The prepaid bank card market in France

In 2023, according to the Banque de France, bankcards will account for 61.1% of all transactions in France, crushing all other payment methods (credit transfers: 17.6%, direct debits: 14.3%, cash: 3.5%). In this dominated landscape, prepaid cards occupy specific segments, notably targeting young, unbanked people or professionals seeking budgetary control.

Often linked to a payment account with no authorized overdraft, these cards are just as well suited to parents wishing to control their children's spending, as they are to small consumers or those who have been banned from banking. In 2025, against a backdrop ofwidespread banking inflation (+3 to +5% on average, according to MoneyVox and CLCV), they offer an economical solution. for example, a Nickel card costs €20/year, while a classic immediate debit card averages €45.25, and a top-of-the-range card can cost up to €317/year. Among "small consumers", the total annual cost reaches €69.78, and even €214.87 for intensive profiles.

Faced with these rising costs, prepaid cards are attractive for their flat-rate or pay-as-you-go pricing, no account maintenance fees, and overdraft protection. In this way, they meet a demand for clarity and autonomy, which is particularly strong among young people, whose pocket money has risen frompocket money has risen from €24 at age 10 to €56 at age 18 - revealing a need for adapted management tools.

But these cards are no longer limited to personal use. The corporate segment is undergoing profound change: players like Spendesk and Mooncard are transforming the card into an integrated platform, with virtual cards, automated limits, accounting links and real-time expense control. This model is also inspiring major groups such as TotalEnergies and American Express, who are enhancing their offerings with travel management, deferred payments for up to 58 days, and digitized receipts.

Despite this momentum, the sector remains exposed to a number of challenges: fraud on online payments reaches 1.53% on certain transactions (e.g. "one-leg" payments excluding 3D Secure), and certain niches are struggling to make a profit. In the teenage market, for example, Xaalys and Vybe closed in 2022, while only Pixpay and Kard survived via paid subscriptions. Post-majority loyalty and competitive pressure from neobanks (Revolut, Wise, N26) make the situation even more complex.

In short, prepaid cards are evolving at the crossroads of three major dynamics: financial inclusion, optimized spending and the digitization of payments. Its future will depend on its ability to combine simplicity of access, functional innovation and enhanced security, in a market that is constantly reshaping itself.