Cards, account management, incidents, banking fees will increase further in 2026

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Higher bank fees at the start of the school year. On average, the prices of services linked to your bank account will increase by 1.14% depending on the banks in 2026. Mélanie, a customer of a traditional bank, is not really surprised. “We pay fees on the card, we pay fees with each payment. It comes back every year and that’s a lot,” she regrets. “It’s weird because there are fewer and fewer agencies and the fees are increasing,” notes a man interviewed.

The banks justify the increases by their development costs and by inflation. Among the biggest increases announced, those of account maintenance, that is to say management fees: with more than 4.2% on average. But there are disparities between establishments. At the Postal Bank, account maintenance fees will increase from €22.80 this year to €25.10 in 2026. At the Caisse d’Épargne Loire Drôme Ardèche, from 18.80 euros to 20.40 euros next year.

So how can you lower the bill? Some bring in competition, notably online banks. New players capable of offering more attractive prices. “Online banks can afford to charge lower prices for consumers, in particular because they have fewer operating costs. They do not have branches, they have fewer bank advisors, which means that they attract consumers with more lenient rates”says Marie Rialland, deputy general manager of Moneyvox. Already last year, bank rates had jumped by more than 3%.