If you are arriving in France as an immigrant and wondering which bank to open, the short answer is: a virtual bank is almost always the best option to start with. Virtual banks in France like Wise, Revolut, and Qonto offer 100% online account opening, without the need for an established French address or a prior employment contract, with much lower fees than traditional banks and interfaces available in multiple languages.
On the other hand, physical banks like BNP Paribas, Société Générale, or Crédit Agricole usually require extensive documentation, in-person appointments, and often reject applications from people with a recent immigration status or in the process of regularization. Knowing the differences between both models can save you weeks of paperwork and a lot of headaches.