How to open a current account in a bank in Italy

What’s the process for opening an Italian bank account?

13 April 2018, 12:11

If you’re thinking about moving to Italy on a permanent basis, or even if you’re just staying for a few months, it’s pretty much obligatory to open a bank account for even the simplest of administrative tasks. However, it’s not always an easy thing to do, opening a bank account in Italy, because many banks refuse foreigners who don’t have a residency permit. Here’s our handy guide to avoiding the pitfalls and easily opening an Italian bank account.

If you’re not a resident

Being an Italian resident means having a residency permit from the local town hall where you live. If you don’t have one, though, you can still open a ‘non-residents’ account, known in Italian as a “conto estero” or “conto internazionale”. With this type of account, the rates are higher but you won’t be charged for accrued interest, so transactions to and from bank accounts in other countries are cheaper. All you need to open an account of this kind is your passport.

If you’re a resident

If you are a resident in Italy, you can open a normal current account just the same as an Italian citizen. All you need is your passport, codice fiscale (which is like an Italian NI number and is available from the Italian Embassy), and a bill in your name sent to your address, or any other type of document that can prove where you are living.

There are many sorts of bank accounts available, from basic and joint accounts to ones with special benefits for women, families with children or students. In general, they work the same as British bank accounts, with a debit card being issued once the account is active, and plenty of options for online banking. Some of the most popular and well-known banks in Italy are Poste Italiane, Unicredit and Banca Intesa San Paolo, but it’s worth checking out all the offers on the market before settling for one.