Call the social worker of your reception center, and they will advise which bank to contact in your area and provide the necessary information.
Bank account at Osuuspankki (OP) або Nordea
To open a bank account and get a payment card, you need to do the following:
- Apply for temporary protection
- Obtain a residence permit (oleskelulupa) based on temporary protection. Your Finnish social security number (henkilötunnus) will be indicated on the residence permit card.
- Make an appointment online or by phone: Nordea 0200 700 00, OP 01000 500.
- Come to the bank branch at the specified time. Bring your international passport and residence permit, or police document on your application for a residence permit. A bank official will check and scan your documents. Then, sign a contract with the bank.
- The bank will send your card and the PIN code in two separate letters to your address within two weeks.
Online banking
In addition to a bank account, many people also need online banking, which also works as online identification, for example, to enter the personal cabinet of the tax office.
You can activate online banking at your bank branch after receiving an identification card (henkilökortti, which costs €60). However, obtaining a henkilökortti requires a permanent address and a municipality (kotikunta). Unfortunately, people with temporary protection can only register a temporary address and do not have a municipality. However, if you stay in Finland permanently, for example, after obtaining a residence permit for work, you can get henkilökortti and open online banking.
However, for people with temporary protection, there is an alternative way to activate online banking. This information was confirmed in Osuuspankki (OP). If you are a client of another bank, check with them whether this activation option is available:
- After opening the main account, tell the bank employee that you want to activate online banking by applying for "PANKKITUNNISTUS" at the police.
- Prepare documents: valid Ukrainian passport, residence permit ("Oleskelulupa"), and two passport photos.
- Visit the police station in your city. Find the "Lupa-asiat" section and apply for "PANKKITUNNISTUS".
- The service costs 47 euros. After paying and providing documents, the police officer will create a one-time authentication that will enable the OP to activate online banking for you.
- Contact your bank and make sure online banking is activated.
Other
The bank's services cost around 8 euros per month.
OP bank hired translators at the branch office at Mikonkatu 13, Helsinki, to serve Ukrainian clients.
You can also open an account in other banks, for example, Aktia, Säästöpankki, Ålandsbanken or S-pankki.
