First steps in Italy
Moving: step-by-step plan - Codice Fiscale - Bank - Healthcare (SSN) - SPID and CIE - Renting
Contents
- Bank in Italy 2026: which ones open accounts for Russians
- Banks that open accounts
- Banks that refuse
- Before permesso: what works with visa D and ricevuta
- Online banks: Revolut, Wise, N26 — a frank review
- Business account for Partita IVA
- Freezes when residence permit is expired
- Cash: rules and limits
- Strategy: how not to be left without money
- Conclusions
Bank in Italy 2026: which ones open accounts for Russians
Which bank in Italy will open an account for a Russian in 2026 — with ricevuta, with visa D, with Partita IVA? And what to do if they refuse
After the EU’s 19th sanctions package the situation with banks for Russian citizens became complicated, but not hopeless. According to our community’s data from 200+ real cases: it’s possible to open an account, but not everywhere and not on the first try.
“Most Italian banks will not open an account for you if you have Russian citizenship. At least the leading banks — certainly. I haven’t seen a single case of an account opened on a Russian passport without local documents after 2022.”
Banks that open accounts in 2026
Specifically, in which banks do they open accounts for Russians — and under what conditions?
| Bank | Method | Cost | F24 | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediolanum | In branch only | - | Yes | Confirmed acceptance for citizens of Russia/Belarus. Even with temporary documents |
| Banca Sella | Online | - | Yes | Apply on the website, account in 1–2 days, card in 3–5 days |
| ISY Bank (Intesa) | Online | Free (Lite) | Yes | Needs carta d'identità. Strategy to enter the Intesa system |
| ING | Online | - | Yes | 4% on balance. Via website in 10 minutes |
| BPER | In branch | - | Yes | Opens accounts, accepts cash with explanation |
| UniCredit Buddy | Online | Free | - | Virtual IBAN IT, promotion €30 for opening |
| Poste Italiane | In branch | - | Yes | Possible to open without carta d'identità |
“I’ll share my bank-hopping… in the end I opened an account at Sella, a small bank, but the manager opened the account without problems. Transfers from Dubai arrive there without blocks.”
“Mediolanum confirmed its willingness to open basic accounts for citizens of Russia and Belarus residing in Italy. The only known basic account with mobile online banking.”
ISY → Intesa strategy
If you need a full account in Intesa Sanpaolo (for a mortgage, large operations): first open the free ISY Bank (Intesa’s online subsidiary). Receive “clean” money there without suspicious operations. After 6–12 months go to an Intesa branch — your clean history in ISY will be visible to them.
Banks that refuse Russians
- BPM (Banco BPM) — a direct refusal to “red passports” by internal decree. Even if the husband (an EU citizen) has an account
- Intesa Sanpaolo (full account) — systematic refusals. “Intesa takes long and blocks — no, they don’t”
- Fineco (UniCredit subsidiary) — invented requirement “residence permit minimum 8 years”. They refuse under pretexts
- N26 — refusal due to “non-letter” codice fiscale. Verification by visa/receipt does not pass
- UniCredit (in branch) — depends on the manager. “The system glitches because of RF citizenship”
“BPM didn’t open an account for me, even though my husband had an account in their bank. They told me: a new directive came out that red passports should not be opened accounts at all.”
Rule of 2026
Opening depends on the specific employee and the branch manager. Small provincial banks are more lenient than large city branches. An online application removes the human factor — apply online where possible.
Before permesso: what works with visa D and ricevuta
Just arrived in Italy, holding a visa D and a ricevuta. How to pay rent and live?
| Service | Visa D | Ricevuta | Permesso | Italian IBAN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut | Yes | Yes (with a package of documents) | Yes | Yes (IT) |
| Wise | Yes | - | Yes | No |
| Brighty.app | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Altery | By passport | - | - | No |
| Sumeria | Yes | - | - | No |
| PostePay | Possible | Possible | Yes | Yes |
Before permesso the only reliable option with an Italian IBAN is Revolut. Wise works but without an Italian IBAN. Physical banks before permesso are extremely difficult after the 19th sanctions package.
“Revolut is a good option while the first visa D is valid. Then of course you should move to a local bank.”
Paying rent without an Italian account
- Revolut/Wise — transfer to the landlord’s IBAN without problems
- SWIFT from a bank in another EU country
- Cash — up to €5,000 per operation
- Through the post office — transfer by details
- Western Union → Wise — top-up up to €1,000/month, passport and codice fiscale required
Online banks: Revolut, Wise, N26 — a frank review
What really happens with Revolut and Wise for Russians in Italy in 2026?
