How can I open a bank account?

[midlandpete]

Hi All

When I was in Puglia in the summer tried to open a bank account and found it impossible

It was partly my fault as I dont speak Italian (signed up for a course as soon as I came back) and no one seemed to understand my broken italina for open a bank account

Met and English Business man but he advised that all the banks he had dealt with just ripped him off so he didn't use a bank anymore (a good start) Someone also said that the italian government took money from your account (is it some sort of tax)

The best advice I could get was to open an account with the post office

When I tried I hit a brick wall

So I put my Euro travellers cheques back in my pocket and came home!

Long term was hoping to move to italy (Abruzzo?) and possible buy a house to retire in but this whole thing has put me off a bit - had heard it was hard work doing things in italy but did not think it was this bad - I can open a bank account by post in England!

Dont the Italians want to do any business or is it just me not knowing the system

Long term must do something about this but just dont know what?

Pete

[Nardini]

You need to get your Codice Fiscale first - in fact, you need that before you can do most official things here in Italy. You will then need an address in Italy that you have residency at. Residency is something you will apply for at your local comune - ask for the anagraf.

Once you have done that, you can do just about anything you fancy - apart from vote in Italian elections. Of course, you will be able to vote in the European elections once your residency is confirmed.

The stories you were told that Italians are all thieves or that the government takes money directly out of your bank account is concerned - you can feel assured that the stories are nonsense. Sour grapes is an expression that comes readily to mind.

As far as your thought as to whether or not Italians want your business is concerned - "they" are not particularly bothered for your business one way or the other. Your happy integration into Italian life would be far more interesting.

[Bevdeforges]

Don't have any experience in Italy, but I hear many administrative things there are similar to here in France. Until you are resident in Italy, they may restrict you to a so-called "foreigner's account." That could be the tax the English businessman was speaking of - it's supposed to prevent folks stashing money all around the EU to avoid their home taxman.

For a temporary "bank" until you establish your residence, the Post Office is actually a pretty good idea. But be prepared to have to provide lots of documents to open a normal resident account. It's just the way things are.
Cheers,
Bev

[christosandkim]

Originally Posted by Nardini

You need to get your Codice Fiscale first - in fact, you need that before you can do most official things here in Italy. You will then need an address in Italy that you have residency at. Residency is something you will apply for at your local comune - ask for the anagraf.

Once you have done that, you can do just about anything you fancy - apart from vote in Italian elections. Of course, you will be able to vote in the European elections once your residency is confirmed.

The stories you were told that Italians are all thieves or that the government takes money directly out of your bank account is concerned - you can feel assured that the stories are nonsense. Sour grapes is an expression that comes readily to mind.

As far as your thought as to whether or not Italians want your business is concerned - "they" are not particularly bothered for your business one way or the other. Your happy integration into Italian life would be far more interesting.

It sounds very similar to the system in Greece! We cant wait to be part of Italian life later this year!

[midlandpete]

So are you saying that unless I am a resident I cannot open an account?

pete

[Barry]

Originally Posted by midlandpete

So are you saying that unless I am a resident I cannot open an account?

pete

We opened an account with Unicredit in Pescara. They arranged the codice fiscale's for us. It is just a checking account we used to purchase our house and they now pay our electric bill from it for us. Very convenient but expensive in terms of service charges.

[luiss_in_basilicata]

Originally Posted by Nardini

You need to get your Codice Fiscale first - in fact, you need that before you can do most official things here in Italy. You will then need an address in Italy that you have residency at. Residency is something you will apply for at your local comune - ask for the anagraf.

Once you have done that, you can do just about anything you fancy - apart from vote in Italian elections. Of course, you will be able to vote in the European elections once your residency is confirmed.

The stories you were told that Italians are all thieves or that the government takes money directly out of your bank account is concerned - you can feel assured that the stories are nonsense. Sour grapes is an expression that comes readily to mind.

As far as your thought as to whether or not Italians want your business is concerned - "they" are not particularly bothered for your business one way or the other. Your happy integration into Italian life would be far more interesting.

you don't need an address to have your own codice fiscale. Anyway, you can open a bank account just going to the bank and ask there! It is preferable to have an italian address, better residency, otherwise they will charge you as EU account, more taxes! The myth about governement taking money from the bank account is just a myth! The bank charge you monthly for the paper they use and other little expenses but you can easily check all the details on your "estratto conto"!

[luiss_in_basilicata]

Originally Posted by luiss_in_basilicata

you don't need an address to have your own codice fiscale. Anyway, you can open a bank account just going to the bank and ask there! It is preferable to have an italian address, better residency, otherwise they will charge you as EU account, more taxes! The myth about governement taking money from the bank account is just a myth! The bank charge you monthly for the paper they use and other little expenses but you can easily check all the details on your "estratto conto"!

I forget to say, I'm not 110% sure but you can inscribe yourself in the voting list of Italy as well, not just EU! So you can vote in Italy in your own place!

[Nardini]

Originally Posted by luiss_in_basilicata

you don't need an address to have your own codice fiscale. Anyway, you can open a bank account just going to the bank and ask there!

As I said, luiss, you need your Codice Fiscale FIRST. I appreciate that you are Italian, born and bred, however - I have lived here for over 15 years (working) and my wife for nearly 60 years. We do actualy know what we are talking about, so please can we have a little less of the xenophobia.

As far as "Just going to a bank and ask" is concerned, you MUST have a Codice Fiscale if you wish an Italian bank account. If you also have Residenza, you can then have a "normal" bank account, rather than a "foreigners" account - which costs considerably less in bank charges.


It matters not where someone was born when it comes to knowledge - it is the aquisition and application of that knowledge that matters. Being born Italian does not make you the font of knowledge of all things Italian, of course - although it MAY help you understand the grammar of Italian law sometimes.

[Nardini]

Originally Posted by luiss_in_basilicata

I forget to say, I'm not 110% sure but you can inscribe yourself in the voting list of Italy as well, not just EU! So you can vote in Italy in your own place!

You are partly correct here, Luiss. You are eligible to vote in Italy once you have your residenza established in the following circumstances:

1) If you are a citizen of a EU member state, you are eligible to vote in the European Elections - if you are non-EU, however (such as US or Australian, etc) you do not have this eligibility.

2) You are eligible to vote in the local municipal elections, once you have residenza granted.

3) You are not eligible to vote for any national elections in Italy unless you hold full citizenship of Italy.

4) Your entitlement to vote in your home country elections remains whilst you are in Italy. You must register with the relevant authorities in your country of citizenship to do so.

As the EU elections are coming up soon, anyone wishing to vote must make sure that their registration with their local comune is in order and that they have their voting card in time for the elections.