Opening Bank Account

Managing Your Finances in Italy

Opening a traditional Italian bank account as a new arrival can take weeks and often requires a Permesso di Soggiorno card. For university fees and daily expenses, I recommend starting with Wise.

Why it works for students:

• Instant IBAN: Get a Belgian EUR IBAN immediately to receive scholarships or pay rent.

• Mid-Market Rates: Save up to 8x compared to traditional banks when moving money from your home country.

• Physical & Digital Card: Use it for the Metro, groceries, and online shopping.

Exclusive Benefit: If you sign up using the link below, your first transfer (up to £500) is fee-free.

Why Revolut is Great for your Students

While Wise is the "King of Transfers" (sending money from home to Italy or from Italy to home), Revolut is the "King of Daily Life" in Italy.

• Italian IBAN: Revolut now provides Italian IBANs (starts with IT), which makes it much easier for students to set up phone contracts becuase normally it is difficult to open an Italian bank account without have necessay documents like permesso di soggiorno. You can do aal account opening process online.

• Budgeting: Their app is better for daily spending, "Vaults" for saving, and splitting bills with roommates.

My Recommended Strategy for 2026 Students:

1. Step 1: Open a Wise account before you leave home. Use it to transfer your initial savings to Euro—the fee-free transfer link below will save you money on your first big move.

2. Step 2: Once you arrive in Italy and get your Codice Fiscale, open a Revolut account. The Italian IBAN makes it much easier to receive scholarships and salaries.

Registration Links: