How to withdraw money abroad from France: everything you need to know to save on fees

Bank fees are one of the main concerns when travelling abroad. A common question arises: how can you pay less? For instance, you can prioritise card payments instead of making frequent withdrawals.

But sometimes, cash is essential — and heading to an ATM becomes unavoidable. That’s when commissions and exchange rate markups can quickly increase the total cost.

So, how can you reduce these fees? The answer is simple: use a money transfer service like Wise, which offers a multi-currency account with a debit card. You’ll benefit from currency conversion at the mid-market rate and lower fees on withdrawals and payments.

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Things to know before you leave France

Before you travel, make sure your card allows international withdrawals and payments. Also, check your transaction limits and adjust them if needed.

To withdraw money outside France, you’ll need an international bank card — usually Visa or Mastercard. While there are small differences between the two, both are accepted almost everywhere worldwide.

Whatever the length of your stay, don’t forget to inform your bank before you leave. Otherwise, foreign withdrawals could be flagged as fraudulent and blocked.

Bank fees explained

“Bank fees” refer to the charges your bank applies for using its services.

When travelling, several types of fees may apply:

• Cash withdrawal fees – charged each time you withdraw from an ATM outside your bank’s network.
• Card payment fees – applied for payments outside the Eurozone in foreign currencies.
• Card subscription fees – vary depending on your card type.
• Annual account maintenance fees – for account management and administrative costs.
• Lost or stolen card insurance – covers reimbursement in case of theft or fraud.
• Online account management fees – potential charges for digital services.

Additionally, when withdrawing abroad, local banks may charge their own fees on top of your bank’s commissions.

Comparing withdrawal fees by bank

Each bank has its own pricing policy. The amount you’ll pay depends on:

• Your card type.
• The number of withdrawals made that month (especially outside the Eurozone).
• The country or region where you withdraw.

For reference, here are detailed articles on withdrawal fees for different French banks:

• Société Générale
• Caisse d’Epargne

How to reduce bank fees

In Europe, use your own bank’s network

When travelling in Europe, try to make withdrawals from ATMs belonging to your own bank or its partners. This helps you avoid extra network charges.

Make fewer withdrawals

Outside the Eurozone, banks usually apply both fixed and variable fees per withdrawal. To reduce costs, limit your ATM visits — withdraw larger sums less often to minimise fixed charges.

Pay by card whenever possible

Paying by card is often cheaper than withdrawing cash abroad.
For instance, at Caisse d’Epargne (Normandy), payments outside the Eurozone are charged 2.90% + €0.70 per transaction. A withdrawal for the same amount from another bank’s ATM would cost 2.90% + €3.23.¹

Consider international options and packages

If you travel often, some banks offer international packages that include discounted withdrawals and payments abroad.

Use a multi-currency account

Another way to save abroad is to use a multi-currency account and card.
For example, Wise offers a Visa debit card linked to a multi-currency account.

With this setup, withdrawals and payments are processed at the mid-market rate and at much lower fees than most traditional banks.

Key advantages of a Wise multi-currency account:

• No monthly account maintenance fees.
• Free top-ups by bank transfer.
• No receiving fees on 8+ currencies.
• Currency conversion at the mid-market rate.
• Minimal withdrawal and payment fees.

How to avoid hidden fees abroad

Exchange rate markups are one of the biggest sources of hidden costs when spending or withdrawing abroad. Here’s how to avoid them.

What are exchange rate fees?

Exchange rate fees refer to the extra cost you pay when converting one currency to another.

Banks and exchange bureaus usually offer a “marked-up” rate that’s less favourable than the market rate. This markup is how they earn money from the conversion.

To make sure you’re getting a fair deal, compare the rate offered by your provider with the mid-market rate using a currency converter.

Always withdraw in local currency

When withdrawing from an ATM abroad, you might be offered the option to charge your withdrawal in euros instead of the local currency. This is called dynamic currency conversion.

Always decline this option. Choose to withdraw in the local currency to avoid paying an extra conversion fee on top of your bank’s withdrawal charges.

To manage your costs while travelling, prioritise card payments and limit small cash withdrawals. If you travel often, consider using a multi-currency account.

With the debit card linked to your Wise account, you can withdraw cash with minimal fees — and only convert the money you actually need.

Plus, you won’t need to worry about exchanging leftover currency at the end of your trip. A flexible and cost-effective solution!

More information
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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.