Best EUR accounts in Italy for foreigners

If you’re a foreigner living in Italy for work or to study, you’ll need a handy EUR account to manage daily spending, bill payments and more. Having a euro account which focuses on international features like holding a multi-currency balance or making payments overseas – as well as day to day EUR uses – can help expats keep up with their money across currencies.

This guide looks at both EUR accounts for day to day use from major banks, and flexible multi-currency options from digital providers like Wise. We’ll cover all you need to know to select the right EUR currency account based on your transaction needs.

What is a EUR currency account?

A EUR currency account is an account which lets you hold euros.

Euro accounts are available as single currency accounts from all Italian banks. You can also get multi-currency accounts which let you hold EUR as well as foreign currencies, either from banks or specialist providers.

EUR accounts will let you receive EUR payments with local account details, send money in EUR, and get a linked debit card to spend and withdraw euros conveniently. Multi-currency accounts may offer this for EUR – and other currencies, like GBP, USD and AUD, too.

What can you do with a EUR account in Italy?

You might benefit from a EUR account in Italy if you’re an expat, international student, frequent traveller, digital nomad, freelancer or business owner. If you live in Italy, or visit the Eurozone often, having a euro account is a huge benefit – and necessary for some things like accessing local services if you’re an Italian resident.

For expats, having easy ways to manage EUR alongside their home currency can also be a huge benefit. Here are some common uses for a euro account with international features:

• Hold and convert between EUR and other currencies: If you manage your money across euros, dollars, pounds or other currencies, a multi-currency EUR account makes this simple and allows you to view all your funds in one place.
• Receive payments in EUR: Business owners and freelancers – and anyone who receives payments in euros – could use a EUR account to receive money with local account information, for quick and cheap transfers.
• Send payments in EUR: Whether you’re sending money to a family member or paying a bill, using a EUR account can make the transfer hassle free, and may also cut the costs associated with cross border payments.
• Spend and withdraw EUR: With local banks, and also specialist providers like Wise you can spend with a linked card, online and in person, and get cash whenever you need it.

Types of EUR accounts

EUR accounts in Italy usually fall into one of two categories. Local, regional and global banks in Italy offer all their core services in EUR as single currency accounts. Or, you could choose a multi-currency account from a bank or specialist – here’s what you’ll find, alongside a quick introduction to the providers featured in this guide:

Multi currency accounts: Hold EUR and other currencies in a multi-currency account, to view your balance across all currencies and convert between them easily. Multi-currency accounts can support 40+ currencies in some cases, and products from digital first providers like Wise and Revolut also offer linked cards for convenient spending.

• Wise Account: Hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for receiving 8+ currencies including EUR, and SWIFT details for receiving 20+ currencies easily.
• Revolut Account: Hold 25+ currencies and get local details to receive EUR and GBP, with SWIFT details to receive other supported currencies.

Single currency EUR accounts: EUR accounts are offered by all banks operating in Italy. These accounts support only 1 currency, and may be a convenient way to spend, hold and send payments in euros, but they may not have multi-currency features for managing your funds across different currencies.

• UniCredit EUR Account – Genius Account offers easy ways to waive the monthly fee, and an option to pay a low fee of 2 EUR/month for unlimited free SEPA transfers (other accounts are also available)
• Intesa Sanpaolo EUR Account – XME Conto account comes in 3 tiers with different monthly account fees and transaction charges so you can pick your best match (other accounts are also available)

Best EUR currency accounts in Italy

EUR currency accounts in Italy are available for individual and business customers. Specialist providers like Wise or Revolut cater to customers looking for flexible account and card services, while banks have a full range of euro products from daily accounts to savings products.

There’s no best EUR account in Italy as such – you’ll need to compare a few depending on how you expect to transact.

If you prefer face to face service in a branch, a bank might be your best option. Or if you’re looking for an account to hold a selection of currencies for daily use, with a debit card for withdrawals and spending online and in person, a provider like Wise or Revolut may be a better fit.

