If you opened a Lydia account years ago to split dinner bills with friends, you might want to check your email archives. Sumeria, the néo-banque (neobank) that evolved from Lydia’s banking division, is now charging 3€ per month for inactive accounts, and many users only discovered this buried in a lengthy January email about rate changes.
The 3€ Monthly Charge Hiding in Plain Sight
Starting March 12, 2026, Sumeria will apply frais d’inactivité (inactivity fees) of 3€ monthly to any “Basique” (Basic) account showing no transactions for two consecutive calendar months. The announcement arrived in early January via email, but as many users noted, the critical detail was buried deep in the message body alongside other rate modifications.
This change replaces the previous 2€ monthly card inactivity fee, but with a crucial difference: you no longer need to have ordered a physical card to be charged. Simply maintaining an open account with a zero balance can trigger fees if no qualifying activity occurs.
What Counts as “Activity”?
Sumeria defines activity as any of the following operations:
– Card payments or withdrawals
– Prélèvements (direct debits)
– Virements (transfers)
– Investment operations
A single transaction every two months suffices to avoid charges. The company states it will warn users before billing, but consumer feedback suggests previous fee applications lacked adequate notice.
Who’s Most at Risk?
The policy particularly impacts anciens clients Lydia (former Lydia customers) whose accounts were automatically migrated when Lydia split its services in spring 2024. During this transition, Lydia separated peer-to-peer payments (retained under the Lydia app) from banking services (moved to Sumeria). Many users who never requested a full bank account found themselves with dormant Sumeria accounts they didn’t actively choose.
You’re likely affected if:
– You had a Lydia account with IBAN and card features before 2024
– Your account was automatically converted to Sumeria during the split
– You haven’t performed any transactions in the past two months
– You’re on the free “Basique” plan
If you only used Lydia for occasional peer-to-peer transfers without activating banking features, you might not have a Sumeria account at all, worth verifying before worrying about fees.
The User Backlash and Communication Controversy
The sentiment among affected users is clear: frustration over both the fees and how they were communicated. Many report ignoring the January email entirely, while others who read it missed the inactivity fee mention amid numerous other changes, including reduced account remuneration (from what was already a minimal rate) and increased rejection fees.
One user closing their account wrote in the comments: “J’ai souhaité bon courage aux salariés restants” (I wished good luck to the remaining employees), highlighting sympathy for staff caught in what many see as a poorly executed business pivot. Others noted Sumeria’s three business model shifts in five years, from joint accounts to micro-credits to full néo-banque, suggesting internal instability.
How to Protect Yourself
You have until March 12, 2026, to take action. After that date, silence equals acceptance of the new terms.
Option 1: Close Your Sumeria Account (Recommended for Dormant Accounts)
Via the Sumeria app:
1. Go to the “Moi” (Me) tab
2. Navigate to “Préférences” (Preferences) > “Sécurité” (Security)
3. Scroll to “Supprimer mon compte” (Delete my account)
4. Ensure your balance is zero, even centimes will block deletion
5. Confirm the closure
Important note: Deleting your Sumeria account may also delete your Lydia account, as the systems are linked. If you still use Lydia for peer-to-peer payments, download the Lydia app first and verify your credentials work there before closing Sumeria.
Alternative: Email contact@sumeria.eu to request closure.
Option 2: Switch to Lydia-Only
If you only need peer-to-peer payment functionality:
1. Download the Lydia app (your Sumeria credentials work there)
2. Verify you can access your account and payment features
3. Close the Sumeria account while retaining Lydia access
4. This avoids fees while keeping core payment features
Option 3: Maintain Minimal Activity
If you want to keep the Sumeria account for occasional use:
– Make at least one qualifying transaction every two months
– Set a calendar reminder to transfer 1€ to a friend or make a small card purchase
– Monitor your statements for unexpected charges
The Bigger Picture: French Fintech’s Monetization Challenge
Sumeria’s move reflects broader pressures on French néo-banques to achieve profitability. With over six million users inherited from Lydia, converting free users to paid customers, or monetizing them through fees, becomes tempting. However, this strategy risks alienating the very user base that made Lydia successful.
The approach also raises questions about transparency. While French law requires notifying customers of term changes, burying critical fee information in dense emails tests the spirit of consumer protection regulations. Users can technically contest changes before March 12, but this requires proactive contact with service client (customer service), a process many won’t undertake.
Regulatory Context: Your Rights in France
Under French banking regulations, you have specific rights:
– Free account closure: Sumeria confirms “aucun frais ni pénalité” (no fees or penalties) for closing accounts
– Contest period: You can reject the new terms by contacting customer service before March 12
– Fee transparency: Banks must clearly communicate charges, though “clairement” remains subjective
These fees are separate from those mandated by the loi Eckert (Eckert Law) for dormant accounts, which apply after much longer inactivity periods and involve different procedures.
Action Checklist: What to Do Today
- Check if you have a Sumeria account: Search your email for “Sumeria” or check your app library
- Verify your last transaction: Log in and review activity from the past two months
- Decide your path:
- Close account if unused (fastest via app security settings)
- Keep and maintain activity if occasionally useful
- Switch to Lydia-only for peer payments
- Empty the balance: Transfer any remaining funds to your main bank account
- Document closure: Take screenshots of the deletion process for your records
- Monitor statements: Watch for unexpected charges through March and April
The Bottom Line
Sumeria’s 3€ monthly fee won’t break the bank, but it will steadily drain dormant accounts. For a service built on simplicity and user-friendly design, this move feels counter to the brand’s original ethos. The real cost isn’t just the euros, it’s the trust erosion among users who feel caught off guard.
If you’ve been meaning to clean up your digital financial footprint, consider this your official prompt. That Lydia account you opened in 2018 and forgot about? It’s time to either use it or lose it, before it starts costing you.
For more details on Sumeria’s fee structure and user reactions, see coverage from Frandroid, France Info, and iGeneration.
