American Banks in Finland

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:37 pm

Are there any American banks in the Helsinki area where one can open an individual checking/savings account?

**Sponsor:**

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:42 pm

Out of interest, why do you want an American bank rather than a Finnish one. Is there a benefit for having a "foreign" bank?

EDIT - Seplilign!

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:55 pm

Well, I'm an American. And to be honest, I would feel more “at ease” with my money in an American bank vice a Finnish bank.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:56 pm

I wonder what one would do with checks?

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:02 pm

Hank W. wrote:I wonder what one would do with checks?

Can you still get cheques in Finland? I thought they stopped using them 10+ years ago.

As for what you do with them.... I assume you still use cash now and then?

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:07 pm

The Answer is "no"..
Not any UK banks either.

Sampo is now Danish..
Nordea is mainly Dansk/Svensk.
Couple of Åland banks.
I think there are some foreign investment banks...if you have a few hundred thousand to stick into them.
But they dont act as "clearing banks"...i.e. allow you to have a charge account to handle day to day individual financial transactions.
This part of the world runs on plastic money not cheques.
Are there any real non Nordic clearing banks here?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:08 pm

Well you can get a cashiers check, usually when you do big transfers, like car payments or flat payments. And they do sell "gift checks", for graduations and weddings - as giving cash money is a bit crass. But a personal one? Companies still have a checking account, available, but I think the physical checks have disappeared.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:10 pm

Goldie wrote:And to be honest, I would feel more “at ease” with my money in an American bank vice a Finnish bank.

Switch the terms and thats exactly why there aren't any American banks here. How would you pay a bill? Send a check with a carrier pigeon?:twisted:

There is Citibank sending all those loan offers, but they don't offer regular services. The banks would need to update their small customer procedures to compete with the Nordic ebanking system. Getting money to Ireland off a Finnish bank account takes 5 minutes and its there the next day. Transferring the same money from Ireland requires a phone call, if not a visit to the bank office and still is difficult beyond belief.

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:13 pm

Hank W. wrote:
Goldie wrote:And to be honest, I would feel more “at ease” with my money in an American bank vice a Finnish bank.
Switch the terms and thats exactly why there aren't any American banks here.

There is Citibank, but I don't think they do daily transfers.

Thinking about it are there any US banks anywhere other than in the US? Don't remember any US banks in the UK.

greenhorn · Post by **greenhorn** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:15 pm

sinikala wrote:
Hank W. wrote:
Goldie wrote:And to be honest, I would feel more “at ease” with my money in an American bank vice a Finnish bank.
Switch the terms and thats exactly why there aren't any American banks here.

There is Citibank, but I don't think they do daily transfers.
Thinking about it are there any US banks anywhere other than in the US? Don't remember any US banks in the UK.

There are US banks in many countries. Many other countries don't give them to open regular branch due to reciprocity.

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:24 pm

(Sigh)

Well, can anyone recommend a bank in Finland that has the following:

Online Banking in English
English (fluent) Speaking Phone Reps and Bank Tellers
Good Customer Service
Branches throughout the Western World

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 pm

Online Banking in English - Nordea has worked ok for me

English (fluent) Speaking Phone Reps and Bank Tellers - depends who you get, some are fluent some aren't. English fluency isn't a requirement for some girl on the front desk just on the off-chance that an English speaker wanders by.

Good Customer Service - I smell many opinions here depending on individuals' experiences

Branches throughout the Western World - what do you mean?, that they have a branch in most countries, or a branch in each and every armpit of a town you might choose to visit?

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:34 pm

Goldie wrote:Well, I'm an American. And to be honest, I would feel more “at ease” with my money in an American bank vice a Finnish bank.

If it's any comfort, out of all the banks I've ever experienced, I've found the Finnish ones to be the most efficient and easiest to deal with.

greenhorn · Post by **greenhorn** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:35 pm

I am using Nordea for more than two years with no issues with regards to customer service or language. You can easily learn to use ATM in Finnish language.

As regards to Western world, the cards of these banks. i.e Visa or Master are acceptable anywhere so your money problem will be solved that way. They will work in ATM in any country and they also do wire transfer to other banks anywhere in world.

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:44 pm

Goldie wrote:(Sigh) Well, can anyone recommend a bank in Finland that has the following:

Online Banking in English
English (fluent) Speaking Phone Reps and Bank Tellers
Good Customer Service
Branches throughout the Western World

I use Nordea, the online banking is available in English.

Why would you expect English speaking tellers & phone reps? That's not to say you won't get them, but this is Finland, the language here is Finnish.

Customer service at Nordea seems to be OK on the odd occasions when the bank is open, typically 6 hours per day.

Can you recommend a US bank that has branches through out the western World?

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