Best Be-bunk alternatives

#1 alternative

BforBank

active

Crédit Agricole’s online bank. ACPR credit institution. FGDR. French IBAN, bank code 16218.

Paris · ~500,000 · Crédit Agricole group / 2025 recapitalisation

7.1Solid

BforBank is a French credit institution in the Crédit Agricole group. ACPR plus AMF. FGDR. Bank code 16218, BIC BFOBFRP1. Founded 2009, about 500,000 customers. Recapitalised in 2025. This is a bank. Qonto is an EMI-class business account. Different objects. N26 is a German IBAN.

Best for: France residents who want a CA-group online bank IBAN without living in a branch, and do not already sit at CA for the cap.

Licence

Credit institution

Protection

FGDR up to €100,000 per depositor per credit institution — Crédit Agricole group, so do not blindly double-count next to a CA / LCL salary account

Monthly

BforBASIC often €0 — confirm live; paid SKUs exist

#2 alternative

Qonto

active

The French (and European) business account founders actually open.

4.6

Paris · 500k businesses · ~€600M raised

7.7Solid

If the company is French, start here. If the company invoices the US and Asia, add Wise or Airwallex.

Best for: French and EEA SAS/GmbH companies that want a current-account-shaped finance stack.

Licence

Payment institution / EMI-class

Protection

Client funds are safeguarded. Qonto SA is a payment institution, not FGDR in its own name. Qonto’s own legal copy: in a partner-bank failure, the slice held at that bank can fall under FGDR up to €100,000 per institution per client.

Monthly

Paid plans from a small monthly

#3 alternative

Wise

active

The mid-market FX rail everyone else is measured against.

4.7

London · 16M+ · Public (WISE)

8.6Strong

The control for cross-border. Pair with a licensed local bank for salary protection. Never describe Wise personal as a UK bank account.

Best for: Anyone who receives or sends money across borders for a living.

Licence

EMI (personal)

Protection

Safeguarded e-money at Wise Payments Limited — not FSCS. Wise’s own help: they do not lend customer balances; safeguarding is not a deposit-guarantee scheme. Local account details may sit at partner banks (US: Community Federal Savings Bank in some states).

Monthly

Free personal · Wise Business subscription optional

#4 alternative

Revolut

active

Digital bank and e-money app. Licence depends on the entity.

4.7

London · 50M+ · $1.7B raised · ~$45B val.

8.6Strong

The default comparison set for a reason. Treat the UK bank product and the e-money wallet as different legal objects, then Revolut wins most travel and multi-currency briefs. It is not the quietest home for a salary if you want a full-licence high-street feel — that is still Starling or Monzo in the UK.

Best for: People who live in more than one currency and want one app for spend, FX, and extras.

Licence

UK bank (eligible customers)

Protection

Eligible deposits at Revolut Bank UK Ltd: FSCS up to £120,000 per person (scheme cap from 1 Dec 2025; Revolut FSCS sheet). Revolut Ltd e-money is safeguarded, not FSCS (UK personal terms, 11 Dec 2025). New customers from 11 March 2026 may still be onboarded onto an EMI account with Revolut Ltd.

Monthly

Free · Plus/Premium/Metal/Ultra paid

#5 alternative

Deblock

active

French euro account plus crypto. Deblock SAS is an e-money institution, not a bank. No FGDR on the euro balance.

Lille · EMI + CASP · Private

6.9Mixed

Deblock is not a bank. Deblock SAS is a Lille e-money institution with an AMF crypto licence. The euro balance is e-money, not an FGDR deposit. Use it as a crypto-friendly euro account. Do not use it as a French salary bank unless you are comfortable without deposit insurance.

Best for: EEA residents who want a euro card and crypto in one French EMI, and who accept there is no FGDR.

Licence

Electronic money institution

Protection

No FGDR on the euro balance. Euros are safeguarded e-money. Crypto is self-custody. Deblock is not a credit institution.

Monthly

Standard free. Premium €10/month.

#6 alternative

GCash

active

The Philippines’ scale wallet. G-Xchange, Inc. is an e-money issuer. The wallet is not a bank deposit.

Taguig · ~94M have used GCash · Mynt / Globe

6.9Mixed

GCash is the wallet. UNO is the bank. G-Xchange, Inc. is a BSP e-money issuer. The GCash balance is e-money, not a deposit, and PDIC does not cover it. If you want insurance, open GSave at a partner bank and read that bank’s name. File GCash on Wallets, never on Neobanks.

Best for: Everyday peso payments in the Philippines. Not a PDIC bank account.

Licence

Electronic money issuer

Protection

The GCash wallet is not PDIC-insured. GSave balances sit at partner banks and follow those banks’ PDIC cover.

Monthly

No monthly fee on the wallet. Cash-in, cash-out and some transfers have fees.