Opening a Bank Account
This article explains the process of opening a bank account in Italy.
Most Italian banks will only deal with customers in person. This means that to open an account one needs to visit a local branch. Some will allow opening an account from abroad but this is often a complicated process requiring letters from your existing bank account confirming your status, etc.
A few banks have branches overseas and it may be easier for non-Italians to open an account there.
Requirements
The following papers are necessary to open an account:
- passport
- tax number (codice fiscale)
- recent utility bill (as proof of address)
- a Residence Permit, Residence Certificate or evidence of a job
You may also need to provide:
- Birth Certificate
- reference from another bank (for non-Italians)
To open an account the holder must be at least 18 years old.
Non-Residents
Non-residents are entitled only to open a non-resident account (conto estero) which is either a foreign currency account or an account which allows paying in by imported euro. These types of account usually pay a slightly higher level of interest and no tax withholding.
Non-residents cannot open post office accounts.
Types of Account
The most common types of account are a cheque account (assegno) or current account (conto corrente/interno). These will often come with a Bancomat card (popular in Italy) and/or cheque book.
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