Bank Accounts

Hi Glen,

Bank accounts for foreigners in Serbia are now a bit tricky due to changes in banking laws a year or so ago. I bank with Intesa and have had a few issues.
As a foreigner, whilst you can transfer money into Serbia it's a different matter transferring out. Equally, you will find that, whilst you can make online payments using you visa card, you won't be able to make a payment from your online banking, even to a Serbian company, at least using the mobile phone app. It's a nightmare.
Also be aware that, if you pay anything from your Serbian RSD account to anywhere outside of Serbia, your money will first of all be converted into euros (a charge for that) and then from euros into whatever currency you are supposed to pay in (GBP or $ for example.... and of course, another charge for that).

Thanks mate,

I've started talking to Intesa.  We'll have both Euro and RSD accounts.  Finally we found a house to rent on Avala mountain near to Vrcin.  Move planned for the end of September.  By some great stroke of serendipity, about 150 metres from a rakija distillery cum museum, ha!  Rather looking forward to it...

Cheers,

Glenn

@Guest5682

ALTA bank

The easiest bank to open an account is ALTA in the mall. The process of getting the stamped paperwork is very irritating otherwise. The banks insist on a stamped paper from the local police station. The hotel can print this temporary residence paper. I forget what it is called. But if you take it to the police, they insist that you don't need it to open an account and to tell the bank that the law doesn't require this. Of course, the bank doesn't care...THEY require it. So it really becomes a pain. Paper from the hotel seemed to be sufficient for ALTA bank.