Traditional banks, online banks and neobanks. Compare fees, savings, mortgages and cards.
This comparison puts 10 banks in Italy side by side, among them Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Banco BPM, BPER Banca. They belong to different families, branch banks, online banks, neobanks, and that distinction explains most of the pricing differences: a branch bank charges for the account and the branch network, an online bank rarely charges for the account but sends you to the phone, and a neobank costs almost nothing and almost never lends. The table compares account fees, the debit card, overdraft, savings, mortgages, foreign transaction costs and mobile payment, line by line and without an overall score, because an average hides exactly what matters to you. Dedicated offers are broken out for students, youth, premium and business, because the account that suits a student on no income is rarely the one that suits a business.
Select 2 to 4 banks.
Traditional Banks
Online Banks
Neobanks
| Criteria | Intesa Sanpaolo Traditional | Fineco Bank Online | Hype (Banca Sella) Neobank |
|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee | See the bank's price list | Smart plan with no monthly fee; €0 for under-30s | €0 (base), €2.90 or €9.90/mo |
Debit Card | Visa Debit / Bancomat | Visa Debit | Visa Debit / Mastercard |
Minimum Balance | None | None | None |
Overdraft (Fido) | Overdraft (rate per price list) | Overdraft (rate per price list) | Not available |
Mobile App | Mobile app | Mobile app | Mobile app |
Branches | Branch network | Fineco Centers (advice, no counter) | 100% mobile |
Instant Transfer (SEPA) | Free (SEPA Instant) | Free | Free (Hype-to-Hype) |
Savings (Conto deposito) | Deposit account (rate per price list) | Savings at 2% gross a year, available 32 days after request | Savings goals (Box) |
Mortgage (Mutuo) | Competitive mortgage, fixed/variable | Fineco mortgage, competitive online rates | Not available |
Investing | Eurizon, funds, ETFs, in-branch advice | Best trading platform Italy: stocks, ETFs, options, crypto | Crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum) |
Credit Cards | Visa / Mastercard Classic, Gold | Visa / MC, credit card available | Not available (Visa Debit only) |
Apple / Google Pay | Apple Pay + Google Pay | Apple Pay + Google Pay | Apple Pay + Google Pay |
Checks | On request | Not available | Not available |
Foreign Fees | See the bank's price list | Commission-free purchases up to €5,000/month at the exchange rate | See the bank's price list |
Welcome Bonus | Per current offers | Per current offers | Up to €25 bonus |
Students, youth, premium and business.
| Bank | Available | Offer | Price | Card | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intesa Sanpaolo | Intesa Sanpaolo giovani | Depends on age | Debit | Youth terms | |
UniCredit | UniCredit giovani | Depends on age | Debit | Youth terms | |
Banco BPM | Banco BPM giovani | Depends on age | Debit | Youth terms | |
BPER Banca | BPER giovani | Depends on age | Debit | Youth terms | |
Poste Italiane (BancoPosta) | BancoPosta Start Giovani | From €2/mo, reducible | Postamat | Youth option of the BancoPosta account | |
Fineco Bank | Fineco under 30 | €0/mo | Debit | No fee, reduced commissions, free debit card | |
ING Italia | Conto Corrente Arancio | See the bank's price list | Debit | Online current account, paired with Conto Arancio | |
Illimity Bank | illimity | See the bank's price list | Visa Debit | Online account, sub-accounts and deposit account | |
Revolut Italia | Revolut Standard | See the bank's price list | Visa / Mastercard | Free plan, multi-currency | |
Hype (Banca Sella) | Hype (base) | €0/mo | Visa Debit | No-fee account for everyday spending |
* Several banks offer youth terms: Fineco with no fee for under-30s, BancoPosta Start Giovani.
Our recommendations based on your situation.
Free account, no fees, great for starting out.
Hype: base plan at €0/month, Italian IBAN. Fineco: no fee for under-30s, free debit card.
Best value with comprehensive services.
Fineco: no-fee Smart plan, trading, savings at 2% gross. ING: 4% gross for 12 months with Conto Arancio (welcome offer).
Need in-branch advice and mortgage.
Intesa Sanpaolo: the country's largest branch network, mortgages, savings management. UniCredit: €1.90 Genius fee, waived with a €750 salary.
Minimize forex fees and withdraw everywhere.
Revolut: fee-free exchange within plan limits, multi-currency. Fineco: commission-free purchases up to €5,000 a month at the exchange rate.
