The National Bank of Slovakia was established in 1993, and has its headquarters in Bratislava. The National Bank is in charge of national monetary policy, issues Slovak currency and is the supervisory body overseeing the activities of other banks. The National Bank of Slovakia does not handle personal bank accounts, but can assist with investment questions etc. For more information, visit their website at http://www.nbs.sk/

A passport is required to establish a basic bank account. In addition, some banks may request proof of residency prior to opening an account, issuing an ATM card or providing Internet banking services. Many of the larger banks have English or German-speaking staff available to assist foreign customers.

Foreign exchange rates are prominently posted in several languages. There are no restrictions on importing foreign currency into the Slovak Republic, however the exportation of Slovak currency is regulated by the National Bank.

Once an account is opened the customer has immediate access to his/her funds, but will only be able to withdraw them from that specific bank until an ATM card has been issued, which usually takes from one to two weeks.

There are a number of foreign bank branches in Bratislava, chief among them CitiBank.

There is a stock exchange in Bratislava.