LCL withdrawals abroad from France: what are the fees?

With LCL, you can withdraw cash from ATMs and make payments abroad both within the Eurozone and internationally.

In this article, we’ll explain the fees and commissions you may face when making withdrawals or payments abroad. We’ll also introduce some alternatives to traditional banks.

Payment providers such as Wise offer free multi-currency accounts for low-cost transfers and a debit card ideal for international spending.

Discover the Wise account

Bank fees: LCL’s rates

How much do foreign ATM withdrawals cost?

These transactions are not free, and LCL’s pricing can be complex — some fees are not always clearly communicated.

Withdrawals in the Eurozone and EEA (European Economic Area)

Here are the fees for cash withdrawals in euros within the EEA for international bank cards:¹

Card Type	Withdrawal at LCL ATM	Withdrawal at Non-LCL ATM	Withdrawal at Non-LCL Bank Counter
Visa Infinite (€360/year) Mastercard Platinum (€234/year) Visa Premier (€144/year) Visa Crédit Renouvelable (€19/year)	Free	Free	€13.10
Visa Cléo (€51.60/year) Inventive Mastercard (€51.60/year) MaCarteLCL (Free first year, then €12/year)	Free	€1.50 per withdrawal from the 4th withdrawal of the month	€13.10
Utilicarte (€36/year) Carte Lion 7/7 Plus (€37/year)	Free	€1.50	€13.10

International cards reduce costs when withdrawing from ATMs outside LCL’s network. Before travelling, check if there’s an LCL branch near your new location to see if such a plan suits your needs.

Withdrawals outside the Eurozone

Here are LCL’s withdrawal fees outside the Eurozone and EEA:¹

Card Type	ATM Withdrawal	Bank Counter Withdrawal
Visa Infinite, Mastercard Platinum+	€2.46 + 2.34% (min. €0.80)	€4.06 + 2.34% (min. €0.80)
Other Cards	€3.17 + 3% (min. €0.80)	€5.59 + 3.30% (min. €0.80)

How much do card payments abroad cost?

Here are the bank fees for card payments outside the Eurozone:¹

Card Type	Fee per Transaction
Visa Infinite (€360/year) Mastercard Platinum (€234/year)	€1.26 + 2.34% (min. €0.80)
Other Cards	€1.26 + 3.00% (min. €0.80)

The card type (international or classic) determines the commission rate applied to each international transaction. The same logic applies to ATM and counter withdrawals.

Since rates may change, contact your bank before travelling to confirm the latest fees.

Here are the payment and withdrawal fees for Wise:

SEPA Payments	Free
Non-SEPA Payments	Free if you hold the transaction currency in your account and no conversion is needed
Withdrawals	Free for up to €200 per month (2 withdrawals max)

Order your Wise card

Precautions before travelling abroad

Make sure you have an international Mastercard or Visa debit/credit card

Before travelling, check that you have an international Mastercard or Visa debit (or credit) card. While differences between the two are minimal, both are widely accepted around the world.

Check that your card doesn’t expire during your trip

Ensure your card’s expiry date extends beyond your travel dates. Order and activate a new one if needed before you leave.

Review your payment and withdrawal limits

Review your withdrawal and payment limits. Whether you’re travelling to an expensive destination or not, it’s a good idea to increase them temporarily to cover unexpected expenses.

Notify your bank of your travel dates

Inform your LCL advisor before travelling. If the bank notices foreign transactions without prior notice, its security system might block your card as a fraud precaution.

Keep emergency contact numbers handy

Save your bank’s international emergency contact numbers in your phone so you can quickly report a lost or stolen card.

Tips to lower your bank fees

Use LCL ATMs whenever possible

In the Eurozone, fixed fees may apply for ATM or counter withdrawals outside the LCL network, depending on your card type. Use LCL ATMs when you can.

Withdraw less often

Withdrawal fees include both fixed and variable parts:

• A fixed fee per transaction
• A variable percentage based on the amount withdrawn (outside the Eurozone or EEA)

To reduce total fees, make fewer withdrawals and take out larger sums each time — enough to cover your main expenses.

Pay by card whenever possible

It’s usually cheaper to pay by card than to withdraw cash. Keep cash for small or card-restricted purchases.

LCL’s international packages and options

LCL offers various international cards designed to reduce fixed and variable fees. However, you’ll need to weigh these against annual card costs (up to €360/year for a Visa Infinite card).

Alternatives to LCL

Opening a free multi-currency account with Wise could be a practical alternative. You’ll get a Visa debit card (€7 delivery fee) and benefit from reduced costs.

Payments within the Eurozone are free, and international payments (outside SEPA) come with no fixed fees and are made at the mid-market rate. Withdrawals are free up to €200 per month (2 withdrawals max).

Wise could be a more transparent and cost-effective option for international payments and withdrawals.

Avoiding hidden bank fees

LCL publishes its international withdrawal and payment fees in its general terms and conditions. However, certain costs — such as exchange rate margins — may lack transparency.

What are currency exchange fees?

When a transaction requires currency conversion, your euros are exchanged using the bank’s own rate, which typically includes a markup.¹

To check how much extra you’re paying, compare your bank’s rate with the mid-market rate using an online currency converter.

Because exchange rate margins are not always clearly stated, customers are often surprised by extra costs on their statement.

Dynamic currency conversion: good or bad?

Some ATMs abroad offer dynamic currency conversion, asking whether you’d like to convert the withdrawal amount into euros. Always decline this option.

Withdraw in the local currency instead — otherwise, you’ll be charged both withdrawal and conversion fees by LCL.

Whatever the transaction, LCL applies commissions, often higher when currency conversion is involved.

To avoid unnecessary surcharges and benefit from the mid-market exchange rate without hidden markups, consider the Wise card. You’ll pay lower conversion costs and no fixed transaction fees.

Open your Wise account

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Source:

1. LCL Rates

Last verified on October 23, 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.