How to Open a Bank Account in Slovakia: Documents and Fee-Free Banks

You need a bank account in Slovakia almost immediately: without one you will not be paid a salary, will not be able to sign a tenancy agreement, and will not get a tax refund. For a foreigner the main question is not “where is it cheapest” but whether they will open an account for you at all, and with which documents. We look at both questions.

Which documents a foreigner needs

A Slovak citizen only needs an identity card. Banks are more cautious with foreigners — this is a consequence of anti-money-laundering rules, not of how they feel about you personally. In practice, prepare:

A foreign passport — the main document, always required.
A second identity document — a driving licence, an internal passport or an ID from another country. Many banks specifically require two documents.
Proof of residence in Slovakia — a residence permit card (pobytový preukaz) or a temporary protection document (doklad o tolerovanom pobyte / odídenec).
An address in Slovakia for correspondence. Registered residence (prihlásenie na pobyt) is not always required — often your actual address is enough.
Sometimes proof of a connection to Slovakia: an employment contract, a letter from your employer or a tenancy agreement. Not all banks ask for this, and not always.

A separate word about the rodné číslo: if you do not have one, some banks will still open an account and assign you an internal identifier. But the process will take longer and will almost certainly require a visit to a branch.

With temporary protection status

People with odídenec status do open accounts — this has been standard practice since 2022. The banks with the fewest problems here are those with a wide branch network and an established procedure. If one branch turns you down, that is not always the bank’s position: often it comes down to a particular member of staff who has not seen the document before. It is worth trying another branch or another bank.

It helps to bring a printout of your status document and, if you have one, your employment contract — that answers most of the questions.

Can you open an account online

For Slovak citizens, yes, at many banks. For foreigners, online opening is usually not available: the bank has to identify you in person. The exception is digital banks and fintech services, but they too normally require proof of an address in the country.

A realistic plan: book an appointment at a branch in advance (many banks take bookings through their website) and come with all your documents at once. Opening an account and issuing a card usually takes from a single visit to a few working days.

How to get an account with no monthly fee

Running an account in Slovakia costs roughly between 0 and 9 euros a month. Over a year, the difference between a good and a bad choice is about 100 euros. An account can be free in three scenarios:

With no conditions. This is how digital banks work — there is simply no maintenance fee.
If you meet certain conditions. Traditional banks waive the fee if your salary is paid into the account (usually from 300–400 euros a month), or if you spend a certain amount by card, or if you keep a large balance.
By age. Students and young people up to roughly 26–27 are served free almost everywhere. There are concessions for pensioners too.

Digital banks versus traditional ones

Digital (365.bank, mBank, Fio, and fintechs such as Revolut) — the account is free or almost free, everything is set up in the app, and transfers within the EU carry no fee. The downside: few branches, and cash transactions at the counter are expensive — a withdrawal can cost around 10 euros.

Traditional (Slovenská sporiteľňa, VÚB, Tatra banka, ČSOB, Poštová banka, Prima banka) — branches in every town, a real member of staff, help with paperwork. That genuinely matters when you have just arrived and are not confident in the language. The downside: a monthly fee if you do not meet the conditions.

A practical option for your first year: open an account with a traditional bank that has a branch nearby, so you can sort things out in person, and at the same time set up a digital account for transfers and online purchases.

Hidden charges people find out about too late

Paying cash in at the counter — usually 2–6 euros. Through a deposit-taking cash machine (vkladomat) it is usually free.
Withdrawing cash at the counter — up to 10 euros. Withdraw from a cash machine instead.
Withdrawing from another bank’s cash machine — around 1–5 euros per transaction.
A payment order placed through a member of staff — several times more expensive than through internet banking.
A charge for internet banking — at some banks this is a separate line item.
Transfers outside the EU — charged under a separate tariff, sometimes tens of euros.

Hence a simple rule: do everything in the app, pay cash in through a vkladomat, and withdraw from your own bank’s cash machine. That keeps the account free even where fees formally exist.

How to choose a bank for your situation

Just arrived, limited language. A traditional bank with a branch near your home. Being able to walk in and ask in person matters more than a couple of euros a month.
You have an employment contract. Open the account at the bank your employer pays the salary into — the free-maintenance condition will then be met automatically.
A student under 26. The account is free almost everywhere; choose on the convenience of the app and how close the cash machines are.
You often send money to Ukraine or other countries. Look at the exchange rate and the fee for international transfers — here the difference between banks runs into tens of euros.
You are setting up a živnosť or an s.r.o. You need a separate business account. For an s.r.o. it is mandatory; for a živnosť it is strongly recommended. More in the article on how to set up a živnosť in Slovakia.

