Opening Italian bank account from abroad?

[Italyinourhearts]

Hello,

I need to open an italian bank account in preparation for a possible house purchase and eventualy spending a lot more time there.

Can I do so without actually visiting Italy and my local branch?

Here's some more info. We are British nationals, my wife dual citizen Italy/UK and we are currently living and working in the US (Houston, Texas). We have our codice fiscale. I assume (??) that some Italian banks will have brnaches in the US (certainly New York, probably Houston I'd guess?) so I'm wondering if I can open an account through them?

Any experiences, thoughts?

With best regards and thanks in advance,

[Relaxed]

I am sure that there are some Italian banks with a presence in the US who would be delighted to help you open an account "remotely". For sure the Monte dei Paschi di Siena will have a presence - but they are about the most expensive bank in the world!!
Citibank operate in Italy, and banking is becoming rather globalised now - so I suggest a bit of web-based research (first perhaps having established to which of the "international" circuits your potential local branch adheres) would be your best route.

[johnsm13]

From my experience as a British citizen, it will be very hard to open an Italian bank account unless you're in Italy. Via e-mail, Banca Toscana told us you'd have to "rivolgersi in filiale" (turn up at the branch). And again, from my experience, Italian banks do not tend to differ a whole lot, one to the other, in terms of the competitive service they offer their customers.

I stand willing and happy to be corrected - and will gladly move my bank account accordingly if anyone can give me a shining example of the Italian equivalent of the UK's FirstDirect, for example.

[sandra.a.harris@btinterne]

We opened an account with Monte dei Paschi di Siena. As previously mentioned not the cheapest in the world but we were able to pop out in our lunch hour and open the account in Central London - without traveling to Italy. Send me a PM if you need contact details etc.,

[digitaly]

Once you are in italy you can apply for one just popping in a branch... My favorite pick is Credito Italiano which is realible enough.

[PAS 55]

Try Banca Intesa in Old William st NY

[PAS 55]

Or try www.bancaintesa.it
it's in english too!!

[Italyinourhearts]

Great - thanks for your replies.

I've sent an e-mail up to NYC, we'll see what happens.

It's all a bit frustrating really, I bet that in fifty years we look back and laugh at how things are done just now. I had more or less the same problem when I first left the UK and came to the US, wanted to open an account before I got here (so that I could send my cash over and have it waiting for me) but met with next to no luck (maybe it was my dodgy credit history!?:) ) Anyway, it all turned out then to be a bit of a joke as a simple trip to the local bank on my first day got everything sorted and since then I've been swamped with the usual offers of credit cards, car loans, pay-noth kitches etc etc.

I guess I can wait it out if need be - give me something to do next time I'm over....

[manopello]

Hi

I'm getting more and more convinced that the post office account is a good option for buyers who arent living full time in Italy.Even small towns seem to have a post office and you seem to get a cash card straight away.

check outhttp://www.poste.it/en/bancoposta/conti/current_account.shtml


Good luck

ps my bank Unicredito charge me 3 euros a month but I have no cash card or cheque book.

[Italyinourhearts]

Hi,

That's been a week now - not even a reply from Bancaintesa, looks like a lost lead.

I've tried to contact our local Italian realations office, see if they have any advice, so far no reply. I've found out that though many Italian banks have a presence here in Houston, it's all corporate banking only.

I think I'll opt for the post office option next time I'm in Italy.