First Phrases

Opening a bank account · Italiano

Opening a bank account in Italian: 12 survival phrases

Open an account as a newcomer: say what you want, hand over the right documents, ask about fees, cards and transfers, and find out where to sign.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "Lei". Italian banks normally ask for your passport or residence permit, your "codice fiscale" (tax code) and proof of address or residence. A current account is a "conto corrente"; the debit card is often called "bancomat".

How to read the sounds: Italian is spoken as written. Double consonants (tt, ll, zz) are held longer. c before e/i = ch, g before e/i = j, gn = ny, gli = ly, sc before e/i = sh. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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Official names used

On this card: conto corrente, codice fiscale, permesso di soggiorno, residenza, IBAN. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Vorrei aprire un conto corrente.
    Say it like: vor-RAY ah-PREE-reh oon KON-toh kor-REN-teh
    I'd like to open a current account.
    Register: Polite.
  2. 02Neutral
    Sono appena arrivato/arrivata in Italia. Posso aprire un conto?
    Say it like: SOH-noh ap-PEH-nah ar-ree-VAH-toh/ar-ree-VAH-tah een ee-TAH-lyah. POS-soh ah-PREE-reh oon KON-toh
    I've just arrived in Italy. Can I open an account?
    Register: Neutral.
  3. 03Neutral
    Di quali documenti ho bisogno?
    Say it like: dee KWAH-lee doh-koo-MEN-tee oh bee-ZOH-nyoh
    What documents do I need?
    Register: Neutral.
  4. 04Neutral
    Ecco il mio passaporto e il mio codice fiscale.
    Say it like: EK-koh eel MEE-oh pas-sah-POR-toh eh eel MEE-oh KOH-dee-cheh fee-SKAH-leh
    Here is my passport and my codice fiscale (tax code).
    Register: The codice fiscale is a 16-character code.
  5. 05Neutral
    Ecco il mio contratto d'affitto e il certificato di residenza.
    Say it like: EK-koh eel MEE-oh kon-TRAHT-toh daf-FEET-toh eh eel cher-tee-fee-KAH-toh dee ree-zee-DEN-tsah
    Here is my rental contract and my certificate of residence.
    Register: Proof of address.
  6. 06Neutral
    Ci sono spese di gestione del conto?
    Say it like: chee SOH-noh SPEH-zeh dee jes-TYOH-neh del KON-toh
    Are there account management fees?
    Register: Ask before signing.
  7. 07Neutral
    Quanto costano i bonifici verso l'estero?
    Say it like: KWAHN-toh KOS-tah-noh ee boh-NEE-fee-chee VER-soh LES-teh-roh
    How much do transfers abroad cost?
    Register: Neutral.
  8. 08Polite
    Vorrei una carta di debito.
    Say it like: vor-RAY OO-nah KAR-tah dee DEH-bee-toh
    I'd like a debit card.
    Register: Polite.
  9. 09Neutral
    Posso usare l'home banking e l'app?
    Say it like: POS-soh oo-ZAH-reh lohm BAN-king eh lap
    Can I use online banking and the app?
    Register: "Home banking" is the usual Italian term.
  10. 10Polite
    Mi può dare l'IBAN del mio conto?
    Say it like: mee pwoh DAH-reh lee-BAN del MEE-oh KON-toh
    Could you give me my account's IBAN?
    Register: IBAN starts with IT in Italy.
  11. 11Neutral
    Quando riceverò la carta?
    Say it like: KWAN-doh ree-cheh-veh-ROH lah KAR-tah
    When will I receive the card?
    Register: Neutral.
  12. 12Neutral
    Dove devo firmare?
    Say it like: DOH-veh DEH-voh feer-MAH-reh
    Where do I have to sign?
    Register: Read before you sign; ask for a copy.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the bank in Italian?

Start with: "Vorrei aprire un conto corrente." (I'd like to open a current account.)

Should I use informal or formal Italian at the bank?

Use "Lei". Italian banks normally ask for your passport or residence permit, your "codice fiscale" (tax code) and proof of address or residence. A current account is a "conto corrente"; the debit card is often called "bancomat".

How do I ask which documents a bank needs in Italian?

Try: "Di quali documenti ho bisogno?" (What documents do I need?)

Same errand, another language

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Italian, another errand

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