An Italian bank account is the second thing everyone needs after the codice fiscale: the employer wants an IBAN, the landlord wants a bonifico, the electricity company wants a direct debit. Here is what to bring, what to ask and how to say it.
Branch or online?
Online banks open an account in a day with a video call and are cheap. A traditional branch takes an appointment, an hour and paperwork, but gives you a person to talk to when something goes wrong, and Italian bureaucracy makes that valuable. Many newcomers do both: an online account first, a branch account once settled.
What to bring
- Passport or EU identity card.
- Codice fiscale (see what it is and how to get it).
- Proof of address: a lease, a utility bill or the certificato di residenza.
- Permesso di soggiorno or the receipt of the application, if you are non-EU.
- Sometimes an employment contract or payslip, especially for credit cards.
Booking and starting the conversation
Walk in and ask for an appointment, or phone:
Buongiorno, vorrei aprire un conto corrente. Devo prendere un appuntamento?
Sono residente in Italia da due mesi, lavoro a Milano.
At the appointment, the banker (il consulente or l'impiegato) will present the account types. Listen for conto base (basic, low fee), conto online, conto per giovani (under 30) and conto per non residenti.
The questions they ask
| They say | It means | Answer |
|---|
| Che tipo di conto le serve? | What kind of account do you need? | Un conto corrente normale, per lo stipendio. |
| Ha un contratto di lavoro? | Do you have an employment contract? | Sì, a tempo indeterminato / determinato. |
| Vuole anche la carta di credito? | Do you also want a credit card? | Per ora solo il bancomat. |
| Vuole l'accredito dello stipendio? | Do you want your salary paid here? | Sì. |
| Firmi qui, qui e qui. | Sign here, here and here. | Read before signing. |
Bancomat is the debit card and the cash machine; carta prepagata is a prepaid card; bonifico is a bank transfer; addebito diretto (or SDD) is a direct debit.
The questions you should ask
Quanto costa il canone mensile?
I bonifici sono gratuiti online?
Ci sono costi per i prelievi all'estero?
Quando arriva la carta?
Come attivo l'app?
Fees add up quietly in Italy: canone, imposta di bollo (a state stamp duty of 34.20 euros a year on balances above 5,000 euros), commissioni on transfers at the counter. Ask, and prefer doing everything through the app.
Everyday banking phrases
- Vorrei fare un bonifico a questo IBAN. (I would like to make a transfer.)
- Vorrei prelevare cinquecento euro. (I would like to withdraw 500 euros.)
- La carta è bloccata, cosa devo fare? (My card is blocked.)
- Ho perso la carta, vorrei bloccarla. (I lost my card, I want to block it.)
- Mi può stampare l'estratto conto? (Can you print my statement?)
One visit, no return trips
The difference between one visit and three is usually a missing document or a misunderstood question. Bring everything on the list, ask for things to be repeated slowly, and if you want to rehearse the appointment first, that is a very good use of a first lesson at Adesso Italian. Here is how it works.
