In this period of inflation, good news for consumers’ wallets is rare. The one revealed by MoneyVox this Monday is one of them. And for good reason, the increase in bank fees will be limited in 2024, according to their study. Of the 61 banks analyzed having published their prices for the beginning of January 2024, the increase amounts to less than 1% compared to this year for a classic profile, i.e. the average usage of French people. On the other hand, it will be a little higher for more upscale customers (1.7%), and even much higher for young profiles (3%). In 2023, the increase had already been limited, thanks to the commitment of the banks, at the request of the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, to moderate the increase to 2%. A promise kept, according to the Bank Rates Observatory (OTB).
However, this average for 2024 hides “some big slippages”, points out MoneyVox, an information site specializing in personal finances. For example, if account maintenance fees increase by 2.5% on average, they will explode by 20% at Banque Populaire Val de France, by 21.4% at La Banque Postale, and even by 50% at Crédit Agricole. Midwest. Fees for “moved withdrawals”, i.e. withdrawals made at another bank, will jump by 10% on average, according to MoneyVox estimates. And SMS alerts by 4.2%. Other types of fees that soar: transfers of savings products to another establishment. They will increase by 4.5% for a housing savings plan (PEL) or for a housing savings account (CEL), by 3.1% for an equity savings plan (PEA) and even by 9.5% for securities accounts.
Also read: Banks: how to reduce your fees?
Furthermore, “incident costs continue to increase,” deplores Maxime Chipoy, president of MoneyVox, quoted in a press release. Regarding bank overdrafts, the fixed minimum agios will increase on average by 3.2% in 2024, and 65 banks now practice it, compared to 60 last year. The prices of bank cards will undergo a smaller increase, of the order of 2.3% for classic cards, 2.7% for Gold/Premier cards and 2% for very high-end cards.
Note that “the differences in prices between French regions remain notable”, specifies MoneyVox. “Generally speaking, overseas regions, where the number of establishments is more limited and therefore competition less intense, are significantly more expensive than most metropolitan regions, and in particular those in the west of France,” observes Maxime Chipoy. Regardless of the customer profile, we find Guyana, Guadeloupe and Martinique at the bottom of the ranking. Conversely, Centre-Val de Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté are in the top of the least expensive regions.