Best Bank Accounts in Italy for Expats (2026)

Compare the best Italian bank accounts for expats. From innovative fintech to established institutions, here is everything you need to know about banking in Italy. Updated March 2026.

Tax note for Italy: Italy applies a 26% withholding tax on interest income from bank deposits and most financial products (reduced to 12.5% for Italian government bonds). Italy also charges a 0.2% annual stamp duty (imposta di bollo) on financial products with balances above 5,000 EUR. The "impatriate" tax regime can reduce taxable income by 50-70% for qualifying new residents.

Our pick for Italy

Wise — Real exchange rate, no hidden fees

Trusted by 16M+ people worldwide. Send, spend, and receive in 40+ currencies at the real mid-market rate. Multi-currency account with local bank details in 10+ countries. No monthly fees.

Open free Wise account

Free to create an account. Fees apply to transfers and card usage.

Bank comparison for Italy

Bank	Monthly fee	Card fee	ATM withdrawals	FX fee	Best for
Wise	0 EUR	7 EUR (one-time)	2 free/mo, then 0.50 EUR	0.33-0.6%	International transfers	Open account
Revolut	0 EUR (free plan)	0 EUR	200 EUR free/mo	0% (weekdays)	All-in-one app
N26	0 EUR (Standard)	0 EUR	3 free/mo, then 2 EUR	1.7%	Free digital bank
Fineco	0 EUR (under 30) / 3.95 EUR	0 EUR	Unlimited free (Fineco/UniCredit)	Variable	Banking + investing
Intesa Sanpaolo	0 EUR (XME Conto)	0 EUR (debit)	Unlimited free (Intesa ATMs)	1.5-2%	Largest Italian bank
bunq	0 EUR (Easy Money)	9.99 EUR (one-time)	Limited	Real-time rate	Green banking

How we chose these banks

We evaluated over 15 banks available in Italy, comparing monthly fees, card costs, ATM networks, FX markups, ease of opening for non-Italian nationals, and mobile app quality. Italian deposit protection covers up to 100,000 EUR per person per institution under the Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD).

Fineco is widely considered Italy's best digital bank, combining current accounts with a powerful investment platform. Intesa Sanpaolo is the largest banking group in Italy with the widest branch and ATM network. Both accept expat applications with a codice fiscale.

What to look for as an expat in Italy

Codice fiscale -- You need a codice fiscale (Italian tax code) to open a bank account. You can get one from the Agenzia delle Entrate or an Italian consulate. It is free and usually issued immediately.
Italian IBAN (IT) -- Employers and landlords require an Italian IBAN for salary and rent payments. Fineco, Intesa Sanpaolo, and N26 all provide IT IBANs. Wise provides a BE IBAN.
Imposta di bollo -- Italian banks charge a 34.20 EUR annual stamp duty on current accounts with an average balance above 5,000 EUR, and 0.2% on investment products. This is a government tax, not a bank fee.
Bancomat/PagoBancomat -- Italy's domestic debit card network. Fineco and Intesa Sanpaolo issue cards that work on this network. International cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted at most merchants but not everywhere.
Cash limits -- Italy has a cash payment limit of 5,000 EUR. Payments above this amount must go through a bank. This is enforced to combat tax evasion.

Calculate your Italy salary first

Know exactly how much you take home after IRPEF, INPS contributions, and regional/municipal taxes before deciding how to manage your money.

Italy salary calculator