How to open a bank account in Slovenia

Congratulations on moving to Slovenia! There are plenty of reasons to love living in this enchanting little country in Eastern Europe, from its world-renowned honey bees to its green capital city, Ljubljana. If you’re planning on staying here for more than just a few months, it’s a smart idea to get yourself set up with a Slovenian bank account. Keep reading to find out exactly how to open a bank account in Slovenia.

Most likely, you’re searching for the Slovenian equivalent of a checking or current account. This is known as a transaction account, or a transakcijski račun. With this account you’ll be able to make deposits and withdrawals, and you’ll get your own International Bank Account Number (IBAN). With an IBAN, you can transfer money easily and for free between other countries in the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA). That includes every country in Europe, even those outside of the European Union (EU).

Be sure to watch out for other fees like account maintenance, which is federally capped at €4.90 per month. A lot of transactions in Slovenia still take place in cash, so it’s a good idea to look for a bank that doesn’t charge you to make withdrawals from ATMs outside its network. And for shopping online, look for a widely accepted card option like Mastercard or Visa that you can easily link to Apple Pay or Google Pay for quick and easy virtual payments. 

Finally, if your Slovenian isn’t quite up to snuff yet, make sure your bank makes it possible to open an account in English, either at a branch or online. You’ll find most traditional Slovenian banks have an English website, but the actual process of opening the account might only be available in Slovenian. And it’s always a good idea to settle on a bank which offers customer service in English or your native language.

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Slovenia is generally quite expat-friendly when it comes to opening a bank account. Non-residents are also eligible to open a bank account, as are tourists visiting temporarily. As long as you have a valid passport, you’re allowed to open a bank in Slovenia. 

Slovenia’s lenient eligibility requirements means you’ll need just a few documents on hand to open a bank account: 

• Passport
• Slovenian tax number (davčna številka)*
• Foreign tax number**

All set? Bring your documents to a branch, upload them online, or show them via video chat depending on the identity verification method of your chosen bank. 

*You can easily apply for a Slovenian tax number by filling out a DR-02 form and submitting it to the tax office either by mail or in person. 

**This is the tax number of your home country if you are not a Slovenian resident

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Every bank has its own processes for opening an account, but most let you open an account online. However, that doesn’t mean you can necessarily visit a website today and start banking tomorrow. Even with all your documents in order, you might find you need to be fluent in Slovenian before you get very far in the process. If you’re going with a traditional bank, it’s probably easier to open an account at a branch. Slovenian banks tend to speak better English in person than on their website. 

Or you can skip the travel and waiting time at a traditional bank by opting to open a bank account online. This can often be done easily with just a smartphone or computer and a working internet connection.

In person:

1. Identify and print the documents required by your bank
2. Make an appointment and bring your documents to a local bank branch
3. Answer some questions and verify your identity with the clerk
4. Wait for your confirmation, card, PIN, and other necessary documents to arrive by post
5. Activate your account and any online banking features

Online:

1. See if your bank allows you to open an account online in English
2. Choose the type of account you want to open
3. Complete the application form
4. Upload copies of your documents and ID; alternatively, the bank will initiate video verification
5. Wait for your confirmation, card, PIN, and other necessary documents to arrive by post
6. Activate your account and online banking

1. Confirm your phone number or email
2. Download your bank’s mobile app and select the type of account you want
3. Finish the registration process
4. Complete in-app ID verification 
5. Create a PIN and start using your account immediately

There are so many companies out there offering financial services that it’s hard to tell which options are legitimate. Some of these companies even set you up with an IBAN and a debit card. These services alone, though, don’t necessarily mean the company is a real bank. A bank can only call itself a bank if it has a banking license. 

To get a banking license in Slovenia, a company must send an application for approval by the Bank of Slovenia, Slovenian Securities Market Agency, and European Central Bank (ECB). That means licensed Slovenian banks are held to the same standard as any in Europe, including protection for your data and deposits—up to €100,000 under an EU-wide deposit guarantee.

With more than five million customers in 24 markets and growing fast, N26 is the first licensed bank in Europe built for the digital generation. Opening a Slovenian bank account with N26 couldn’t be simpler. All you need to do is:

1. Download the N26 mobile app to your smartphone
2. Confirm your email and personal details
3. Select the type of account you want—Standard (free) or a premium option like Smart, You, or Metal with benefits including Spaces, Travel Insurance, and exclusive rewards
4. Prove your identity and connect your smartphone to your new account.
5. After a few days, you’ll receive your N26 Mastercard by post.

Signing up takes a few minutes, and once you’re done, you can start making payments with your virtual N26 Mastercard right away.

N26 makes opening a Slovenian bank account as easy as email. Our Standard account options are totally free, while our premium accounts like N26 You and N26 Metal accounts come with benefits like extensive insurance options to cover vehicle rental, COVID-related trip cancellations, and much more. 

Need to send money abroad? N26’s Wise partnership means your money moves as freely as you do. Finally, you can link your N26 Mastercard to Apple Pay and Google Pay for quick and secure payment options online, in stores, and in apps. Plus, any time you have a question, N26 Customer Support is there to help. Just contact us via the in-app chat function, or visit the Support Center to find answers to frequently asked questions.

At N26, we’ve taken the red tape out of opening a bank account in Slovenia. Open an online account in minutes—all you’ll need is your smartphone, a valid address in Slovenia, and a valid photo ID. You’ll get an official German IBAN, so you can pay and be paid like a local. Plus, there are no hidden fees and you’ll always have access to English-speaking customer service, so you can focus on settling in to your new home.