Contents
- Situation in 2026: which banks 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 — an honest review
- Business account for Partita IVA
- Blocks with an expired residence permit
- Cash: rules and limits
- Strategy: how not to be left without money
- Conclusions
Situation in 2026: Which banks open accounts for Russians
Main article on the topic: Moving to Italy: plan
Navigation to all guides - knowledge base.
Can you open a bank account in Italy with a Russian passport in 2026 — and at which bank?
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: you can open an account, but not everywhere and not on the first try.
“Most banks in Italy will not open an account for you if you have Russian citizenship. At least the leading banks — definitely not. I haven’t seen a single case of opening an account on a Russian passport without local documents after 2022.”
Banks that open accounts in 2026
Specifically, which banks open accounts for Russians — and under what conditions?
| Bank | Method | Cost | F24 | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediolanum | Branch only | - | Yes | Confirmed consent for citizens of Russia/Belarus. Even with temporary documents |
| Banca Sella | Online | - | Yes | Application on the website, account in 1–2 days, card in 3–5 days |
| ISY Bank (Intesa) | Online | Free (Lite) | Yes | Requires 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 deposits with explanation |
| UniCredit Buddy | Online | Free | - | Virtual IT IBAN, €30 opening promotion |
| Poste Italiane | In branch | - | Yes | May open without carta d'identità |
“I’ll share my bank-run... in the end I opened at Sella, a small bank, but the manager opened the account without problems. Transfers from Dubai reach it 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 at Intesa Sanpaolo (for a mortgage, large transactions): first open a free ISY Bank account (online Intesa subsidiary). Receive "white" money there without suspicious operations. After 6–12 months go to an Intesa branch — they will see your clean history in ISY.
Banks that refuse Russians
- BPM (Banco BPM) - direct refusal to "red passports" by internal directive. Even if the husband is an EU citizen with an account
- Intesa Sanpaolo (full account) - systematic refusals. "Intesa: long processes and blocks — no and no"
- Fineco (UniCredit subsidiary) - invented requirement "residence permit minimum 8 years". They refuse under that pretext
- N26 - refusal due to a "letterless" codice fiscale. Verification by visa/ricevuta 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 with them. They told me: a new regulation came out — do not open accounts for red passports at all.”
Rule of 2026
Opening depends on the specific employee and the branch director. Small provincial banks are more lenient than major city branches. 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 foreign 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 — extremely difficult after the 19th sanctions package.
“Revolut is a good option while the first visa D is valid. Later you should of course 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 EUR per operation
- Via the post office - transfer by account details
- Western Union → Wise - top-up up to 1,000 EUR/month, passport and codice fiscale required
Online banks: Revolut, Wise, N26 — an honest 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-up - via Ria/Western Union
Does not support F24 - cannot pay taxes
Requests for origin of funds - actively checks funds from Russia/CIS
Block on permesso expiry - on the last day of the permesso
Data goes to tax office - Italian IBAN = full transparency
Closed accounts linked to Russian banks - there are precedents
“Has anyone received such letters from Revolut? The residence permit is still valid, but the bank asks to confirm the origin of funds. OCT transfers from CIS cards are visible to Revolut, citizenship is recorded — 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. Money was sent to the Turkish account from Sberbank — and everything was blocked.” Money on closure is returned to senders, but not automatically — only upon request.
Business account for Partita IVA
Is a business account mandatory for forfettario — and where to open it?
For forfettario a business account is formally not required
You can use a personal account. But: Monte dei Paschi and other banks prohibit commercial operations on a personal account. Revolut Pro works for P.IVA, but does not support F24 (tax payments). ISY Bank and ING support F24.
| Bank | P.IVA on personal | F24 | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISY Bank | Yes (unofficially) | Yes | Free |
| ING | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Revolut Pro | Yes (officially) | No! | Free |
| MPS | No — requires a business account | Yes | Expensive |
| Poste Italiane | Yes | Yes (via portal) | - |
The optimal combination in 2026: ISY Bank or ING for tax payments (F24) + Revolut for everyday operations and receiving payments from clients.
Blocks with an expired residence permit
What to do if the permesso is expired and you are waiting for renewal — and the bank has blocked the account?
Revolut blocks on the last day of the permesso
It limits incoming operations. Unblocking: upload the new permesso OR click "waiting for renewal" + upload a package: appointment for fingerprints + ricevuta + postal receipt (scan on one page). Unblocking is for 4 months.
“At Monte dei Paschi the account will remain in a blocked state permanently if the residence permit is expired because of Russian origin. To receive a transfer you need to go to the bank in advance and ask for an unblocking, which lasts only 1 day. And here in Tuscany they so far 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 backups. Minimum: one Italian bank (ISY/ING) + one fintech (Revolut/Wise).
Cash: rules and limits in 2026
- Cash payment limit - up to 5,000 EUR per operation. More — only cashless
- Bringing cash into the EU - if bringing over 10,000 EUR a customs declaration is mandatory. For amounts up to 10,000 — declaration is not mandatory but recommended (for the bank)
- Export from Russia - up to 10,000 USD 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 report to the tax office
“Last week I deposited cash at a BPER branch. The employee asked: how to explain it? I said: risparmi personali. The amount was 7,700 euros. The employee said: don’t do it often, deposit once a month, and the main thing is that there are expenses from the account (electricity, utilities, etc.).”
When bringing cash — get a declaration at the border
Even for amounts less than 10,000 EUR. For the bank this is an additional document confirming the origin of funds. Indicate "Risparmi personali" on the declaration.
Strategy: how not to be left without money in 2026
On arrival: Revolut + Wise
Open both before arrival using visa D. Revolut gives 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, 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 can pay F24. Use both.
Main rule: never keep all your money in one bank
Revolut can block for links to a Russian bank. Wise closes without explanation. MPS blocks for 1 day with expired residence permit. 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 money there.
Revolut Pro does not support F24. ISY/ING do. For forfettario you need this combination.
Blocks are real. Revolut blocks on permesso expiry. MPS unblocks for 1 day. Wise closes for no reason. Diversification is the only protection.
All transfers to an Italian IBAN are automatically visible to the Agenzia delle Entrate. More in the article on double taxation.
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Codice Fiscale 2026
Forfettario 2026
Double taxation 2026
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