Payment methods
Payment methods in France: Cartes Bancaires, wallets, Wero and pay later
French online shoppers pay mostly by card, and most French cards carry the domestic Cartes Bancaires (CB) brand together with Visa or Mastercard. Wallets such as PayPal and Apple Pay, pay in 3 or 4 instalments, and SEPA transfers fill the rest. Wero e-commerce is rolling out in France during Q4 2026. A merchant selling to France should accept CB through an acquirer that supports the scheme.
At a glance
| Currency | EUR |
|---|---|
| Domestic scheme | Cartes Bancaires (CB), co-badged with Visa or Mastercard |
| Brand choice | Merchant and cardholder can choose the brand on co-badged cards (Regulation (EU) 2015/751, Art. 8) |
| Wero | E-commerce rolling out in Q4 2026 |
| Wero disputes | Commercial disputes from 1 November 2027 |
Which payment methods do shoppers use in France?
Cartes Bancaires is the French domestic card scheme. Most cards issued in France are co-badged CB with Visa or Mastercard, and under the EU Interchange Fee Regulation the merchant and the cardholder can choose which brand processes a co-badged payment.
Showing the CB logo at checkout and routing co-badged cards through CB is a common choice for merchants with French customers.
| Method | Type | Typical use | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartes Bancaires (CB) | Domestic card scheme, co-badged | Most French online purchases | Real time, chargebacks possible |
| Wallets | PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Mobile checkout | Real time |
| Pay in 3 or 4 | Instalments via a BNPL or card provider | Higher baskets | Merchant paid by provider |
| SEPA transfer and direct debit | Bank payments | Invoices, subscriptions | Instant or next business day |
| Wero | Bank account wallet | Shoppers of participating banks | Real time |
What is Wero's status in France?
Wero person-to-person payments are live in France, and e-commerce is rolling out in Q4 2026. Commercial disputes for Wero in France apply from 1 November 2027. Add it when your provider supports it.
What should a merchant check before selling to France?
Before going live, check these points with your payment provider and test the full flow on mobile:
- Route co-badged cards through CB where your acquirer supports it, and show the CB logo.
- Apply 3-D Secure for strong customer authentication.
- Offer at least one wallet and an instalment option for higher baskets.
- Plan for Wero once your provider supports it in France.
How do you offer French payment methods through OrsunPay?
OrsunPay is a payment orchestration platform: you keep your own contracts with licensed providers (for example Stripe, Adyen or Worldpay), and OrsunPay is not a payment institution, acquirer or merchant of record and does not hold or transmit funds. Through OrsunPay you can offer CB co-badged cards, wallets, pay in instalments, SEPA payments and Wero by connecting providers that support them, show them in the hosted checkout and payment links, and route each payment by country, currency and method. For OrsunPay pricing, see the pricing page at /pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a carte bancaire?
In everyday French, carte bancaire means a bank card. Cartes Bancaires (CB) is also the name of the domestic scheme found on most French cards, co-badged with Visa or Mastercard.
Can a foreign merchant process CB?
Yes, through an acquirer or payment provider that connects to the CB scheme. Otherwise co-badged cards run through Visa or Mastercard.
Is Wero available for online shops in France?
It is rolling out for French e-commerce in Q4 2026, through payment providers that support it.
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Talk to our teamSources
- Groupement des Cartes Bancaires CB: key figures (checked 2 November 2026)
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2015/751 on interchange fees (co-badging, Article 8) (checked 2 November 2026)
- EPI Company: Wero's Next, Now (16 September 2026) (checked 2 November 2026)
- Banque de France: Wero consumer information (checked 2 November 2026)
- Mollie: what is Wero, fees and disputes for merchants (Austria) (checked 2 November 2026)