Tips for opening a bank account in Finland

To get a card from this bank, you need to have your Residence Permit card (for social security number you have to visit DVV first), passport, Finnish ID card (issued by Finnish Police), and other possible documents to prove your identity.

OP Bank provides application forms in English, so don’t worry if you can’t understand Finnish! What is more, the monthly charge is somewhat under 10 euros (during the time the blog was written) depending on the services you open, but you have another option by paying a 100 euros membership fee (during the time the blog was written) and no more monthly charge. The bank also has a bonus collection program for investments like funds, insurance, various loans, etc.

In addition to the documents mentioned in OP Bank, Danske bank technically requires a Finnish ID, However, if you brought a cheque from your country, Danske is suitable for you. If you registering as a student (18-32 years old), you can get a silver service package, so you don’t have to pay a monthly fee. Otherwise, it costs you up to 10 euros (during the time the blog was written) like OP. What is more, Danske is very strict with working hours, i.e, they normally work in the morning, and you need to reserve an appointment before visiting.

From Nordea, you can get a card without a Finnish ID. The bank has good English services and allows for saving foreign currencies. Many foreigners love to have a card from this bank. Normally, the account management fee for a balance with credit is EUR 4,50 a month (during the time the blog was written) and students can qualify for a credit limit between EUR 1 500 and EUR 2,000 (during the time the blog was written) even if they do not have any income. You can get a Nordea Gold card if you are aged 19-30 and studying in a university, university of applied sciences, or some other higher education institution. Make sure to book an appointment before visiting the bank.

You don’t need to have a Finnish ID for opening an account in this bank, and you can still use the online banking system. It takes approximately a month to get the card without a Finnish ID. You can visit their office without an appointment, and they have long working hours, so you can even go there in the evening. A 100 euros membership fee (during the time the blog was written) is required, and it is refundable when you cancel the card. Otherwise, you must pay a monthly fee. Being a membership means you get bonuses from all S-group companies, including Prisma, S-supermarket, Sale, Hesburger, and some coffee shops. However, application forms and other documents issued by this bank are in Finnish, so you probably need Google Translator.