banking

Portugal – Banking

Portugal’s banking sector is well-regulated and thoroughly modern, comprising more than 150 financial institutions ranging from large state-owned and private retail banks to fully digital neobanks. Expatriates can open accounts whether they are residents or non-residents, although the documentation process

Philippines – Banking

The Philippine banking landscape is well-established and overseen by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), giving foreign residents access to a diverse mix of domestic institutions, international banks, e-wallets, and an expanding fintech sector. Foreign nationals can open accounts, though

Poland – Banking

Poland’s banking sector is modern, well-regulated, and among the most dynamic in the Central and Eastern European region. For expats, setting up a local account is generally a manageable process, although requirements can differ across institutions and even individual branches.

Panama – Banking

Panama ranks among Latin America’s most welcoming and well-developed banking environments for foreign residents. Home to more than 50 licensed financial institutions, a fully dollarised economy, zero foreign-exchange controls, and a regulatory framework administered by the Superintendency of Banks of

Peru – Banking

Peru maintains a well-regulated and highly consolidated banking sector, overseen by the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS). Leading banks provide extensive branch networks, robust digital platforms, and accounts in both soles and US dollars. While legal residency has

Oman – Banking

Oman’s banking sector is mature, well-regulated, and broadly welcoming to the country’s large expatriate community. Overseen by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), the sector brings together sizeable domestic banks, dedicated Islamic finance institutions, and a selection of international branch

New Zealand – Banking

New Zealand’s banking sector is mature, reliable, and easy to navigate, with four dominant Australian-owned banks sitting alongside a handful of locally based institutions. For expats, getting set up with a bank account is typically a smooth process — several

Norway – Banking

Norway’s banking sector is thoroughly modern, almost entirely digital, and tightly supervised — qualities that make it a functional system for newcomers, albeit one that demands advance preparation. The overwhelming majority of payments take place without cash, a Norwegian identification

Netherlands – Banking

The Dutch banking landscape is mature, digitally advanced, and welcoming to newcomers from abroad. ING, ABN AMRO, and Rabobank collectively dominate the market, while digital challengers such as bunq offer swift account setup with flexible BSN requirements. Cashless and card-based

Morocco – Banking

Morocco’s banking sector is mature, well-supervised, and open to foreign nationals — but it has certain characteristics that set it apart from systems expats may be familiar with elsewhere. The Moroccan dirham operates under currency controls, and the accounts available