Want a Bank Account in Finland Fast? Do This

Getting a Bank Account in Finland is not simple and can take weeks and even months if you're unprepared. Today, you'll learn everything you need to know.
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✅ Moving to Finland and want to get a detailed explanation of these steps? Get your guide here: aleksihimself....
✅ 10 BiG Mistakes Foreigners Do when Moving to Finland: • 10 BIG MISTAKES When M...
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Resources mentioned:
Apply for a Personal Identitify code and home municipality (USE ONLY IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HETU): lomakkeet.dvv....
Apply for a HOME MUNICIPALITY ONLY (use this if you have a Hetu already): lomakkeet.dvv....
Book a meeting with DVV: secure.vihta.c...
Read more about Home Municipality: dvv.fi/en/muni...
Book a meeting with the police (you can try if it works, but they're always booked): asiointi.polii...
Power of Attorney to collect the Finnish ID Card: poliisi.fi/doc...
Book a meeting with OP here: www.op.fi/priv...
Book a meeting S-pankki (Finnish only, use Google Translate): www.s-pankki.f...
LET ME HELP YOU 👇🏼
✅ Get the best, stress and hassle-free start for your new life in Finland with WTF Service: aleksihimself....
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✅ Connect with Finns and learn to live like a Finn in Finland: aleksihimself....
COURSES:
✅ Start Your New Life in Finland with Confidence: aleksihimself....
✅ Start Speaking Finnish like a Finn: aleksihimself....
Quick Guides:
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[@AleksiHimself]

Moving to Finland and want to get a detailed explanation of these steps? Get your guide here: aleksihimself.ck.page/46a8340cac 10 BiG Mistakes Foreigners Do when Moving to Finland: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqKxlGZshsmnd8k

[@HONNEKI]

I don't know why I'm watching this I already have a bank in Finland 👍🇫🇮

[@AleksiHimself]

Good stuff anyways! 😃🙌

[@Livingalittle]

Hahah it’s okay ❤ I don’t , you be my wing person and cheer me in getting this done

[@mikeh2772]

Me too, just have not used it in the past 43 years.

[@DavidErroll]

finnish accent asmr 😅

[@BlindNinja404]

Thank you so much. I have been preparing to move to Finland for a while now and your videos have been a huge help and a guide to help me settle down faster. Kiitos. 🙏🏽

[@AleksiHimself]

Good stuff! FYI, I offer a service where I help throughout the process.

[@JuanSpot609]

I love your videos. A lot of love from Long Island, NY.

[@AleksiHimself]

Glad you like them!

[@Q-Mac_]

When I moved to Finland 5 years ago, I tried to open an account with OP and I received poor customer service, and they didn’t allow me to open an account with them. So I went to Nordea and I’ve been a loyal customer since. I’m now a permanent resident of Finland but based on my past experience with OP, I’ll most likely never become their customer. OP can f*ck off! 😂😂

[@AleksiHimself]

Sorry to hear that. Are you an EU citizen or not? Did you have the Finnish ID card when you went to OP? I've heard that this can happen at any bank, depending who happens to serve you. I get pissed off when I hear these experiences. I'm glad Nordea serves you well!

[@Q-Mac_]

@@AleksiHimself I’m an 🇺🇸 citizen and at the time i didn’t have my Finnish ID card yet. Also, the person who was helping me at OP was an older woman, from my experience in Finland older Finns definitely tend to stick with the rules 😂

[@AleksiHimself]

@@Q-Mac_ ok so that explains it then. The ID card would have probably gotten you service and the older woman most likely didn't have much experience with international customers.

[@Q-Mac_]

@@AleksiHimself I agree

[@ericgulsvig6160]

You are insanely helpful I have so many videos of yours saved for my upcoming trip in December.

[@aaronjaff7749]

I've opened a bank account in Finland and the steps you gave were really accurate.

[@AleksiHimself]

Good stuff! 😃🙌

[@stefansantokhie845]

Excellent video Aleksi. Very informative. I love how you highighted the difference between having and not having your ID card. The Finnish ID card for foreigners really makes you life easy as you can use e services so easily. But I know of people who are non EU persons who used their passport to pick up their ID card from R Kioski. I am/was one of them 😊. Thanks again for all of your information and assistance. You make life easy for so many foreigners here.

