Understanding Cartes Bancaires, the Key to Interbank Payments in France

At the heart of France's payment ecosystem is Cartes Bancaires (CB), which facilitates

secure, efficient, and widely accepted transactions for consumers and businesses alike. As a market leader in the country's payment systems, CB plays a pivotal role in everyday spending, accounting for 65% of daily transactions.

Cartes Bancaires, managed by the Groupement des Cartes Bancaires, has pioneered the adoption of branded and co-branded credit, debit, and prepaid cards, enabling default brand acceptance with global interoperability.

Whether you're a consumer looking to understand your payment options or a business evaluating integration into the Cartes Bancaires system, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of the CB framework.

What is Cartes Bancaires?

Cartes Bancaires (CB) is a French interbank system and ATM network used for the issue of payment cards and the facilitation of transactions. Established in 1984, Cartes Bancaires operates as a shared network for issuing banks and acquirers, ensuring unified standards and seamless compatibility for card payments across merchants. It is widely accepted within France and co-branded with international payment systems like Visa and MasterCard, enhancing its usability for cross-border transactions.

Key features of Cartes Bancaires cards

Cartes Bancaires cards offer a host of features that improve security, accessibility, and convenience for both consumers and businesses:

1. Multiple payment card options

CB cards are issued by member banks in the French market. These cards can either operate exclusively on the CB network or feature co-branding with Visa (CB + Visa co-badged cards) or MasterCard (CB + MasterCard), enabling worldwide usage. Customers can choose between credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards depending on their preferences. This aligns with the broader trend in France, where credit and debit cards dominate online transactions, with 71% of consumers considering them as their top choice for payments.

2. Diverse cash operations

• In-person transactions: Customers can use CB cards at point-of-sale (POS) terminals by inserting or tapping their card, entering a PIN, or initiating a contactless card transaction.
• Online transactions: CB cards can be used for e-commerce purchases by entering card details and passing through additional authentication measures like 3D Secure.
• Cash withdrawals: CB cards are compatible with ATMs across France, supporting easy cash operations.

3. Robust authentication processes

Cartes Bancaires emphasises secure transactions with its robust authentication processes. For example, strong encryption protocols and PIN-based verification ensure that every transaction is legitimate.

4. High volume and value

Cartes Bancaires has a massive transaction flow, processing 14.5 billion transactions in 2024, amounting to EUR 700 billion (USD 755 billion) in total payment volume.

Benefits of Cartes Bancaires cards

CB cards provide a range of benefits for both customers and merchants:

For customers

• Convenience: CB cards offer hassle-free payments for shopping, dining, travel, and online purchases.
• Security: Cartes Bancaires employs stringent security measures, including real-time authentication and fraud detection systems.
• Wide acceptance: CB cards are accepted at nearly all merchants in France. They are also widely accepted internationally through co-branding agreements.
• Flexibility in payment methods: Customers can choose between credit, debit, and prepaid cards based on their financial needs.
• Cost-effective: Payments through CB cards typically have lower transaction fees compared to other international card payment systems.

For merchants

• High acceptance rates: With 77 million CB cards in circulation, merchants can gain access to a large base of French customers.
• Global reach: Through co-branding agreements and online integration, CB cards allow international merchants to receive payments from French customers.
• Seamless integration: POS systems, e-commerce platforms, and mobile wallets can be easily configured to process CB transactions.
• Enhanced security: In addition to Visa and MasterCard protocols, CB also provides its own security processes to reduce fraud risks.
• Efficiency: CB payment processes are quick, reducing wait times at checkout counters and improving customer experience.

Security and authentication

Cartes Bancaires implements multiple layers of protection to safeguard transactions:

1. Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)

CB cards comply with EU standards requiring at least two factors for payment authentication, as mandated by the Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) to improve security and reduce fraud.

This typically involves:

• PIN entry for in-person payments.
• 3D Secure for online payments, where customers verify their identity using an OTP (one-time password) sent via SMS or email.

2. Encryption protocols

Cartes Bancaires transactions use advanced encryption technology to safeguard bank account details and transaction details, ensuring they cannot be intercepted or tampered with.

3. Fraud detection

CB employs proactive fraud monitoring systems to identify and block suspicious activities. These measures protect both consumers and merchants from financial losses.

4. Data security

Cartes Bancaires' use of personal data is regulated under the French Data Protection Act of 1978, together with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). CB's compliance guarantees that consumers maintain some control over the use of their data.

Digital payments with Cartes Bancaires

As the world moves towards cashless economies, CB has embraced digital payments to provide users with modernised payment solutions:

1. Mobile payments

Cartes Bancaires cards can be linked to popular mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. With this, customers can use their smartphones for quick and secure transactions.

2. Online integration

CB cards are compatible with e-commerce platforms, allowing customers to make purchases with minimal effort. This feature has led to two billion e-commerce transactions processed in 2024.

3. Contactless payments

Users can tap their cards on payment terminals for quick and easy transactions. CB cards' use of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology have driven a surge in contactless payments, reaching a record 7.3 billion CB contactless transactions, totaling EUR 121.6 billion (USD 131 billion) in 2024.

How to get a Cartes Bancaires card for individuals

1. Open a bank account with a participating bank in the French market.
2. Contact your bank for application procedures and requirements.
3. Choose the type of CB card you want (credit, debit, prepaid) and check for co-branding.
4. Apply for your preferred CB card.
5. Link your CB card to your bank account for easy transactions.

How to accept CB payments for international merchants

1. Partner with an approved Payment Service Provider (PSP) like Antom that supports Cartes Bancaires.
2. Apply for a merchant account with the PSP.
3. Integrate the CB payment gateway with your e-commerce store
4. Activate your merchant account to access your portal and manage transactions
5. Review and organise files on the following information:

• • Currency conversion rates for international transactions
  • Processing fees for international transactions
  • Local and French tax implications
  • French regulations with data privacy and security

Cartes Bancaires has played a pivotal role in shaping France's financial landscape, providing reliable, secure, and widely accepted payment methods for millions of users. By combining traditional card payment systems with modern innovations such as contactless payments and digital wallets, CB continues to adapt to evolving consumer needs.

Whether you're a customer looking for flexible and secure payment options or a business seeking to improve your transaction efficiency, integrating Cartes Bancaires into your payment process is important for capturing the French market — and you can do this seamlessly by using a payment platform like Antom. Cartes Bancaires' long-standing reputation, coupled with its high security standards and global partnerships, cements its role as a cornerstone of France's payment infrastructure.

Contact us to learn how to add Cartes Bancaires as a payment option for your customers.