banking in Finland

upc · Post by **upc** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 5:26 am

Hei Hei

I just moved to Finland from Germany and have started work as a researcher at university here.
Just wondering if I might still be able to use my german bank account here with the normal german EC card or if I should use my visa card instead ?
Thanks for any info!

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FinnGuyHelsinki · Post by **FinnGuyHelsinki** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:56 am

The local debit cards are either Visa or Mastercard, acceptance of EC (EuroCheque) is either rare or non-existent.

sky2 · Post by **sky2** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 1:02 pm

FinnGuyHelsinki wrote:The local debit cards are either Visa or Mastercard, acceptance of EC (EuroCheque) is either rare or non-existent.

OP was probably referring to Electronic cash, even that wont be any useful here, you should definitely get Visa or Mastercard.

riku2 · Post by **riku2** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 1:37 pm

what are the symbols on your EC card? is it maestro? I think it's a sub-form of mastercard but in finland the debit cards are normally Visa debit or Mastercard debit. I'm not really sure if maestro works in finland, they are owned by Mastercard but I think the shop must sign up to accept Maestro explicitly.

Don't ask why Mastercard company has both Mastercard Debit and Maestro systems, you'd think they would be identical but I know from visiting germany that MC debit doesn't work even if the shop accepts maestro (much to my annoyance since many places in germany don't take credit cards, not even Ikea).

Since you have a visa card then pay with that (it will be in euros). Getting cash out of a machine will attract a charge though although even using my Nordea MC debit card in Germany means a charge (even though i'm withdrawing euros in Germany).

tuttu · Post by **tuttu** » Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:25 am

as far as cash machines and paying with card are concerned, the "EC card" is not so common here. it's usually "visa electron" and some others.

also, in the long run you are advised to get a bank account here, even if it's without the above mentioned qualities.

Querfeldein · Post by **Querfeldein** » Tue Nov 17, 2015 12:15 am

Welcome to Finland. Sounds like we are in the same situation; I also recently started working in Finland as a researched and have a German bank account (with DKB).

So far, I've not had any problems. The University of Helsinki is paying my salary into my German account (thanks to SEPA), and I use either my Maestro debit card or Visa credit card to make any payments. I can pay all my bills online without delay, and I've been sent a new TAN list to Helsinki with no problem. Also, my Visa credit card allows me to make free cash withdrawals at any "Otto" (cash machine) that has the Visa logo, so for the few instances where I need cash, it's easy, too. The only immediate advantage of a Finnish bank account would be the ability to use Finnish online banking codes.

tuttu · Post by **tuttu** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:39 am

Querfeldein wrote:The University of Helsinki is paying my salary into my German account (thanks to SEPA)

that is nice to hear.
when i came here 12 years ago, that wasn't possible.

foca · Post by **foca** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:58 pm

The only problem for you here might be the cash withdrawals. For all Finnish bank cards they are free here.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 11:35 am

Longer term you'll probably find that you'd have at least some use for local banking codes but if you have German account and visa card and you have no hurry to get one.

Whether cash withdrawals are free here you should check from your bank.

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