Opening a bank account
We highly recommend that you open a bank account in a Norwegian bank if your stay is longer than six months. A Norwegian bank account also gives you access to other public services.
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How to open a bank account
You will need a national identity number, temporary (D-number) or permanent. That means that you must have completed the registration with the Norwegians authorities process to open a bank account.
Bring with you:
- National ID-number
- Passport
- Passport photo
- Employment contract
Choosing a bank
Banks in Norway have various requirements for opening an account. The banks usually require that you have a Norwegian ID number, and some banks may also ask to see a work contract. Some accept the temporary ID number (D-number), while others demand the permanent ID number.
The largest banks in Norway and Bergen are:
- DnB
- Nordea
- SparebankenVest (SPV)
- Sparebanken 1 (SR-bank)
- Danske bank
Banks with English websites are DnB, SPV and Nordea
DnB is the only bank with online banking in English.
Bank-ID and biometric passports
Bank-ID is an electronic identification and signing which is used for many public services. In order to get a bankID, most banks (except DNB) requires that you have a biometric passport and a permanent ID-number in Norway.
Bank services
Online banking
Online banking is the easiest way to transfer money and pay bills and is therefore recommended. For services within Norway no fees are charged. It can also be used to transfer money to a foreign bank account. However, you may also use money transfer companies or banks:
Prices vary. The Norwegian Consumer Council financial services portal offers the online service Sending money home (finansportalen.no) that helps you find the best way to send money from Norway to other countries.
For exchange rates see Exchange rates (norges-bank.no).
Bank cards
Although you can still use it, Norway is almost a cashless country. Everyone has a bank debit and/or credit card.
Housing loans
Housing loans require some form of security, for instance income or a surety. Contact your bank to find out how much you can loan and what interest rate the bank offers. Most mortgages have a floating rate that varies according to the market rate. The website finansportalen.no (mainly in Norwegian) offers a useful overview of current mortgage rates.
Please note that all members and pensioners belonging to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) can apply for a housing loan with advantageous rates under the housing loan agreement. You may also be granted a loan to refinance a housing loan. Read more about SPK's housing loan.
