1. Exchanging at Wells Fargo in the U.S.

• Pros
  • Convenience: You’ll already have euros in hand when you land (good for taxis, snacks, tips).
  • Predictability: You lock in the exchange rate upfront.
  • Easy ordering: Wells Fargo lets you order euros online or in branch, and they’ll deliver to your home or branch.
• Cons
  • Exchange rate markup: U.S. banks usually charge 3–5% above the market rate.
  • Fees: Wells Fargo charges a service fee (often around $7.50–$10 if under a certain amount).
  • You won’t get the best rate compared to other options.

2. Exchanging Money in Paris

• ATMs (best option):
  • If you have a debit card with low or no foreign transaction fees, withdrawing euros from ATMs in Paris usually gives you the best rate (close to market rate).
  • Watch out for fees: Wells Fargo may charge $5 per withdrawal + 3% foreign transaction fee, unless you have an account type that waives it.
• Currency exchange kiosks:
  • Found in airports and tourist areas, but they usually have worse rates and high fees—best avoided.

3. Best Strategy

• Bring a small amount of euros from Wells Fargo (maybe €100–€200) just for arrival convenience.
• Use ATMs in Paris for the bulk of your spending money (if your card allows).
• Consider using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees (like Chase Sapphire, Capital One, Amex) for hotels, restaurants, and shopping—it often gives the best exchange rate.

✅ Bottom line:
Yes, it’s smart to order a little from Wells Fargo before leaving, but don’t exchange large sums there. Use ATMs or no-foreign-fee credit cards in Paris for better rates.

You want to know how app payments work in France and across Europe (for travelers and for apps you may build). I’ll break it down:

1. Common Payment Methods in France & EU

• Credit & Debit Cards
  • Widely accepted: Visa and Mastercard everywhere; American Express less so.
  • Many places use chip & PIN and contactless tap-to-pay.
  • U.S. magnetic stripe cards often don’t work at unmanned kiosks (train stations, gas pumps).
• Mobile Wallets (App Payments)
  • Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used.
  • Samsung Pay works but less common.
  • Locals often link these to debit cards, while travelers can link to U.S. cards.
• Bank Transfers
  • The SEPA system (Single Euro Payments Area) makes euro bank transfers free or very cheap across EU countries.
  • Many apps (like utilities, subscriptions) support direct SEPA debit payments.
• Local Apps & Services
  • Paylib (French mobile payment service, bank-backed, works like Zelle in the U.S.).
  • Swish in Sweden, Bizum in Spain, Satispay in Italy, etc.—each country may have its own local app.

2. For Travelers

• Bring a chip & PIN card or use Apple Pay/Google Pay.
• At cafés, shops, metro: tap-to-pay is usually faster than cash.
• For splitting bills with friends: locals might use Paylib or Revolut; as a visitor, Revolut or Wise can be handy for euro accounts.

3. For Building Apps (if you’re developing)

If your app needs to accept payments in France/EU:

• Card Processing: Stripe, Adyen, Mollie, or PayPal (they all support euros + SEPA).
• Local Options:
  • Offer SEPA Direct Debit for subscriptions.
  • Support Apple Pay & Google Pay.
  • Consider PayPal (still popular in EU).
• Regulations: You’ll need to comply with PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2), which requires Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) (extra verification like 3D Secure).

4. Trends

• Contactless payments are standard—even small bakeries accept them.
• Cash is still used, but less than before—especially post-COVID.
• Apps increasingly support multi-currency accounts (Wise, Revolut, N26) for both locals and travelers.

👉 Quick tip for you as a traveler to Paris:
Download Wise or Revolut before leaving the U.S.—they give you a euro balance, a virtual card for Apple/Google Pay, and better exchange rates than Wells Fargo or airport kiosks.

Here’s a clear comparison to help you decide whether to link Wells Fargo or Bank of America (BoA) debit cards to Google Pay:

Google Pay Support for Wells Fargo vs. Bank of America

Wells Fargo

• Full support: You can add Visa® and Mastercard® Wells Fargo debit (and credit) cards to Google Pay, either directly from your mobile app or from the Google Pay app.wellsfargo.comGoogle Help
• No fees: Wells Fargo doesn’t charge any fee for using Google Pay.wellsfargo.com
• Added security: Uses tokenization—your actual card number isn’t shared, and transactions are covered by Wells Fargo’s Zero Liability protection.wellsfargo.com+1
• Extra convenience: You can even use Google Pay to tap and withdraw cash from Wells Fargo ATMs.Wise

Bank of America

• Supported as well: BoA debit and credit cards can be added to Google Pay—BoA provides the service via its digital wallet setup.Google HelpBank of America Promotions
• Secure & convenient: Similar benefits like tokenization, $0 liability, and contactless payments are provided.Bank of America Promotions
• ATM access: Google Pay can also be used for contactless ATM withdrawals at Bank of America ATMs.Wise

Side-by-Side Comparison

Bottom Line

Both Wells Fargo and Bank of America are equally well-supported in Google Pay. You’ll enjoy the same core benefits—secure tokenized payments, zero liability protection, and contactless convenience.

If you're trying to choose between them, consider:

• Which bank offers lower ATM or foreign transaction fees, especially if traveling.
• Which account you use more often, so your spending and tracking stay consolidated.
• Any additional travel perks or regional support one bank may offer over the other.

Wells Fargo vs. Bank of America — International Use (with Google Pay)

1. Google Pay & Support

2. International Transaction & ATM Fees

Wells Fargo

• Foreign transaction fee: 3% per transaction.
• ATM withdrawals abroad:
  • Standard accounts: $5 per withdrawal + local ATM fee.
  • Prime/Premier accounts: fee waivers for out-of-network ATMs (reimbursed).

Bank of America

• Foreign transaction fee: 3% per transaction.
• ATM withdrawals abroad:
  • Standard: 3% fee always applies.
  • If you use a Global ATM Alliance partner bank (e.g., BNP Paribas in France), you may avoid the BoA ATM fee, but you’ll still pay the 3% foreign transaction fee.

3. Snapshot Comparison

4. Bottom Line

• Both banks fully support Google Pay with no fees, secure tokenization, and contactless ATM withdrawals.
• International costs: Both charge a 3% foreign transaction fee.
  • Wells Fargo: Better if you have a Premier/Prime account (ATM fee reimbursements).
  • Bank of America: Advantage if you use Global ATM Alliance partners (e.g., BNP in France), but the 3% fee still applies.
• Best travel debit card alternative: Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking → 0% foreign transaction fees and unlimited global ATM fee reimbursements (ideal for frequent travelers).