Here we’ve selected some different providers and banks offering EUR accounts in Italy, looking at convenience, cost and customer intention.

Read on to learn more about each and how their EUR account in Italy works.

💡 At a glance
Wise Account	Hold and exchange EUR and 40+ other currencies, spend with a Wise card in 150+ countries, send and receive payments globally in EUR, GBP, USD and more.
Revolut Account	Choose from 4 different account plans which all offer a debit card, and support 25+ currencies for holding and withdrawal. Travel perks available on some account tiers.
UniCredit EUR Account	Genius Account has a fee of 1.9 EUR/month which is waived if you deposit regularly, and options to pay a fixed fee for unlimited SEPA transfers
Intesa Sanpaolo EUR Account	XME Conto series accounts offer different tiers depending on whether you’d prefer a low monthly fee or fewer transaction costs

Wise EUR Account

Open a Wise Account online or in the Wise app, for personal or business use, and hold EUR alongside GBP, USD, AUD and 40+ other currencies all in the same account. You can exchange between currencies in the app with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees, order an optional debit card for spending and cash withdrawals, and send and receive payments globally in EUR and other currencies.

Accounts offer local and SWIFT details to receive payments, with no fee to receive EUR to your Wise account with local details. There’s a small Wise fee to receive EUR SWIFT payments.

• Hold and exchange EUR and 40+ other currencies
• Mid-market currency exchange with low, transparent fees
• Use your Wise card in 150+ countries for spending and cash withdrawals

Account opening fee: No opening fee for personal customers. Business customers can register for free, and choose to pay 55 EUR to get full feature access. No minimum balance

Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of Italy and many other countries and regions globally

Supported currencies: 40+ currencies, including EUR

Monthly fees: None

Exchange rates: Mid-market exchange rates

Revolut Account

You can open 4 different types of Revolut Account as a personal customer in Italy, with additional plan options for business customers. As a personal customer you can choose a Standard plan with no monthly fee, or upgrade to a plan with maintenance fees up to 55 EUR/month.

Higher tier plans offer more no fee transactions, discounts and perks – but all accounts have a linked debit card and ways to convert in the account between 25+ currencies including EUR.

• Hold and exchange 25+ currencies in the same account
• Select your account plan based on your transaction needs
• Personal and business services offered

Account opening fee: No opening fee, no minimum balance

Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of Italy and many other countries and regions globally

Supported currencies: EUR and 25+ other currencies

Monthly fees: Personal customers pay 0 EUR- 55 EUR/month, business customers 10 EUR- 90 EUR/month

Exchange rates: Weekday currency exchange uses the Revolut rate to plan limits. After this fair usage fees of up to 1% may apply depending on plan. Weekend exchange may attract an extra fee up to 1%.

UniCredit EUR Account

Here we’ve selected the Genius Account from UniCredit which has a small monthly fee but will waive this if you deposit your salary. One highlight of this account is the option to add on the Unlimited SEPA Online Transfer Packagewhich lets you send as many SEPA payments as you need for just 2 EUR a month in flat fees. This can be handy if you have obligations outside Italy and need to send transfers often.

• Low monthly fee, which can be waived with regular deposits
• No annual fee for a debit card, with no ATM charges in UniCredit branches
• Credit card option available

Account opening fee: None

Eligibility criteria: Residents of Italy

Supported currencies: EUR

Monthly fees: 1.9 EUR, waived if you credit your salary or pension

Exchange rates: Exchange rates are likely to include a markup

Intesa Sanpaolo EUR Account

Intesa Sanpaolo has the XME Conto account series which comes in Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers. For the Silver account you pay 5.9 EUR/month with higher transaction fees for some services like ATM use and payments, while the Platinum account has a higher monthly fee at 20.9 EUR, with fewer costs when you transact.

Accounts support holding EUR only, but your linked card can be used globally for spending and withdrawals.

