Payment Providers in France
France has a unique domestic card scheme — Cartes Bancaires (CB) — co-branded on virtually all French cards. Processing CB is cheaper than international Visa/Mastercard routes. To serve French merchants well, your processor must support CB routing. SEPA is also strong for subscriptions and B2B.
Key payment methods in France
The local rails merchants must support to convert France customers.
About payments in France
What is Cartes Bancaires and why does it matter?
CB is France's national card scheme. About 70% of French card transactions are routed via CB (cheaper) rather than Visa/Mastercard rails. Processors that support CB routing save merchants 0.3-0.6% per transaction.
Can I accept payments in France from outside the EU?
Yes, but you'll need either a French entity, an EU-licensed PSP with French passporting, or a Merchant of Record service. Cross-border interchange can be higher than domestic processing.
What about iGaming in France?
Online gambling in France is regulated by ANJ. Specific products (sports betting, poker, horse racing) require ANJ licenses. Several payment providers support ANJ-licensed operators — check our high-risk fiat segment.