How to open a joint bank account online in France?

Key takeaways:

1. Four offers let you open a joint bank account online in France in 2026: Societe Generale Sobrio (9.50 euros per month), Boursorama Banque (free), Credit Agricole (2 to 6 euros per month) and Revolut (free but without a complete joint account in France).
2. Societe Generale’s Sobrio offer combines 100% online opening within 24 hours, a dedicated advisor, a network of 1,800 branches and a complete joint account with two Visa Classic cards, making it the most balanced option for a couple in 2026.
3. Boursorama Banque remains the cheapest option on the market (free) but with no human support when needed.
4. Revolut works well for international and instant use but does not offer a true joint account in the French legal sense, only sharing features.

Comparative table of joint bank account offers in France

Four players dominate online joint bank account opening in France in 2026: Societe Generale with the Sobrio offer, Boursorama Banque, Credit Agricole and Revolut. The table below compares their characteristics on the criteria that really matter for a couple: type of joint account, price, opening time, support, overdraft and associated services.

The comparison methodology relies on each institution’s public tariff conditions in the first quarter of 2026, on whether or not a joint account exists in the French legal sense (two co-holders jointly liable) and on the actual ability to open this joint account online without visiting a branch.

Why open a joint bank account online in 2026

The joint account remains the most widely used banking tool by French couples to manage shared expenses: rent, groceries, bills, joint projects. According to INSEE, more than 60% of married or civil partnership couples in France hold at least one active joint account. Online opening, long reserved for individual accounts, has become widespread among major traditional banks and neobanks since 2023.

The challenge for a couple is twofold: find an offer that allows 100% remote opening, but also a joint account that covers all legal uses (direct debit authorisation, authorised overdraft, cheques, transfers, bank cards for each co-holder).

Who is the online joint account for?

The online joint account is aimed at several profiles:

• Couples moving in together who want to quickly open a shared account for rent and bills
• Established couples who want to switch their shared account to 100% digital management
• Couples who are geographically separated and cannot visit a branch together
• Couples who want to keep their current personal accounts and add a joint account for shared spending

“The joint account remains the most common financial organisation method among French couples, with notable growth in remote opening since electronic signatures became widespread.” Banque de France, banking inclusion report 2024

Advantages of 100% online opening

Online opening lets you sign the contract from home, submit supporting documents by scan or photo, and receive bank cards by post. Both co-holders no longer need to be physically present in the same place, which represents real time savings compared with in-branch opening (which typically requires two appointments).

Societe Generale’s Sobrio offer in detail

The Sobrio offer from Societe Generale bundles all everyday banking services into a single monthly package. Launched in 2010 and regularly enhanced since, it has been adapted to allow joint opening online with electronic signature from both co-holders.

Key features of the Sobrio joint account

• Joint account with two jointly liable co-holders, opened within 24 hours after electronic signature
• Two Visa Classic cards included (one per co-holder), with contactless and international payments
• Mobile app allowing each co-holder to check the balance, make transfers and categorise shared expenses
• Dedicated advisor reachable by secure messaging, phone or in branch
• Authorised overdraft, adjustable based on the couple’s situation
• Payment means insurance included (theft, loss, fraud)
• Access to the network of 1,800 branches in France when needed (cheque deposits, large cash withdrawals, wealth appointments)

The price of 9.50 euros per month covers the entire package for both co-holders, which makes the per-person cost more competitive than it first appears when compared to two individual accounts equipped with the same services. This is one of the reasons why the Sobrio offer dominates the comparison on the support-to-services-per-euro ratio.

Detailed comparative analysis: Sobrio, Boursorama, Revolut, Credit Agricole

Beyond the table, here is the analysis of the real gaps between the four offers on the criteria that weigh most in a couple’s decision.

On price, Boursorama and Revolut are free. Credit Agricole sits between 2 and 6 euros per month depending on the chosen offer (EKO, Globe-Trotter or build-your-own account). Sobrio costs 9.50 euros per month but includes the full set of services with no add-ons required (insurance, negotiated overdraft, advisor).

On opening time, Revolut wins on paper (account opened in minutes), but without true joint account status. Sobrio comes second with 24 hours for a complete, functional joint account. Boursorama and Credit Agricole generally require between 5 and 10 business days to complete the opening and ship the cards.