Affordable and flexible business account.
Hype Business: account for Partita IVA holders. Revolut Business: multi-currency business account.
Premium services and wealth management.
Fineco: Private Banking, Fineco AM, MC World Elite, dedicated advice. Intesa Exclusive: Eurizon, insurance, Gold card, largest network.
For investing and a no-fee account: Fineco (Smart plan, free for under-30s). For savings: ING (4% gross for 12 months as a welcome offer) or Fineco (2% gross). For branch network: Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit or Poste Italiane. For a mobile account: Hype or Revolut.
The imposta di bollo is an annual tax of €34.20 on current accounts with an average balance over €5,000. It's mandatory and charged by all banks. Securities accounts are taxed at 0.20% of the balance. It is charged only when the average balance over the year exceeds that threshold, and it is withheld directly by the bank, usually in quarterly instalments shown on the statement.
Partita IVA is the Italian VAT number for self-employed and businesses. A dedicated current account is mandatory for companies (SRL, SPA) and strongly recommended for freelancers (including forfettario regime). A dedicated account is not compulsory for an individual holding a Partita IVA, but it greatly simplifies bookkeeping and tax inspections, since the authorities may ask you to justify every movement.
Yes, the Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD) protects deposits up to €100,000 per depositor per bank, in line with EU directive. Poste Italiane benefits from a separate state guarantee. The ceiling applies per depositor and per institution, so a joint account enjoys double cover, each holder being protected for their share.
Poste Italiane (BancoPosta) has Italy's largest network of offices. The BancoPosta account comes in Start Giovani, Start, Medium and Plus options, from €2 to €10 a month, with a fee that can be cut to zero depending on monthly credits (from €600) and assets (above €10,000).
You need a codice fiscale (tax code) and ID. EU residents can open an account online at Fineco, ING, Hype or Revolut in minutes. Traditional banks may require a certificate of residence. Non-residents are usually asked for proof of income or an employment contract, and an application can be refused without explanation, since the bank remains free to decide.
ING pays 4% gross for 12 months when you open Conto Corrente Arancio and Conto Arancio (welcome offer). Fineco offers 2% gross a year with funds available 32 days after request. Interest is subject to 26% withholding tax and the imposta di bollo applies to deposit accounts: compare the net return.
Revolut and Hype accept EU non-residents with a passport and codice fiscale. Fineco also accepts EU residents. Traditional banks usually require a certificate of residence (certificato di residenza). The codice fiscale is issued free of charge by the Agenzia delle Entrate or an Italian consulate, and it is required for almost any administrative or contractual step in Italy.
The Italian banking market is dominated by two large groups, Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit, followed by Banco BPM, BPER and Poste Italiane (BancoPosta). The Bank of Italy supervises institutions and the Interbank Deposit Protection Fund protects deposits up to €100,000 per depositor per bank.
Italy has undergone significant banking restructuring, with mergers that reduced the number of banks and branches. Current accounts usually carry a fee (€1.90 at UniCredit, €2 to €10 at BancoPosta), but it can be cut or waived depending on salary paid in. The €34.20 annual imposta di bollo applies to accounts with an average balance above €5,000.
FinecoBank, the benchmark online bank, offers a no-fee Smart plan, free for under-30s, and commission-free purchases up to €5,000 a month. ING pairs Conto Corrente Arancio and Conto Arancio with 4% gross for 12 months as a welcome offer. Hype (Banca Sella) has a €0 base plan and two plans at €2.90 and €9.90 a month. Revolut rounds out the offer for travellers.
The Italian mortgage market offers fixed and variable-rate mutui. In August 2026, new loans averaged 3.60% fixed for over 10 years and 3.37% variable (ECB/Banca d'Italia); 12-month Euribor was 3.247% in September 2026. First-time buyers under 36 may benefit from tax exemptions and the Consap Fund guarantee under current conditions. On savings, offers range from 2% (Fineco) to 4% in the first year (ING).
For an Italian resident, Fineco offers a no-fee account and a full investment platform. Branch banks (Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, BancoPosta) remain useful for a supported mortgage, with a lower fee when your salary is paid in. For savings, compare welcome offers (ING) with lasting rates (Fineco), net of the 26% withholding tax and the imposta di bollo.
* Rates checked in October 2026 on the banks' websites; they may vary. Mortgage rates: ECB/Banca d'Italia, August 2026. This comparison is for informational purposes only. Deposits protected up to €100,000 (FITD).