Opening a bank account

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If you are staying in Finland for an extended period of time, opening a Finnish bank account will make your daily life here significantly easier. In addition to simplifying everyday banking, it will enable you to use strong authentication, which is often required when using digital services in Finland. For example, you need to use strong authentication if you want to prove your student status on the HSL app and access student-priced public transportation tickets. Additionally, if you are granted a Dean’s Award or a National Language Scholarship, you will need a Finnish bank account to receive it.

Opening a bank account can be a lengthy process, often stretching over several months. You can speed it up by booking an appointment with your chosen bank already before leaving your home country, as waiting times can be significant. Please note that to open a bank account you need a Finnish personal identity code and a municipality of residence registered at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. If you don't have those yet, make sure you take care of this first before your bank appointment.

We have outlined the process for you below:

1. Book an appointment with your chosen bank. This can be done by calling, booking online, or visiting a branch in person. Make sure that you have already received your Finnish personal identity code and registered your municipality of residence (please see above).

2. Bring the required documents to your first bank appointment. Standard documents include:

  • Passport or national ID card (if you are an EU/EEA citizen);
  • Finnish personal identity code;
  • Finnish residence permit card or confirmation of an EU/EEA citizen’s residence registration;
  • Certificate of student status at the University of Helsinki (you can download it from Sisu);
  • Employment contract (if applicable).

3. Be prepared to provide additional information and answer any questions from the officer in charge of your application. Questions may include:

  • Your occupational status which describes your financial position (e.g., student);
  • Origin or source of your funds and regular payment transactions or cash flows;
  • Estimated amounts of your regular payment transfers (e.g., certificate of scholarship);
  • Estimated amounts of your foreign payments and reasons for them;
  • Whether you will use the bank as your main bank;
  • Whether you, or your family members or business partners, are in a prominent public function and thus, a Politically Exposed Person (PEP). 

NB! A Finnish ID-card is not mandatory to open a bank account or to obtain an online banking ID and non-Finnish citizens have the right to access basic banking services. This is endorsed by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority, which states that "The bank can only refuse an electronic identification service if the customer does not have a personal identity code or if he or she has not been entered in the population register."  Nevertheless, some banks might still demand a Finnish ID-card or a form from the Finnish police, but you can always try to convince them otherwise by referring to the page of the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority.

Once your bank card is ready, you will be contacted either by phone r or email. Your card can be picked up at the branch where you opened your account or mailed to your registered address.

NB! The practice of opening a bank account varies according to bank and branch in Finland. Each case is decided individually by the bank. However, every bank has a statutory obligation to open basic payment account services to anyone who has a legal residence in an EEA member state. When making an appointment with your chosen bank, please confirm what documents are required for opening an account.

In most banks, you will be able to get your account number immediately. However, getting access to a Visa Electron bank card and internet banking will take longer, possibly two to four months after the account has been opened.

Here are four major Finnish banks that have services available in English with links to their web pages.