What to do if you are refused

A bank has the right to refuse without giving a reason — that is lawful. But you have options:

Try another branch of the same bank. The decision often depends on the member of staff rather than on bank policy.
Go to a bank with experience of dealing with foreigners — as a rule these are the large networks with branches in Bratislava and Košice.
Bring documents they did not ask for. An employment contract and a tenancy agreement often settle the matter.
Take someone who speaks Slovak with you. Half of all refusals are misunderstandings. You can find interpreters in our directory of Russian-speaking specialists.
A basic account. In the EU, legally resident people have the right to a basic payment account. It is worth asking about this directly if you are being refused repeatedly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an account without registered residence?

As a rule yes — most banks do not require registered residence, but they will ask for an address in Slovakia for correspondence. Conditions differ from bank to bank, so check in advance.

Do I need a rodné číslo?

Not always. You can open an account without one, but the procedure takes longer and will almost certainly require you to come in person.

How long does opening an account take?

From a single visit to a branch to a few working days. The card is usually handed over or posted within a few days; a digital card in the app is available straight away.

Is Revolut a substitute for a bank?

For everyday payments and transfers, yes. But it is not a Slovak bank, and some organisations (certain employers, government offices, landlords) prefer a Slovak IBAN. As your only account for living in the country, it is risky.

What about salary and taxes?

Your salary arrives in the account after tax and contributions have been deducted. How the difference between gross and net is calculated is covered in the article on gross and net salary in Slovakia.

What to read next

If you are still settling in, you may find our complete guide to moving to Slovakia useful, along with our overview of ways to find a job and the conditions for getting a mortgage.

Current fees are always set out in the sadzobník poplatkov document on each bank’s website, and independent comparisons can be found on the portals FinancnyKompas.sk and Banky.sk.

Important. The information in this article has been collected from public sources online and is up to date at the time of publication. Bank tariffs, account terms and document requirements change regularly and vary depending on the particular branch and on your situation. Before making a decision, check the terms directly with the bank and, if significant sums or business activity are involved, consult a relevant specialist — a financial adviser, an accountant or a lawyer.

A basic payment account: your right, not a bank service

Almost nobody knows about this, although it applies to everyone. If you are legally resident in a European Union country, you have the right to a basic payment account (základný platobný účet). This is not a promotion or a special offer from the bank but a right laid down in law, and banks are obliged to offer such an account.

What it gives you: ordinary everyday operations — receiving money, withdrawing cash, making transfers, and a payment card. Running such an account is free.

The key point: a bank cannot refuse you a basic account purely on the grounds that you do not live in the country where the bank is based. A refusal is possible for other reasons, but not for that one.

In practice, nobody at the branch will offer you this account of their own accord — they will offer a standard package with a monthly fee. Ask about it directly, by name.

How opening an account works, step by step

Choose a bank and a type of account. A digital bank is faster and cheaper; a traditional one is more convenient if you need a branch and advice on the spot.
Gather your documents. A passport or identity card, your residence document, and an address in Slovakia for correspondence. Some banks ask for a second document.
Submit the application. Online through the app with video identification, or in person at a branch. For a branch it is better to book in advance.
Sign the contract and receive your IBAN. The account number is usually available immediately or within one to two working days.
Wait for the card. The plastic card is sent by post, usually within a week or two. A virtual card in the app often works straight away.

A practical tip: your employer will need the IBAN for your salary, and you will also need it when applying for payments and compensation. Open an account as one of the first things you do after arriving, rather than leaving it until you urgently need one.

Common mistakes when opening an account

Agreeing to the first package you are offered. Ask whether there is a cheaper option and what is needed to reduce the fee to zero.
Not checking the conditions for it being free. The fee is waived when a salary is paid in or when you spend enough by card — if you stop meeting the condition, the fee comes back without warning.
Not checking the fee for transfers abroad. Transfers in euros within the European Union should cost the same as domestic ones, but transfers in other currencies and to third countries can be expensive.
Ignoring letters from the bank. Banks periodically require you to update your documents and confirm your status. If you do not respond, the account may be restricted.

If you are planning a mortgage, an account with a regular incoming salary is doubly useful: the bank will ask for six months of statements. Details are in the article on mortgages in Slovakia.