We receive a text message from our regional bank announcing a change in the plan, we open the Ma Banque app to check, and we discover that the fees have changed, a biometric option appears in the settings, or a new “zero fees abroad” package is offered. Since spring 2026, Crédit Agricole has been making numerous adjustments to its bank cards, but it all depends on the regional bank to which we are attached.
Free EKO virtual card: what it changes in daily life
Since April 29, 2026, the EKO plan has become free for new customers who accept a virtual card instead of the classic plastic one. In practice, you subscribe via the app, you immediately receive a dematerialized card usable for contactless payments via smartphone, and you avoid the monthly fee.
The physical card remains available, but it becomes a paid option. For those who pay for most of their purchases with their phone, the EKO virtual card removes the last pricing barrier of an offer already positioned in the free segment. However, if you need to withdraw cash regularly from an ATM or pay at merchants who do not accept mobile contactless payments, you will need to add this plastic option to your monthly budget.
To better understand the changes in Crédit Agricole bank cards in 2026, it is important to keep in mind that each regional bank applies its own conditions, including for EKO.
Fees abroad: banks that eliminate commissions
Since July 1, 2026, several regional banks have announced the elimination of fees on payments and withdrawals abroad for certain bundled service offers. We are talking about plans like Essential or Premium, not the standalone card.
The mechanism is simple: instead of charging a commission on each transaction outside the euro zone, the bank includes this coverage in the monthly package. For a regular traveler, the exemption from fees abroad can represent significant savings over the year, especially if multiple withdrawals are made in different currencies.
Feedback on this point varies among banks. Some apply the exemption starting from the Essential plan, while others reserve it for Premium or Prestige offers. Before traveling, check directly in the customer area or at the agency if your plan indeed includes this exemption.
- Card payments in foreign currency: commission waived on eligible bundled offers
- Withdrawals at ATMs outside the euro zone: exemption included in the package, with no limit on the number in some cases
- Variable conditions from one bank to another: Toulouse, Centre Loire, or Provence-Côte d’Azur do not apply the same grids
Biometric option on Crédit Agricole card: availability and limits
Crédit Agricole is rolling out a biometric option on certain high-end cards. This involves a fingerprint sensor integrated into the plastic, which replaces the entry of the PIN code during in-store payments. The models concerned are mainly the Gold Mastercard with deferred debit and the World Elite with deferred debit.
The biometric card does not exempt from the PIN code for ATM withdrawals. It only works on compatible payment terminals, which covers the vast majority of merchants equipped with contactless. To activate it, you register your fingerprint directly on the card during the first use, without going through the app.
The main limitation remains availability: not all regional banks offer this option yet. If you are a customer at a bank that has not rolled it out, you will need to wait or inquire at the agency about the planned schedule.
Visa Classic, Gold, and Mastercard rates: how to compare between regional banks
Crédit Agricole operates with 39 regional banks, and each sets its own rates. A Visa Classic can cost significantly more in Toulouse than in Centre Loire for nearly identical services. This decentralization complicates comparison, but you can navigate it with a direct method.
- Consult the pricing brochure of your bank on the regional Crédit Agricole website (PDF document updated annually, often on January 1 or July 1)
- Compare the annual cost of the card alone with that of the bundled offer (Essential, Premium, Prestige), as the package sometimes includes insurance, travel assistance, and exemption from certain fees
- Check additional fees: intervention commission, opposition, replacement of lost or stolen cards, which also vary from one bank to another
- Look for any active welcome bonus, as some campaigns offer a bonus upon opening that can go up to 100 euros under certain conditions
The Visa Platinum or World Elite Mastercard are aimed at profiles that travel frequently or want high payment limits. The monthly surcharge is mainly justified by the travel insurance and repatriation assistance included, not by the card itself.
Digital services and alerts: what has really changed in the app
The Ma Banque app now includes real-time expense tracking with automatic categorization. You receive a notification after each payment, and you can set threshold alerts to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the month.
The temporary card blocking feature from the app already existed, but the new feature is the fine management of limits. You can adjust the payment or withdrawal limit for a given period yourself, without calling the agency. For a trip abroad, temporarily raising your limit from the app avoids a call to the agency the day before departure.
Crédit Agricole also offers the possibility to add your card to Apple Pay and Google Pay wallets, making the EKO virtual card fully functional without a physical support. For customers who are hesitating between keeping their plastic card or switching to 100% digital, this is a concrete argument: you can pay everywhere contactless is accepted, with the same protections.
The difference in rates and services between regional banks remains the point to watch. Before subscribing or changing plans, the pricing brochure of your regional bank and a quick exchange at the agency remain the two most reliable reflexes to avoid paying for a service you do not use.