The “Bank Trophies – Rates 2025” study analyzed the banking fees of eight financial institutions in Guadeloupe and Martinique. It highlighted rising costs amid a cost of living crisis, with significant price disparities compared to mainland France. Crédit Agricole emerged as the most affordable option for young customers, La Banque Postale for classic clients, and Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC for premium clients. Online banks also continue to offer competitive low fees, benefiting consumers looking to save.
Discover the Results of the “Bank Trophies – Rates 2025” Study
In our annual analysis titled “Bank Trophies – Rates 2025,” we examined the service brochures of eight financial institutions operating in Guadeloupe and Martinique. The key question we sought to answer was: which banks offer the lowest banking fees to their customers in 2025? Here’s what we found.
The Impact of the Cost of Living Crisis
The ongoing cost of living crisis has been a major talking point, particularly in certain regions where the situation is especially dire, as evidenced by recent protests in Martinique. Much of the public dissatisfaction relates to food prices, which are approximately 40% higher than those in mainland France. However, it’s important to note that service prices, including banking fees, are also on the rise.
A report released in October 2023 by the Banking Tariff Observatory highlighted that “the price disparities between the overseas departments in the euro zone and mainland France are increasing“. Specifically, when evaluating the 14 most commonly used banking services, eight were found to have “higher rates in the IEDOM zone compared to mainland France,” with five services exceeding 1 euro in additional costs. The largest discrepancies were noted in “account maintenance fees (+3.05 euros), the card with systematic authorization (+2.94 euros), and insurance for loss or theft of payment means (+2.49 euros).”
Clearly, geographical location has a significant impact on your annual banking expenses!
Which Banks Stand Out as the Most Affordable?
For our Bank Trophies assessment, we evaluated the banking fees across three client categories with varying needs: Young, Classic, and Premium. We calculated both “a la carte” rates and bundled service offers, ultimately identifying the most affordable options to compile a ranking of the least expensive banks in each territory. Here are the standout institutions recognized for their competitive pricing in the 2025 Bank Trophies.
Crédit Agricole: A Top Choice for Young Customers
Crédit Agricole of Guadeloupe and Crédit Agricole Martinique-Guyane shine with their Globe-Trotter formula, priced at just 2 euros per month. This service grants 18-30-year-olds access to an international bank card and waives transaction fees worldwide. As a result, our young participant incurred only 24 euros in banking fees per year, significantly lower than the territory’s average of 34.97 euros.
It’s worth noting, however, that this fee is still considerably higher than what the most economical banks in mainland regions typically charge, where young clients often pay as little as 12 euros annually (or even just 2 euros in the Grand Est).
Explore the complete ranking of Young rates for Guadeloupe
Check out the complete ranking of Young rates for Martinique
La Banque Postale Outre-Mer: The Best Option for Classic Clients
For clients classified as Classic, La Banque Postale continues to offer the lowest fees in both Guadeloupe and Martinique, mirroring rates found in mainland France at 161.20 euros per year. This figure is nearly 30 euros less than the average fees across institutions in these territories, which stand at 190.38 euros in Guadeloupe and 190.25 euros in Martinique—making them the highest in France.
Discover the complete ranking of Classic rates for Guadeloupe
View the complete ranking of Classic rates for Martinique
Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC: Leading for Premium Clients
For our Premium clients, who generally require high-end debit cards and travel frequently outside the euro zone, Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC emerges as the most cost-effective option, earning a Bank Trophy for the second consecutive year. They charge Guadeloupeans and Martiniquais 189.10 euros, which is an increase of 14 euros over the previous year. This fee still represents a significant saving, considering the average annual banking fees for Premium clients are 240.85 euros in Guadeloupe and 240.96 euros in Martinique—the highest averages in the nation.
Find the complete ranking of Premium rates for Guadeloupe
Check the complete ranking of Premium rates for Martinique
The Online Banking Advantage
Online banks continue to be champions in offering reduced banking fees, making them highly competitive options for consumers looking to save.
(1) Source: INSEE, 2022 data
(2) Annual report of the Banking Tariff Observatory 2023, published on October 12, 2023
(3) The IEDOM zone (Institute of Issuance of Overseas Departments) encompasses Guadeloupe, Guyane, Martinique, Mayotte, La Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.