What are the easiest countries in the EU for getting a bank account? [closed]

I'm moving around the EU a fair bit at the moment. First in the UK was fine - I was able to open a bank account with just a passport and a mailing address. Having a local bank account made life a lot simpler while there.

Then I moved to Sweden and tried to open an account there. You need a residence card, proof of home ownership or rental contract, a Swedish social security number ("personnummer") which in turn means you need to be able to prove the right to live there for at least 12 months, proof of employment, they want to know the ins and outs of your expected income and where you'll be transferring money to/from, etc etc etc. It took nearly 4 months in all.

What countries in the EU are the easiest for opening a bank account? It doesn't need anything like a credit card, overdraft facility etc, just basic savings, ATM card and online banking.

money eu countries

Best Answer

Czech Republic is extremely easy.

All you need is your passport and a phone number (to use the online banking)
No proof of address or residence status required
Debit cards are usually issued within 1 week
Both Visa's payWave and Mastercard's PayPass contactless cards are available
You can open an account in Euros, Dollars, and pretty much any other currency to save on transaction fees
Some banks (mBank.cz) even offer free worldwide ATM withdrawals, with no monthly fees

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How do I close a bank account in another country?

Pay an account closure fee to close the account. Provide authenticated copies of your ID and mail them in by registered mail. Provide your tax ID number to the bank to close the account and release funds. Draft, sign, and notarize a POA and then hire someone to go to the branch on your behalf to close the account.

What is the best country to have a bank account?

5 Best Countries to Open Offshore Bank Accounts

Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands have a reputation for being a tax haven for all people across the globe. ...
Switzerland. Switzerland banking entities actually offer ironclad confidentiality services to their clients. ...
Singapore. ...
Belize.

What happens to bank accounts after Brexit?

Will I still be able to keep my current account or savings account after Brexit? Yes, you will. There won't be any change to the way your current account or savings account works. We will let you know if that changes.

Are Swiss bank accounts untraceable?

The main benefits of Swiss bank accounts include low levels of financial risk and high levels of privacy. Swiss law prevents the bank from disclosing any information regarding an account (even its existence) without the depositor's permission, except in cases where severe criminal activity is suspected.

Open a Bank Account in Europe as a Non-Resident

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