Italian banks offer current, savings accounts, and joint
accounts for couples (conto corrente cointestato).
Moreover, some banks offer special conditions or accounts for
special categories of customers, like children, young people,
pensioners and students.
In general terms, no fees are charged when you withdraw cash from
your own bank's ATM as well as when paying in shops within the
country.
Before you decide to open a bank account, you should get all the
information you may need! Banks can indeed offer different, more or
less suitable solutions (i.e. fees included or not for account
management, for the withdrawal of money, etc.).
Bank opening hours
Bank opening hours vary according to the bank and the
town. Banks are usually open from 8.00 am or 8.30 until 1.00 pm or
1.30 pm and in the afternoons from 2.30 pm or 3.00 pm until 4.00 pm
or 4.30 pm. Some banks are open on Saturday mornings.
On the day before a bank holiday, banks are often closed in the
afternoon.
Bank branches at airports and railway stations have longer opening
hours for money-changing services as do currency exchange bureaus
in cities.
Did you know that 'a bank account' in Italian is
'un conto corrente'? Click here for a
useful glossary
!!!
Opening a bank account
Bank accounts can be opened in Italy by both residents and
non-residents above 18 years of age. Foreigners working in Italy
may open an account in order to pay in a salary and have a credit
or debit card.
To open a bank account, you may be asked to provide one or more of
the following documents:
- passport or valid ID;
- Tax
Identification Code (Codice Fiscale);
- recent utility bill (as proof of address);
- residence certificate (or valid permit of stay) and or proof of
employment in Italy (work contract or payslip).
Check the necessary documentation with the bank of your
choice.
Unfortunately, having a bank account in Italy costs more than in
other countries in Europe. Please remember also that the fees
depend on the type of account you have opened.
Opening a post office account
Post offices also offer banking services and savings and
current accounts. Any resident over the age of 18 may open a postal
account. If you want to open one, you may need to provide one or
more of the following documents:
- passport or valid ID;
- Tax
Identification Code (Codice Fiscale);
- recent utility bill;
- residence certificate or valid permit of stay (Permesso di
Soggiorno).
For further information, visit Poste
Italiane.
Sources: Bank of
Italy; Poste
Italiane