Opening an account, choosing a card, monitoring fees: the relationship with your bank relies on concrete mechanisms that every customer can learn to master. Understanding basic banking services and common pitfalls allows you to keep control over your budget, without unnecessary jargon.
Hidden banking fees: the items that no one details on the statement
Have you ever noticed a line “intervention fee” on your statement? This fee is charged every time a transaction goes through while the balance is insufficient. The bank allows it but charges a few euros for each occurrence.
The problem is the accumulation. Three or four overdrafts in a month can cost more than the overdraft itself. Incident fees often represent the largest banking expense for tight budgets.
Another underestimated item: account maintenance fees. For several years now, most traditional banks have charged between one and three euros per month just to keep an account open. This amount seems modest, but when added to card fees and optional insurance, the annual bill can quickly add up.
To limit these expenses, you can check the banking section of Mon Portail Financier to compare the pricing structures of major institutions and spot offers with no account maintenance fees.
- Check the “fees and commissions” line on your statement every month: it aggregates all the deductions related to the account’s operation.
- Ask your advisor for the annual pricing document, which has been mandatory since the banking transparency regulations.
- If your income is modest, inquire about the specific offer for vulnerable customers: incident fees are capped by law.
Instant transfer and new banking security rules
Instant transfers have changed status. Since January 9, 2025, banks must accept incoming instant transfers without charging extra fees. From October 9, 2025, they must also allow their issuance under the conditions set by European regulation 2024/886.
In practice, a transfer that used to take two days can now arrive in a few seconds, without additional cost. But this speed comes at a price: the transfer has become the most frauded payment method in terms of value, according to the 2025 report from the Payment Security Observatory.
Transfers account for about 39% of the total amount of fraud, ahead of bank cards. Instant transfers explain a significant part of this trend, as money moves too quickly to be intercepted afterward.
Beneficiary verification before execution
The new regulation requires banks to verify the match between the beneficiary’s name and the IBAN before executing the transfer. If the name you entered does not match the account holder’s name, your bank must alert you before validating the transaction.
This mechanism reduces the risk of falling victim to an IBAN substitution scam, a technique where a fraudster replaces the details of a supplier or a relative with their own.
Manipulation fraud: the threat that exceeds bank cards
Card fraud is declining thanks to strong authentication. Meanwhile, manipulation fraud is rising sharply. The most common scenario: a fake bank advisor calls you, displays your agency’s number on your screen, and asks you to “secure” your account by validating transactions.
In reality, each validation confirms an outgoing transfer to the fraudster’s account. Manipulation fraud is the main threat in terms of amount, according to the Payment Security Observatory in its 2025 annual report.
How to recognize a fraudulent call
Your bank will never ask you to validate a transaction over the phone to “block” an ongoing fraud. If someone asks you to do this, hang up and call your agency at the usual number.
- A legitimate advisor will not pressure you by invoking the urgency to act within minutes.
- The display of your agency’s number on your phone proves nothing: spoofing techniques can falsify the calling number.
- Never share a code received via SMS with a phone contact, even if they claim to work for your bank.
Managing your banking budget: a simple and realistic method
Keeping a budget does not require sophisticated tools. The idea is to categorize your expenses into three groups: fixed charges (rent, bills, subscriptions), current expenses (food, transport), and money available for savings or leisure.
Most banking apps now offer automatic categorization of expenses. Checking this categorization once a week is enough to spot discrepancies before they become problematic.
Adjusting savings goals to your actual situation
Setting an unrealistic savings goal has the opposite effect: you give up after a few weeks. Start by setting aside a modest but regular amount, even ten euros a month. Automating the transfer to a savings account on payday makes the effort invisible.
In case of persistent financial difficulties, the right to a bank account guarantees access to a bank account with free basic services. The over-indebtedness procedure, managed by the Banque de France, remains accessible to anyone who can no longer cope with their debts.
Banking services are evolving rapidly, with free instant transfers and new forms of fraud. Monitoring your statements and knowing your rights remains the foundation of sound financial management, well before choosing a savings product or a loan.
