How to Open a Bank Account in Serbia as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)

Short answer: Foreigners can open a bank account in Serbia in person with a passport and proof of address; in your first year you get a non-resident account, which the bank converts to a resident account later.

A Serbian bank account makes daily life much easier. Most employers pay salaries by bank transfer, landlords often prefer bank payments, and a local card works in every shop and online. The good news: foreigners can open an account in Serbia, even in the first months. This guide explains how, in simple steps.

Information here was last checked in November 2026. Bank rules and fees change, so always confirm with the bank before you go.

Resident or non-resident: what it means for you

Serbian banks divide clients into residents and non-residents. This decides which type of account you get.

According to the Government of Serbia's Welcome to Serbia portal:

• In your first year in Serbia, you are treated as a non-resident.
• A foreigner with a residence permit or work visa who stays more than one year becomes a resident.
• When your status changes, you must tell the bank. The bank then closes the non-resident account and opens a resident account for you.

Both types of account can be in dinars (RSD) and in foreign currency (for example euros). Your salary from a Serbian employer will normally be paid in dinars.

Do not worry too much about the label. A non-resident account still lets you receive a salary, pay with a card, and use ATMs. The main differences are some rules on foreign-currency payments, and fees, which can be higher for non-residents at some banks.

Documents you need

The official rules say a foreign person opening an account must give the bank:

1. A written request to open the account (the bank gives you the form).
2. An identity document with a photo — usually your passport.
3. A document that shows where you live in Serbia. For most newcomers this is the white card (police registration of your address). A residence permit card also works.
4. A signed contract with the bank, such as a current account agreement.

The bank will also record extra details for anti-money-laundering checks: your date and place of birth, and details of your passport (number, who issued it, and when).

Things banks often ask for in practice:

• Your employment contract or a letter from your employer, especially if your salary will come to this account.
• Your residence permit or work permit card, if you already have one. Foreigners with a residence permit usually have a personal number for foreigners (evidencijski broj stranca) printed on the card, and banks will write it in your file.
• A Serbian phone number, so the bank can send you SMS codes. Get a local SIM first — see our SIM card guide.

If you do not have the white card yet, read how to get the white card in Serbia first. Without proof of address, many branches will not open an account.

Which banks to try

Serbia has many banks. These large banks have branches across Belgrade and serve foreign clients:

Practical advice:

• Ask your employer first. Many companies already work with one bank. If you open your account there, salary payments are often faster and sometimes cheaper.
• Rules can differ by branch. One branch may say yes when another says no. A big central branch usually has more experience with foreigners.
• Ask for English. Many staff speak English. Ask if the contract and the mobile banking app are available in English.
• Compare the monthly fee for the account package, and the fee for receiving money from abroad.

Step by step: opening your account

1. Collect your documents: passport, white card, residence or work permit (if you have it), employment contract, and Serbian phone number.
2. Choose a branch. If possible, go to a central branch in the morning on a weekday.
3. Tell the staff what you need: "I want to open a current account for my salary" ("Želim da otvorim tekući račun za platu").
4. Fill in the forms. The bank will ask about your job, your income and why you need the account.
5. Sign the contract. Ask for a copy, and ask about the monthly fee and card fees.
6. Get your account number. Give it to your employer the same day.
7. Wait for your card. Some banks give the card at once, others send it to the branch a few days later.
8. Install the bank's mobile app and set up your PIN and SMS codes.

If the bank says no

Banks can choose their clients, but the Welcome to Serbia portal says a bank may not refuse you on discriminatory grounds, for example because of your citizenship. If a bank refuses, you can ask for the reason in writing.

The same source also notes that, under the Law on Payment Services, a person with legal residence who has no payment account can ask for a payment account with basic services. Ask the bank about this if you are refused a normal account.

Money, cards and cash in Serbia

• The currency is the Serbian dinar (RSD). Prices in shops are in dinars. Rents and cars are often written in euros, but payment is usually in dinars.
• Cards (Visa, Mastercard, and DinaCard, the Serbian national card) are accepted in most shops, supermarkets and pharmacies. Small kiosks and markets may want cash.
• Exchange offices (menjačnica) are everywhere in Belgrade. Compare the buying and selling rate before you change money.
• Keep your bank's phone number saved, so you can block your card fast if it is lost or stolen.

Sending money home

Many workers support family in Bangladesh, Nepal, India and other countries. The main ways to send money from Serbia are:

1. International bank transfer from your Serbian account. You need the receiver's full name, bank name, account number and SWIFT/BIC code. Ask your bank for the full fee and the exchange rate before sending.
2. Money transfer services such as Western Union, available through agents in Serbia (ask at your bank or the post office). The receiver can usually collect cash or get money into a bank account at home.
3. Online transfer apps. Some international apps let you send money to Serbia, but not all of them accept customers living in Serbia who want to send money out. Check the app's country list and payout currency before you sign up.

How to compare:

• Look at the total cost: the fee plus the exchange rate difference.
• Check how long the money takes to arrive.
• Use only licensed services. Never give your card details or bank codes to a person who offers "cheap transfers" on social media.

Plan your budget so you know how much you can send each month. Our cost of living in Belgrade guide can help.

Your rights and where to complain

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) supervises banks and protects bank users. If you have a problem with a bank — a wrong fee, a blocked account, a refused complaint — follow these steps:

1. Complain to the bank first, in writing. Keep a copy and the date.
2. The bank must answer your complaint within the deadline set by law.
3. If you are not happy with the answer, or the bank does not reply, you can complain to the NBS. Information is on the official website, nbs.rs.

Keep all your bank papers, contracts and receipts in one folder. The Hello Serbia app's papers checklist helps you track what you have done and what is still missing.

Quick checklist

• Passport
• White card (proof of address)
• Residence or work permit card, if you have it
• Employment contract or employer letter
• Serbian phone number
• Know your bank's monthly fee and card fee
• Account number sent to your employer
• Mobile banking app installed
• Tell the bank when you become a resident

Official sources

• Welcome to Serbia (Government of Serbia) — Opening bank accounts for residents and non-residents
• National Bank of Serbia (NBS)
• NBS — Accounts of residents and non-residents (PDF)
• Banca Intesa Beograd
• Banka Poštanska štedionica (Postal Savings Bank)

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules, prices and phone numbers can change. We last checked it in November 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you act.