Suspicious Russians

[Rip]

Assuming he owns a summer cottage, then it makes sense to assume he has got a bank account as well.

[mrjimsfc]

I'm an American and while I was in Finland I had a bank account. In fact, I may still have it because I never got around to closing the account when I left.

[jas_rho]

OK, I could be wrong, but my understanding is that as an American I am not allowed to open a bank account in Finland, as I am not a EU citizen.

But if as an American I am allowed to open a bank account in Finland then that is great news!

You are wrong. Where in the world did you get your information? Why would you not be allowed to open a bank account in Finland because you are American?

[Cory]

OK, I could be wrong, but my understanding is that as an American I am not allowed to open a bank account in Finland, as I am not a EU citizen.

But if as an American I am allowed to open a bank account in Finland then that is great news!

And plenty of Russian citizens have bank accounts here.

[Fitz]

I'm an EU citizen but I couldn't open a bank account without a job. It's probably the same for Americans.

[007]

I'm an EU citizen but I couldn't open a bank account without a job. It's probably the same for Americans.

As far as I know, Finnish banks are unwilling to create a bank account for you if you don't have Finnish ID. There might be some exception.

[browndude]

Speaking of dodgy Russians, check out what has happened to this guy

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finnis ... 9103821688

tsk, tsk, Finns spying on the Danish, for the Russians, what has the world come to

[tuulen]

I'm an EU citizen but I couldn't open a bank account without a job. It's probably the same for Americans.

As far as I know, Finnish banks are unwilling to create a bank account for you if you don't have Finnish ID. There might be some exception.

That is what I understood, that Finnish ID must be shown to open a bank account. If not then great! But I think Finnish ID is necessary.

In other words, as an American tourist I am not allowed to open a bank account in Finland without proper Finnish ID.

[interleukin]

as an American tourist

You finally said the magic word: tourist. This has nothing to do with nationality, it has to do with residence (except probably for Finns and nordics).

[tuulen]

as an American tourist

You finally said the magic word: tourist. This has nothing to do with nationality, it has to do with residence (except probably for Finns and nordics).

Yes, for business reasons I must be a resident of the US, although I can go to Finland as a tourist, temporarily.

[tuulen]

Assuming he owns a summer cottage, then it makes sense to assume he has got a bank account as well.

Not a "safe" assumption... For instance, I own land in Finland, n. 2,25 ha., but apparently as a "tourist" I can not have a bank account in Finland.

[Kutittaa]

OK, I could be wrong, but my understanding is that as an American I am not allowed to open a bank account in Finland, as I am not a EU citizen.

But if as an American I am allowed to open a bank account in Finland then that is great news!

I didn't want to say anything because I knew someone else would have a better go at you for being a fool. But seriously... I'm an Australian and I have a bank account in Finland... gosh.

The 2 most important things are:

1. You need to be 'in the computer' and have a personal ID number.
2. You generally have to have a REASON for needing a bank account. If you're just a tourist then obviously you probably couldn't have one...

EDIT: Nvm it looks like you finally used the magic word as interleukin said. It sounded like you were talking about certain nationalities being denied the right to have a bank account.

On the off-note. I don't see why the OP called this thread 'Suspicious Russians'

[Cory]

In other words, as an American tourist I am not allowed to open a bank account in Finland without proper Finnish ID.

No of course a person can't just walk in to the country and open an account. That's not what you stated in your first post.
When domiciled in the country with proper authorisation to be here, it matters not from which country you've gotten your passport.

[Rip]

Assuming he owns a summer cottage, then it makes sense to assume he has got a bank account as well.

Not a "safe" assumption... For instance, I own land in Finland, n. 2,25 ha., but apparently as a "tourist" I can not have a bank account in Finland.

I wonder if that is an absolute rule or matter of asking from suffcient many banks (branches)... There tends to be finacial obligations if you own fixed property here, which should be easier to handle if you have an account, so there would be a sensible reason for having that account.

[jas_rho]

The first time I came to Finland I had gone to the bank and opened a bank account BEFORE going to Maistraatti and getting my henkiötunnus. So it is possible to open a bank account in Finland as an American without the holy sacred finnish SS#.