[@AleksiHimself]

Oh shit, really? :D I think some people don't know the proper procedures, and you were lucky then. Thanks for the support!

[@AleksiHimself]

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: When I talk about EU citizens, the correct terminology is actually the following: EEA countries, Switzerland, San Marino, or Finland.

[@brownie315]

Thanks for the video Aleksi!

[@AleksiHimself]

My pleasure!

[@theagencylife]

Good One 👍👍👍

[@AleksiHimself]

I know that the video contains many steps and details, so please don't hesitate to ask questions for clarification.

[@irisminerva8153]

Wow! This is very imformative!! Thank you

[@AleksiHimself]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joetheprogrammer0]

A good thing to remember is that if you can book something online, you can book it before you arrive. If for example DVV has a 4 week waiting list, you can book an appointment with them 4 weeks before you arrive so that you can talk to them the day after you arrive 😊

[@AleksiHimself]

Great tip! Thanks Joe.

[@nagyh374]

11:40 one thing to keep in mind even for EU citizens, OP (possibly other banks too) require you to have a residential address registered in DVV. If I’m not wrong the only way to do that is to apply for a home municipality. Also very important, short term accomodations such as hotels or serviced apartments (like Noli) cannot be registered as a residential address. They can only be used as a mailing address.

[@mikeh2772]

Good info, sounds like a pain in the neck. What about Nordea?

[@keylessdev]

OP remembersme of the Deutsche Bank here in Germany

[@AleksiHimself]

Gut zu wissen!

[@mohananirudh5714]

Please make a video about how to do medicine specialisation in Finland after completing your medical degree in a eu country or a non eu country.

[@AleksiHimself]

Sorry, but I don't have any knowledge of that industry.

[@Robert-fy9ue]

Two questions (1 what is a non-EU and a EU citizen? (2 everything else that you shared in this video. Does this just apply to foreigners or does this apply to Finn's as well?

[@AleksiHimself]

Good questions: 1) In this case EU citizens include EEA countries, Switzerland or San Marino and Finland. 2) Yes, applies to Finns as well.

[@JorisJorisJorisJoris]

I chose OP when moving in, and I regret. Their English services are partial, they will always switch back to Finnish in some point. My advice: choose Nordea.

[@AleksiHimself]

Can you tell me more? Their mobile app works in English at least.

[@quentinalbanhuchet8883]

Thanks for the feedback. I was hesitating between the two but I confirm that the confidence Nordea inspired when meeting was higher than with OP. I still need to go in person to visit the branch and open my bank account.

[@AleksiHimself]

@@quentinalbanhuchet8883 what do you mean with "Meeting was higher"?

[@JorisJorisJorisJoris]

@@AleksiHimself any message they send is in Finnish regardless of my language preferences. Anything the app cannot handle needs to be done on the website, which is in Finnish and won’t work properly if using Google translate. Even their feedback form is broken in English: it won’t accept apostrophes (‘) since this is not needed in Finnish. Basically the English experience will always break in some point.

[@AleksiHimself]

@@JorisJorisJorisJoris, thanks for sharing the details, and I'm sorry for your bad experience. Could you share an example of what you couldn't do on the app in English?

[@hun_warrior9042]

Hey! we are thinking about moving to Finland. We visited Finland in this April and we loved it. May I have a question? I'm a logistic manager and my wife will be a natura conservation engineer. We only speak English. Do we have a chance to get a job in Finland? I started to look for a job, but I think it is very hard.

[@AleksiHimself]

Overall, Finland has a tough job market. I advise researching the market and building your network & personal brand on LinkedIn to reveal the hidden job opportunities.

[@hun_warrior9042]

Kiitos Aleksi! Have a good weekend Mate!🙂

[@HawkanBruteForce]

Now do one for foreign companies that want to open a subsidary in Finland and want to open a finnish bank account without having a finnish citizen in the board :)

[@AleksiHimself]

Do you have plans to open a business in Finland? I am considering creating videos for starting and running a business in Finland.

[@annapulakka]

Kiitos videosta! Does this apply to students, too? I was under the impression that they don't get a kotikunta, but that might be outdated information.

[@AleksiHimself]

Good question. Students can (and should) get a kotikunta if they move to Finland for at least a year. This usually applies to degree students, not exchange students.

[@AleksiHimself]

I double-checked, and students can get a kotikunta if they move to Finland for at least a year. Their studies last at least two years, and the studies are either vocational or higher education that leads to a degree.

[@annapulakka]

@@AleksiHimself thanks for your effort! This makes sense. Getting the Kela card is a different matter then, and I don't think (degree) students get that, but I think those coming from outside EU/ETA have to have a health insurance in any case. And they have the student health services.

[@shamy5188]

Just moved to Finland a couple of days ago. Applied for a bank account in Nordea without going to dvv and police as a non-eu citizen. We'll see how it goes, but so far everything goes as planned

[@AleksiHimself]

So you just booked the meeting and haven't visited them yet? If you do that, they may give you an account or not, but you won't get online banking and have to go there again after you get the Finnish ID card. Based on my experience, you probably just waste your time there and recommend completing DVV and Police if possible. Let me know if you have more questions!

[@cameroncairns6311]

You're wasting your time, Nordea will ask for your Finnish ID number and police card. I know, because I tried the same last year.

[@AleksiHimself]

@@cameroncairns6311 thanks for sharing. If you get the ID card first, you will avoid extra hassle and get full service fast.

[@shamy5188]

@@AleksiHimself no, I’ve visited them and they took my data to open account. Now I just have to wait up to 10 business days. By the way, they called me the day after and asked to provide the proof of income since I was going to top my account with cash and I come from a sanctioned country (Belarus)

[@AleksiHimself]

@@shamy5188@shamy5188 thanks for letting me know. Did you also get the online banking codes?

[@parssat4861]

Coming to Finland as a legal immigrant (likewise me) is a waste of time. Finland is the best place for illegal immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers etc.

[@AleksiHimself]

Why do you think so?

[@parssat4861]

@@AleksiHimself I have, unfortunately, been around Finland since 2008. Of which, 4 years indirectly, 12 years directly. I do not remember any period in which I have had any proper residence permit without any problem due to problems that Migri has been causing me either intentionally or unintentionally. It does not matter anymore. . For the first time, I visited Finland in 2008 for 8 days in order to take part into the entrance exam of a University. I stepped in and out without any problem. When in 2009, I applied for a visa again, Migri rejected my application. At the Finnish embassy of my country, they told me that some people did not return. Some other applicants and I told them what is wrong with us. They said; other applicants from past year stayed illegally in Finland. Finland, instead of deporting the illegal immigrants, rejected us, the legal immigrants.

[@parssat4861]

These wrong doings by Migri did cost me some years. Unfortunately, I made this mistake to choose Finland because of the wrong image that Media created for us. In 2012, I got my first residence permit to study. After 4 years, in 2016, I did registered my company, a start-up. It was my 2nd big mistake I committed to stay in Finland. Everything was moving on very well until COVID. From March 2020 until the end of year, we all stayed home. Do you remember those days? . However, in January 2021, I did insist to return to my job despite of this fact that my income was diminished by 60-65%. I also told the employment office that I do not want the unemployment fund but, they told me that you are still eligible. I do remember, once that, I did raise my voice on the phone and said “I do nee need the fund and I want to work”. 3 months later, Migri sent me a deportation letter. The claimed that your income level is below. I told them that I am eligible to receive employment fund and I must not work since I am a tax payer and I did insure myself. On April 2021, from our perspective, Migri had to take me out of the line and most probably interview me as an exemplifying model to other people by saying; “This is the type of immigrant we do want here in Finland, a person that even rejects the unemployment fund in the most difficult situation in the world but still wants to work”. Instead, Migri did 180 degrees opposite.

[@parssat4861]

During these years (16 years), I did witness how Migri issued the citizenship to these illegal immigrants. By this type of wrong decisions, Migri is, wantedly or unwantedly, creating wrong patterns. Based on which, these illegal immigrants choose the easiest way by saying “our life is in danger, we changed our religions, and we have no freedom of speech” and so on and so on… . In the first 7-8 years of my residence in Finland, I did help nearly 20 people to come to Finland via legal channels. For instance, I did help those regarding TOEFL/IELTS exams, the study application matters, housing, etc. My help was likewise your job that you are doing onto KZbin but mine was without media. I can tell you nearly 15 of them escaped from Finland. Few of us has remained. We are now fortunately ready to follow them.

