bank

• Provide the recipient's identity and address:

  1. Currency
  2. Amount
  3. Desired transfer time

Please note: If you wish to speed up the standard international money transfer process, additional fees may apply.

Essential information for receiving an international transfer with Crédit Mutuel

To receive a transfer from outside the SEPA and EURO zones, you must provide:

• A Crédit Mutuel bank account number (RIB) including:

  • Your IBAN (a long number never exceeding 34 digits)
  • Your SWIFT or BIC code (an 8- to 11-character alphanumeric code) designating Crédit Mutuel

• The currency, amount, and desired timeframe for receiving the funds.

Timeframe for an International Transfer via Crédit Mutuel

Timeframes for international transfers made via Crédit Mutuel vary depending on the recipient's geographic area (within or outside the SEPA zone).

If you are making a transfer to one of the SEPA countries, the transfer time is a maximum of one business day. Transfers to other countries take several days. The timeframe depends primarily on the calendar.²

Fees for Transfers in the SEPA Zone with Crédit Mutuel

Here are the fees applied by Crédit Mutuel for transfers in the SEPA zone:¹

Please note that there are fees for receiving SEPA and non-SEPA transfers¹:

Save on International Transfers from France with a Wise Account

Before making an international transfer with a currency exchange through Crédit Mutuel, try to calculate the total amount of additional fees. These fees are often variable and depend on the margin calculated based on the exchange rate, plus fixed fees. Note that the bank receiving the funds may also apply receiving fees.

Instead, you could use a Wise account to make international transfers more easily and at a lower cost. Here are some of the benefits of a Wise account:

• Currency conversion based on the mid-market exchange rate: the Wise account doesn't apply a hidden markup to the exchange rate.

• The ability to transfer money to 140+ countries worldwide.

• An account that can manage and convert 40+ currencies, including EUR, GBP, and USD.

• No maintenance fees: the Wise account doesn't charge monthly or annual fees.

• An account that's free to open.

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Sources:

Sources last verified on April 20, 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.