International banks in Finland

[Bárbara]

Hello, I've seen this interesting web surfing by internet and I think it's a good web page to meet Finland.
My name is Bárbara and I’m from Spain. I have a concrete question. On August I'm going to study during five month like exchange student in Vaasa, and I want to know which cash or international banks there are in this city.
Thanks you and have a nice day!

[Jukka Aho]

On August I'm going to study during five month like exchange student in Vaasa, and I want to know which cash or international banks there are in this city.

Pretty much all the big Finnish ones:

• Nordea
• OP (Osuuspankki)
• Aktia
• Sampo Pankki
• Tapiola
• Ålandsbanken
• Handelsbanken
• Paikallisosuuspankki

You can find the locations of the Otto ATMs by typing “Vaasa” in the paikkakunta field on this page. To see where they actually are on the map, copy the address to the katuosoite, paikannimi field on this page.
 

[interleukin]

The banks you will find in Finland are Finnish or Swedish and any really international bank will be focusing on investments, etc, not available for normal people. But why worry, the Finnish banks work fine. The OTTO system will allow you to withdraw cash from thousands of machines, they will accept VISA, Electron, MC, maybe some more?). Within Europe you can transfer money between accounts as you wish without very high costs.
If you are getting a salary in Finland, I think you have to have a Finnish bank account to get the salary deposited to.
Another reason for getting a Finnish bank account is that I am sure you would have to pay a fee to use your foreign bank card to pay for things here. You can easily get a debet card (Electron, Maestro) here and use in stores.

[Rosamunda]

Cross border transfers in Euros between EU countries are usually FREE up to a certain limit (??? 15 000 euro)

Personally I would recommend Nordea as its on-line banking is available in English and all the "help" pages are also in English. I have been able to transfer money abroad easily without having to go into the bank and queue for advice. My kids all have bank accounts and cash cards with Nordea and we have been happy with the service we have received. I hardly ever need to walk into the bank, I do it all on-line.

[onkko]

Cross border transfers in Euros between EU countries are usually FREE up to a certain limit (??? 15 000 euro)

under 50 000e transfers in EU have to cost same than transfers in country so if your contract with bank includes free transfers then its free.

[Rosamunda]

Yes, that's the rule. So if you will be transfering money to/from Spain regularly, it would be a good idea to find one that doesn't charge a fee. I don't think Nordea charges but it has been a while since I did a transfer, so you should ask at the bank.

[Jukka Aho]

Yes, that's the rule. So if you will be transfering money to/from Spain regularly, it would be a good idea to find one that doesn't charge a fee. I don't think Nordea charges but it has been a while since I did a transfer, so you should ask at the bank.

I’ve transferred money from my Finnish Nordea account as EU Payments to German bank accounts many times while ordering things from abroad. There are no fees charged for that as long as your payment fulfills the technical requirements (see the link) and you do it online using your computer and not by visiting their branch office in person. It should work just the same to Spain as both Finland and Spain are eurozone countries.

Whenever you make an EU Payment, either from Finland to Spain or vice versa, you need to know the IBAN code of the target account and the BIC/SWIFT code of the receiving bank’s local branch office that manages that account.
 

[Bárbara]

Thank you for your help. Now I have an idea more clear about open a bank account in Finland.