• Choose the account package that suits your needs based on how often you transact
• Online applications are available for convenience
• All accounts come with a debit card

Account opening fee: None

Eligibility criteria: Residents of Italy

Supported currencies: EUR

Monthly fees: 5.9 EUR – 20.9 EUR depending on the account tier you select

Exchange rates: Exchange rates are likely to include a markup

Fees for EUR accounts in Italy

While getting a EUR account in Italy can bring down your overall money management costs, there are likely still to be some fees to pay. As these costs can vary a lot, and may not look like the fees you’re used to in your home country, you’ll need to read your account fee schedule carefully before you transact.

Here are some fees to look out for:

• Monthly maintenance fee: Maintenance or service fees may apply to keep your EUR account open. Where this fee applies you may not be able to avoid it – but providers like Wise don’t charge a maintenance fee.
• ATM withdrawal fees: ATM fees may be waived in network, but can still apply when you visit a different bank or when you travel. Fees may be a flat charge or a percentage of the withdrawn amount. Providers like Wise and Revolut offer some no fee ATM use each month to help you lower your transaction costs.
• Outgoing transfer fees: Sending payments from EUR to other currencies may incur fees, including costs added to the exchange rate used for currency conversion. Compare both the rate and the fee applied before you transact. Providers like Wise can often offer lower overall costs compared to your bank.

How to open a EUR account in Italy

Once you’re ready to open a EUR account in Italy you’ll need to take a look at the specific process used by your preferred bank or provider. Banks usually allow you to open online, completing an application and uploading images of your paperwork.

In pretty much all cases you need a proof of ID for verification. You may also need a proof of address document.

With banks: If you choose a major Italian bank you can usually open your account online. You’ll complete an application and upload images of your ID document like your passport. You must sign the account contract before you can transact.

With online providers: Specialist providers offer a fully digital application, verification and onboarding experience. All you’ll need is your phone or laptop, and images of the documents required to support your application. Enter your personal and contact details, set a secure password and follow the onscreen instructions.

How to use your EUR account in Italy

A EUR account in Italy can bring benefits for personal and business users, including making transacting quicker and cheaper when you need to manage conversions between EUR and other currencies. If you live an international lifestyle, a multi-currency account is a smart way to receive, hold, send or spend all the currencies you need from one account.

Here are some ways expats commonly use their Italian EUR accounts:

• Send international money transfers: Expats might need to send money overseas from Italy, or vice versa, to cover bills, mortgage payments or rent for example. A EUR account which has low cost international transfers is a good choice here.
• Hold and exchange EUR and other foreign currencies: Check your EUR and foreign currency balance side by side, convert between currencies when you see a great exchange rate, and build your savings in whichever currency you prefer.
• Receive EUR payments: Get paid by an employer or client in Europe, or if you’re an international student you may want to receive EUR payments from your family or student loan provider. Use the EUR details that come with your account to get your money and then hold it in EUR until you need it.
• Use your debit card for spending and withdrawals: Spend in euros with no additional costs if you hold sufficient EUR balance to cover a payment. Or use your foreign currency account balance when you travel if you have a multi-currency account with a provider like Wise or Revolut, to avoid conversion costs.

Conclusion

Get a EUR account in Italy from an Italian bank, or a specialist provider like Wise, or Revolut.

You can find EUR accounts from all Italian banks which are useful for everyday needs like spending and making payments, and accessing add-on services such as overdrafts, loans and credit.

If you’re thinking more of a euro account with multi-currency features, check out Wise. Wise lets you easily send, spend, receive and hold EUR along with GBP, USD, AUD and 40+ other currencies, all in the same account. With no minimum balance to maintain, and no monthly fee, Wise is an equally good choice for occasional use or for daily spending, depending on what you need.

Useful resources:

• Wise – Wise landing page with links to pricing and account features
• Revolut – Revolut landing page for personal pricing plans and feature descriptions
• Unicredit – Genius account landing page (Italian only)
• Intesa Sanpaolo – current account landing page for details of account services (Italian only)

*Checked on 10th December 2025