Bank account w/o a job

[Mikie]

I went to Nordea this morning to get a bank account, as I just received my residency and SSN. I wanted to do it as soon as possible as I have a few interviews already lined up, and expect to be employed by the end of the month.

I was amazed/appalled that when I asked to open an account and the woman told me I could not without employment. What?!?! I can't transfer my funds from my stateside bank if I don't have a job here? That's outrageous!

So my question is this, is this normal? Has this happened to you, or were you able to get a bank account without first having employment? I plan on going to a few other banks to try, but would prefer to find out others situations before I go and waste my time and get more frustrated.

Thanks.

[Pursuivant]

go to Sampo, they're dragging people in from the streets...

[raamv]

OP and Sampo will give you accounts w/o job..( mention that you want to transfer funds first before you mention that you dont have a job)

[EP]

I had my first bank account when I was something like 10 years old. And no, I didn´t have a job.

[rinso]

No problem getting a bank account with Nordea

[Mikie]

Called customer services to find out what the deal was, and there excuse was that they wanted to make sure it wasn't a "temporary" account. I'd prefer to do business with a company that knows how to do business, so I will take a look at OP. Thanks for the information.

[Pursuivant]

well the thing they know how to "make business" exactly... this is Finland and the customer is the last person they try to be nice to. there isn't much business in establishing accounts to people who come, whine and leave, so their logic in someone having a job means they'll stay for a while... even the old CEO said "average people just bring sand into the foyer"... go try Ålandsbanken - they don't give you a debit card unless your account balance is over 10K... theres also a lot of smaller banks out there, like Suupohjan OP and Nooa and whatnot...

[jas_rho]

That's really retarded of Nordea. When I came to study in Finland back in 2000 I opened an account there with no job, no problem. Anyway, your situation just goes to prove my theory about Finland's companies and government... it always depends on who you deal with and what kind of mood they are in. One day its one thing, and the next day it could be totally different. I actually like Nordea and have gotten good service from them. I used to have an account with Sampo as well but I had many bad experiences with them and they were also more expensive for the things I wanted to do.

If you are put off of Nordea then try OP. I have heard good things about them and have a friend working for them too so they gotta be good right? Hehe, anyway if you really want Nordea, just go to a different office, or talk with a different person. Whoever you were dealing with doesn't know their head from a hole in the ground.

[interleukin]

go try Ålandsbanken - they don't give you a debit card unless your account balance is over 10K...

That may be the case sometimes, but not always. I know a person without a job and without more than maybe one-two thousand euros in the account and he has a debit card.

I think the moral of the story is that different people will be deemed more or less trustworthy, and it can make sense to ask different people at the same bank until you get what you want.

/interleukin

[Oombongo]

I had problems with main Helsinki branch, but branch in Lohja did the job nicely.
Seems that some branches need new customers to show good graphs?

[Mikie]

there isn't much business in establishing accounts to people who come, whine and leave, so their logic in someone having a job means they'll stay for a while... even the old CEO said "average people just bring sand into the foyer"

The problem with this is that was all an assumption, nothing more. If she had bothered to ask, she would've found out that I have a fair amount of $ to transfer into my Finnish bank account and a few interviews already lined up that look quite promising. It's always bad business to not do business.

Well anyway, ended up going to OP at the end of the day and was greeted by a smiling young bank clerk that was not only friendly, but extremely helpful. Got all the details worked out, and my account is now in working order.

Thanks to all suggestions here, especially the ones for OP.

[Upphew]

The problem with this is that was all an assumption, nothing more. If she had bothered to ask, she would've found out that I have a fair amount of $ to transfer into my Finnish bank account and a few interviews already lined up that look quite promising. It's always bad business to not do business.

Well anyway, ended up going to OP at the end of the day and was greeted by a smiling young bank clerk that was not only friendly, but extremely helpful. Got all the details worked out, and my account is now in working order.

Thanks to all suggestions here, especially the ones for OP.

Different people act differently, as have been pointed out. Someone might not be comfortable with their English (I suppose you didn't speak Finnish to the clerk?) and dealt with uncomfortable situation by ending it as soon as possible. Been there done that.

Also regarding interviews and money to transfer:
-while interviews do lead to employment, it is big assumption for simple clerk at bank to put any weight to them.
-transferring money can get expensive to bank, if and when they must start to dig for the origins of the money... money laundering laws you see.