Finland has a sophisticated and technologically advanced banking system. There are numerous banks offering business and personal banking services, but the three largest banking groups - Nordea Bank Finland, the OKO Bank Group and Sampo - account for around 80% of the market.

Bank charges are reasonable with some banks offering free basic services such as bill payments, regular statements, cash withdrawals and transfers between accounts.

ATMs are widely available, but cash payments are relatively rare in Finland except for the smallest of purchases, since most people use debit cards for purchases and internet banking for bill payments and money transfers.

In order to open a bank account in Finland you will be required to provide personal identification in the form of a valid passport, an additional photo ID, social security number if available, proof of address in Finland and address in the country where you pay taxes if this is not Finland. You may also be asked for your Finnish residence permit and personal ID number.

You will normally be issued with an ATM card immediately on opening an account, but may need to submit a request for the use of this as a debit card.

Normal banking hours are 9.15 a.m. to 4.15 p.m., although this varies a little between banks and regions of the country.

Foreign currency and traveller's cheques can be exchanged in banks, and at the bureaux de change located in the cities, airports and major ports and railway stations. Traveller's cheques are also accepted in some larger shops, but cheques in Euros, pounds sterling or US dollars are preferred to those in other currencies.

Credit and charge cards including American Express, Diners Card, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards. You may be asked for personal identification for card purchases exceeding EUR50. It should be noted that as in the other Nordic countries, it is normal practice in Finland to use commas and decimals in figures the reverse way to other countries, e.g. EUR2.800,00