Tvoi ConciergeHow to Open a Bank Account in Italy
The documents, the difference between resident and non-resident accounts and the real timings, with a team that prepares the file, books the branch and comes with you.
To open a bank account in Italy you need four things: an Italian tax code (codice fiscale), a valid passport or ID card, proof of your address, and a document showing where your income comes from, such as an employment contract, a pension statement or a tax return. Non-EU citizens living in Italy also show a valid residence permit. You then book an appointment at a branch: anti-money-laundering rules oblige the bank to identify you, and a traditional Italian bank does that face to face. The contract is signed there and in most cases the account is opened the same day. The IBAN is usually active within a few working days, while cards and online-banking codes arrive by post in one to two weeks. The question that decides everything is resident or non-resident. If you are registered with an Italian comune you open an ordinary resident account, and anyone legally resident in the EU has the right to a basic account (conto di base). If you live abroad and own or are buying property here, you ask for a conto non residenti: fewer banks offer it, the fees are higher, and the branch will want to understand your link with Italy and the source of your funds. Expect more questions than the fee sheet suggests, and expect them in Italian. Opening a bank account in Italy is something we do every month, in Florence, Forte dei Marmi and across Tuscany. We tell you which documents your bank will actually accept, arrange translations where they are needed, book the appointment at a branch used to foreign clients, and sit at the table with you in Russian, Italian, German or English, so nothing is signed before it is understood.
How We Help With Banking
Resident or Non-Resident Account
We look at your status, your plans and where you pay tax, then tell you which of the two account types you can realistically get and what each one costs.
Codice Fiscale and the Document File
We obtain the codice fiscale if you do not have one, then assemble ID, proof of address and proof of income, with sworn translations where the bank asks for them.
The Right Bank and the Appointment
Not every branch opens accounts for foreigners willingly. We choose one that does, book the appointment and make sure your file is on the desk before you arrive.
Private Banking Introduction
Where the size of the relationship calls for it, we arrange an introduction to a private bank. Terms, products and advice come from their specialists: we are not financial advisers.
With You at the Counter
We come to the appointment and interpret, so the contract, the fees, the stamp duty and the card limits are all clear to you before anything is signed.
Cards, Online Banking and Transfers
After opening we set up the app, the home banking codes and the cards, run your first transfer and register rent and utilities for direct debit.
Why Clients Open Accounts With Us
We Know What Each Branch Asks
Requirements are written by head office and applied by the branch. We know which documents are genuinely accepted locally, so you do not lose weeks to a second appointment.
Expected, Not Walking In Cold
Your file goes to a bank already used to foreign clients, and the appointment is booked only once the paperwork is complete and checked.
Four Languages at the Table
Russian, Italian, German and English. We translate the contract while it is being read, not afterwards, and we ask the questions you would not think to ask.
Independent and Discreet
We sell no banking product and take nothing from the bank. Your financial documents stay with a small team and go no further.
Bank Account FAQ
Can a non-resident open a bank account in Italy?
Yes. Italian banks offer a conto non residenti, typically to property owners and buyers who live abroad. Fewer branches handle them, the fees are higher and the bank will ask about your connection to Italy and the source of your funds.
What documents do I need to open an Italian bank account?
A valid passport or ID, a codice fiscale, proof of address and proof of income, plus a residence permit for non-EU citizens living in Italy. Every bank adds requests of its own, so we confirm the exact list with the branch before your appointment.
How long does it take to open a bank account in Italy?
The appointment takes about an hour and the account is usually opened the same day. The IBAN normally works within a few working days, and cards and online banking codes reach you by post in one to two weeks.
Online bank or a branch account?
An online bank or payment app gives you an IBAN in a day and is fine for everyday spending. A branch account is the safer choice for a mortgage, a property purchase, utilities by direct debit or a salary paid in Italy, since some Italian counterparties still resist a foreign IBAN.
Do I need a codice fiscale before going to the bank?
Yes, no Italian bank will open an account without one. It is free, issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate or by an Italian consulate if you are still abroad, and usually available the same day. We can obtain it for you.
How much does an Italian bank account cost?
Current accounts commonly range from free to around 15 euro a month, with non-resident accounts at the higher end. On top of that the state charges annual stamp duty of 34.20 euro on personal accounts whose average balance exceeds 5,000 euro.
Can Russian citizens open an account in Italy in 2026?
There is no guarantee: each bank decides case by case and looks closely at your residence permit, tax status and source of funds. An Italian permesso di soggiorno improves the odds considerably, while EU sanctions rules cap deposits from Russian citizens without a residence permit in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland at 100,000 euro per bank. We tell you honestly how your case looks before you travel.