[@parssat4861]

Nothing in the world is 100%. Finland and its Migri, however, have proved that they are totally unreliable in terms of managing the legal immigrants. In April 2021 while there was no COVID vaccination, I just realized that I am in lower position than even those that are doing wrong doing abroad (I cannot mention their names since my comment might be blocked) but, Finland insists to return them to Finnish soil since they’re Finnish citizen. Good to Finland! Now I do understand why people choose to become an illegal immigrant rather than legal ones. As I mentioned above, while I was eligible to receive the unemployment fund in January 2021, I insisted to work, but three months later, Migri provided me with a deportation letter. . Within the same steering wheel that Finland is moving forward, Finland will certainly discriminate against us when we are in the retirement age. No room's left for further speculation since similar decisions can be seen in the current state & parliament! A Persian proverb says: "April & May the keys of the year".

[@maisaragamalabdelnaser3515]

Thanks a lot for that video, Aleksi, but sometimes is confusing me. Are there other steps for non EU vocational students that are staying in Finland for less than a year?

[@AleksiHimself]

If your permit is valid for less than a year, you cannot get a permanent address or use online banking.

[@AleksiHimself]

You can probably get an account but you can't access it online which makes it challenging.

[@maisaragamalabdelnaser3515]

@@AleksiHimself kiitos auttamaan

[@green-coder-clj]

As a EU citizen, I was able to open a bank account BUT .. I had to get a Finnish ID card to get access to strong authentication.

[@AleksiHimself]

Weird. Shouldn't work that way. Maybe the rep at the bank didn't know the procedure. I just coached an Hungarian citizen and he didn't need it at OP. Which bank did you go?

[@green-coder-clj]

@@AleksiHimself It was Nordea

[@AleksiHimself]

@@green-coder-clj thanks. I think you just had bad luck there, but at least you got it sorted eventually.

[@fayxe3400]

If it is possible can u make a video of how to get the kela health card for foreigners?

[@AleksiHimself]

Yes, but you can find all the info here. Just fill & print the three forms on this website and return or mail them to Kela. ihhelsinki.fi/services/social-security-benefits/

[@mdabufattah355]

How lame is the system of collecting the id card from R-kiosk.

[@AleksiHimself]

What do you mean?

[@quentinalbanhuchet8883]

Thanks for the excellent guidance! Do you confirm that Swiss citizens are treated like EU citizens?

[@AleksiHimself]

Good point. Yes, Swiss are treated like EU citizens.

[@ilouse1]

Please is the Finnish id card that we get ffrom the police veru mandatory to get the bank account ?

[@AleksiHimself]

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, the ID card will ensure you get the account and online banking fast. Otherwise, there may be a processing time of up to 3 months.

[@mikeh2772]

Not many expats moving back to Finland so not many views I gather, would still be cool if you had the time to do a brief "so you decided to come back home" video. Would not feel offended if you ragged on us for leaving in the first place. Terveisin: tyyppi Kuusankoskelta.

[@salinapoly1s]

Can you please help? If i get permanent residency in Finland, then is there any way to bring my parents permanently? my parents are under 60 years old. Is there any way to sponsor them?

[@AleksiHimself]

You can find the answer of Migri website, there is a specific section of that: migri.fi/en/faq-family#

[@daniil_berezhnov]

That's good news. Just to be sure: does a residence permit from an EU member (Poland) held by a non-EU citizen count as an EU-issued ID?

[@AleksiHimself]

No. Only a passport or an ID card counts. Besides, you need a residence permit from Finland to live in Finland.

[@udochukwusunday7325]

What about the Nordia bank, is it flexible to operate like the op you mentioned? And by the way welcome back.

[@AleksiHimself]

Nordea is okay, too. I've just been with OP all my life so I'm a bit biased.

[@udochukwusunday7325]

@@AleksiHimself 😀 thanks for being honest. We just moved to Finland a week ago. Trying to get use to how things flow.

[@AleksiHimself]

@@udochukwusunday7325 WTF: Welcome to Finland!

[@udochukwusunday7325]

@@AleksiHimself Thank you.

[@Avikar_Shi]

So the process for registering with DVV with SSN no. take 4-6 weeks and how much time it take to get the SSN no in case you haven't received with your residency permit!!! Will someone get instantly after applying it online with DVV !! Any idea on this..Thanks in advance.

[@AleksiHimself]

I didn't understand your question. Can you please elaborate?