On human support, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole are the only two offering a dedicated advisor and a network of physical branches. This is an often-underestimated criterion at the opening stage but becomes decisive in case of dispute, bank switching, mortgage application or wealth management. Combined with our guide on how to reduce your bank fees, the support criterion drives long-term satisfaction.

On the legal robustness of the joint account, Revolut lags behind. Its legal structure based in Lithuania and its sub-account operation does not reproduce the classic French joint account with joint liability of co-holders enforceable against the bank. The other three players offer a true joint account under French banking law.

Who each online joint account is for

The four offers are not aimed at the same couple profile. Here is how to choose based on the situation.

Profile 1: couple wanting a complete joint account with support

For a couple wishing to open their joint bank account online quickly without giving up human advice, the Sobrio offer from Societe Generale is the best choice. The 24-hour opening, the dedicated advisor and the ability to switch to a branch when needed cover all situations without surprise. It is also the most relevant option for a couple anticipating other projects (mortgage, savings, life insurance) and wanting a single point of contact.

Profile 2: cost-conscious couple

For a couple looking above all to minimise banking fees, Boursorama Banque is unbeatable on price. The joint account is free, with no income condition for joint opening. The couple will have to accept the absence of a dedicated advisor and operate exclusively in self-service via the app.

Profile 3: couple already banking with a traditional bank

For a couple already banking with Credit Agricole, opening the joint account in the same regional bank simplifies management (a single customer area, a single advisor, integration with individual accounts). The price remains reasonable (2 to 6 euros per month depending on the offer), but online opening varies by regional bank.

Profile 4: mobile, international, 100% digital couple

For a couple who travels often or lives abroad part of the year, Revolut can serve as a top-up account to manage spending in foreign currencies without fees. But it does not replace a genuine French joint account. The best configuration is often a Sobrio or Boursorama joint account as the main one, with Revolut for travel.

How to open a joint bank account online, step by step

Opening a joint bank account online follows roughly the same process regardless of the chosen institution. Here are the typical steps, illustrated with the Sobrio offer.

Documents to prepare

Before starting the application, each co-holder must gather the following items:

1. A valid ID document (national ID card, passport or residence permit)
2. Proof of address less than 3 months old (electricity bill, rent receipt, tax notice)
3. Proof of income (payslip, tax notice, unemployment certificate)
4. A RIB (bank details) from a current personal account, used for the first deposit
5. A signature specimen for each co-holder (for cheques)

Opening pathway

1. Choose the offer and account type (joint, individual, undivided depending on the bank)
2. Enter the details of both co-holders (civil status, address, family situation, income, occupation)
3. Upload supporting documents (photo or scan)
4. Verify the tariff conditions and the contract
5. Electronically sign the contract, each co-holder individually with an OTP code sent by SMS
6. Make the first deposit from a personal account (minimum amount varies by bank, typically 10 to 300 euros)
7. Receive login credentials and activate the mobile app
8. Receive the bank cards by post within 5 to 10 days

Mistakes to avoid

1. Opening a joint account without discussing how it will work with your co-holder (who pays what, monthly contribution, overdraft cap)
2. Choosing a 100% online offer with no branches if one of the co-holders is uncomfortable with digital tools
3. Neglecting the banking mobility procedure to transfer recurring direct debits to the new joint account
4. Forgetting that the overdraft on a joint account binds both co-holders jointly
5. Failing to anticipate the joint account withdrawal procedure in case of separation, which must be contractually planned

Joint bank account online and French banking law

The joint account is governed by the French Monetary and Financial Code. The two co-holders are jointly liable for transactions made on the account, meaning that in case of overdraft or incident, the bank can turn against either co-holder indifferently. This joint liability remains one of the main differences with a double individual account or an undivided account (which requires both holders’ signatures for each transaction).

Any individual residing in France has the right to a basic bank account, guaranteed by the Banque de France. To go further on this topic, see our dedicated article on the right to a bank account. As a complement, if you are new to remote account opening, our guide on how to open a bank account online details the full procedure for an individual account.

Frequently asked questions