Revolut
Italian IBAN IT — the only fintech with this
Opening in minutes — online with visa D
Revolut Pro — can be used for P.IVA
Accepts ricevuta — with a package of documents
Cash top-ups — via Ria/Western Union
Does not support F24 — cannot pay taxes
Requests about source of funds — actively checks funds coming from RF/CIS
Blocks when residence permit expires — on the last day of permesso
Data goes to the tax office — Italian IBAN = full transparency
Closed account due to a Russian bank — there are precedents
“Has anyone received such letters from Revolut? The residence permit still applies, but the bank asks to confirm the origin of funds. OCT transfers from CIS cards Revolut sees, it records citizenship — the question is not ‘if’ but ‘when’ the request will arrive.”
Wise
Wise blocks without explanations
“They closed our Wise — transfers were from relatives and not from Russia with attached documents — nothing was liked. They closed everything without any explanations.” Another case: “Wise was blocked — despite transfers from a Turkish account. They sent from Sber to the Turkish one — and everything was blocked.” Money on closure is returned to senders, but not automatically — only upon request.
Business account for Partita IVA
Detailed guide on the topic
Is a business account required for forfettario — and where to open it?
For forfettario a business account is formally not mandatory
You can use a personal account. But: Monte dei Paschi and other banks prohibit commercial operations on personal accounts. Revolut Pro works for P.IVA, but does not support F24 (tax payments). ISY Bank and ING support F24.
| Bank | P.IVA on personal account | F24 | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISY Bank | Yes (unofficially) | Yes | Free |
| ING | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Revolut Pro | Yes (officially) | No! | Free |
| MPS | No — they require a business account | Yes | Expensive |
| Poste Italiane | Yes | Yes (via portal) | - |
Optimal combination in 2026: ISY Bank or ING for tax payments (F24) + Revolut for everyday operations and receiving payments from clients.
Freezes when residence permit is expired
What to do if permesso is expired and you are waiting for renewal — and the bank has blocked the account?
Revolut blocks on the last day of permesso
It restricts incoming operations. Unblocking: upload the new permesso OR press “waiting for renewal” + upload a package: appointment for fingerprints + ricevuta + post office receipt (scanned on one sheet). Unblocking for 4 months.
“At Monte dei Paschi the account will remain blocked continuously if the residence permit is expired due to Russian origin. To receive a transfer you need to go to the bank in advance and ask for an unblock, which lasts only 1 day. And here in Tuscany they currently only issue expired ones.”
Protection: multiple accounts
The best strategy is to keep 2–3 accounts in different banks. If one is blocked — you have spares. Minimum: one Italian bank (ISY/ING) + one fintech (Revolut/Wise).
Cash: rules and limits in 2026
- Limit for cash payments — up to €5,000 per operation. More — only cashless
- Import into the EU — bringing in more than €10,000 requires a customs declaration. Bringing up to €10,000 — declaration is not mandatory but recommended (for the bank)
- Export from RF — up to $10,000 without declaration
- Depositing to an account — the bank will ask “where did the money come from?” Answer: “risparmi personali” (personal savings). The amount will go into a tax report
“Last week I deposited cash at a BPER branch. The staff asked: how to explain it? I said: risparmi personali. The amount was €7,700. The staff told me: don’t do it often, deposit once a month, and the main thing is to have expenses from the account (electricity, utilities, etc.).”
When bringing cash — get a declaration at the border
Even for amounts under €10,000. For the bank this is an additional document confirming the origin of funds. Indicate “Risparmi personali” in the declaration.
Strategy: how not to be left without money in 2026
On arrival: Revolut + Wise
Open both before arrival using visa D. Revolut provides an Italian IBAN for rent and utilities. Wise — for international transfers. This is your bridge until you get the permesso.
After codice fiscale: ISY Bank or ING
Open an online account in an Italian bank. ISY is free and supports F24 for taxes. ING gives 4% on the balance. carta d'identità is required.
After permesso: Mediolanum or Banca Sella
For full banking services. Mediolanum — confirmed to open accounts for Russians. Sella — online in 10 minutes.
For Partita IVA: ISY/ING for F24 + Revolut Pro for clients
Revolut Pro accepts payments from clients but cannot pay F24. ISY/ING pay F24. Use both.
Main rule: never keep all money in one bank
Revolut can block because of links to a Russian bank. Wise closes without explanations. MPS unblocks for 1 day when residence permit is expired. Keep 2–3 accounts as insurance.
Conclusions
Mediolanum confirmed willingness to open accounts. Sella — online, fast, without problems. Large banks (Intesa, BPM) systematically refuse.
The only reliable options with visa D. Revolut provides an Italian IBAN. But both can block — do not keep all your money there.
Revolut Pro cannot do F24. ISY/ING can. For forfettario this combination is needed.
Blocks are real. Revolut blocks when permesso expires. MPS unblocks for 1 day. Wise closes for no reason. Diversification is the only protection.
All transfers to an Italian IBAN automatically go to the Agenzia delle Entrate. More in the article on double taxation.
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Double taxation 2026 - why an Italian IBAN = transparency for the tax office
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Packages from Russia to Italy 2026: delivery and transfers