[@stevenwu4390]

I would like to ask something on this, so after visiting DVV. Do we have to wait until we go to police? So we visit bank after we get card from police station or can we go bank and police station at the same time?

[@AleksiHimself]

Yes. Your permanent address must be valid when you go to the police station. Go to the bank only after you have the Finnish ID Card in your hand, but you can book the meeting with the bank in advance.

[@sledgehog1]

Kittis! 👌

[@AleksiHimself]

Ole hyvä!

[@DavidMaynardClark]

Y cómo es entonces el asunto? Online? Solamente y absolutamente? 😳

[@AleksiHimself]

Sorry but I don't understand your language.

[@DavidMaynardClark]

@@AleksiHimself I said "and how is the matter then? Online? Solely and Absolutely? 😳 (Try to learn Spanish,it may help you to approaching Latinas 🙂, and you'll be interesting for Finnish ladies 😈)

[@nhuck_corris8885]

Hei Aleksi! I really like the digitalization of Finland, but that also means that in this case as an EU citizen you wouldn't be able to avoid a Finnish bank to use these services, right? Do all the banks listed charge regular or monthly fees in any way? Pay €4/month and get 0.25% interest on deposits and then pay tax on it, sounds a bit like that one joke you think is funny, but nobody around you laughs about it 😅🙈

[@AleksiHimself]

I would say yes, but if you move to Finland, you want to have a bank account anyway, right? The fees are generally the same in any bank. You don't get a basic account for the interest anyway. There are other high-yield savings accounts for that.

[@nhuck_corris8885]

@@AleksiHimself MAybe not necessarily, anyone moving within the EU will probably have a SEPA bank account, with which all the basic stuff should work anyway. A new account would be more necessary to get access to the digital services in Finland i think

[@AleksiHimself]

@@nhuck_corris8885 That's true, but based on my experience, Finnish employers are hesitant to pay salary to a non-Finnish bank account, so getting one makes life easier that way, too.

[@ilouse1]

Bro I would open a revolut account and i'll ne good

[@AleksiHimself]

If you move here for work, Finnish companies refuse to pay your salary to Revolut + you don't get online banking codes.

[@ilouse1]

@@AleksiHimself even for restaurant workring jobs ?

[@AleksiHimself]

@@ilouse1 yes

[@nyx0000]

In the DVV appointment page (book a meeting with DVV), what service category to pick if you already have a Hetu? There is no "register municipality" category, and in the "other services" category, there are no appointments in Helsinki atleast until next year. Any advice would be appreciated. I tried writing to DVV but they have not responded yet.

[@AleksiHimself]

Good question. You choose "Registration of Foreigner's Personal Data" If there are no appointments, keep checking for cancellation slots.

[@nyx0000]

@@AleksiHimself thank you very much!

[@AleksiHimself]

@@nyx0000 oh and if you qualify for the fast track (you have a specialist permit) then you choose the specialist category, Otherwise, do as I started in the earlier comment.

[@zamzadown]

Hi Aleksi. Are this rules same applying for people under 18?

[@AleksiHimself]

Yes, but underaged need their guardian's permission as far as I know.

[@zamzadown]

@@AleksiHimself Thanks

[@KawaiiCat2]

So visiting the police to get the id card is basically like going to the DMV here in the states 🤣 😂

[@AleksiHimself]

Not sure what DMV is but more or less I guess!

[@KawaiiCat2]

@@AleksiHimself DMV is Department of Motor Vehicles. It’s where we get our ID card and driver’s license. It’s also where people go to get their driving test and car registration.

[@mikeh2772]

@@KawaiiCat2 You forgot to mention that it is also one of the most dysfunctional agencies in this country, competing with out USPS for the top spot...

[@artsuomi]

For EU citizens, still do your DVV. That will be a bad time without registered kotikunta. :D

[@AleksiHimself]

Yep, I mentioned this at the end of the video. Important to do that.

[@Bbboyn]

Please talk well bro ,this voice isn't ok

[@AleksiHimself]

Sorry to hear that.

[@AugerHybrid]

It's hilarious

[@AleksiHimself]

What is?

[@AugerHybrid]

@@AleksiHimself The whole system ;) Getting bank account is more difficult than getting citizenship.

[@AleksiHimself]

@@AugerHybrid well, citizenship takes 5 years, this will take around 2 weeks if you do everything right. I do agree that it should be easier but it is what it is.