Opening a Bank Account in Hungary: A Guide for Foreigners

Opening a bank account is near the top of the to-do list for anyone moving to Hungary. Wages, rent, tax and everyday spending all flow through it, so it pays to sort it out early. The good news is that Hungarian’s banking is modern and used to foreign customers, and, as a SEPA member, it is well connected to the rest of Europe for euro transfers.

The short version: foreigners can open an account in Hungary, usually with a passport, a residence permit for most banks, and a local address. Everyday accounts are in forint, they use IBAN, and deposits are protected. If you are a driver, open your account early — you can browse driver vacancies in Hungary or register a driver profile while you get set up.

Can foreigners open a bank account in Hungary?

Yes — Hungarian banks are open to foreign customers. In general, you need to be at least 18, present a valid passport or national ID, and, for most banks, show a residence permit and a local address. Hungary keeps the forint but is in SEPA, so euro transfers are cheap while everyday accounts are in forint. Some banks are more flexible than others, and the exact list varies, so it is worth asking two or three before you choose.

Opening in person is still the norm, so plan a branch visit with your papers rather than expecting to finish everything online.

The forint and multi-currency accounts

Everyday accounts in Hungary are held in the forint (HUF). Because salaries, rent and bills are almost always in forint, that is the account you will use day to day. Most banks also offer euro and US-dollar accounts, which are useful if you send money home or are paid from abroad.

A multi-currency setup is handy for cross-border drivers who earn or spend in more than one currency.

Hungary and SEPA

Hungary is in SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, which treats a euro transfer between Hungary and any other SEPA country like a domestic payment — same speed, same low cost. Hungary keeps the forint but is in SEPA, so euro transfers are cheap while everyday accounts are in forint. In practice, that means your salary, rent and cross-border euro payments move quickly and cheaply using just an IBAN.

If a payment is urgent, ask your bank whether it goes as a SEPA transfer or an international wire, as the timing differs.

Resident vs non-resident accounts

Most banks in Hungary distinguish between resident and non-resident accounts. A resident account — the normal choice once you live and work here — needs a residence permit and a local address, and gives you the full range of services. A non-resident account, where offered, is more limited and is aimed at people with ties to Hungary who do not yet live there.

Non-resident accounts can be a stopgap, but a resident account is what you need for salary, direct debits and full access.

Documents you’ll need

To open a resident account in Hungary, expect to provide:

• A valid passport or national ID.
• Your residence permit or proof of legal stay in Hungary.
• Proof of a local address (a rental contract or a utility bill).
• A tax identification number.
• Sometimes an employment contract or proof of income, and a small opening deposit.

Requirements differ by bank, so treat this as the core list and confirm the exact papers with your chosen bank.

IBAN and international transfers

Hungary accounts use IBAN, the standard European account number, so sending and receiving money is simple: you give your IBAN, and euro transfers within SEPA arrive quickly and cheaply. For payments outside the SEPA area, you may also need the bank’s SWIFT/BIC code, and those transfers can carry higher fees.

For recurring income, save your IBAN somewhere handy so you can share it quickly and correctly.

Cards, ATMs and fees

Once your account is open, a debit card usually follows within a couple of weeks, sometimes on the spot. Watch for the everyday costs: a monthly account fee, ATM withdrawal fees (especially at other banks’ machines or abroad), and currency-conversion charges. Many banks in Hungary now offer app-based accounts with lower fees and instant cards, which can be worth comparing.

A fee-light app account alongside a traditional one can be a good combination for a mobile worker.

Basic payment accounts

Under EU rules, anyone legally resident in Hungary has the right to a basic payment account with essential services — a card, transfers and direct debits — even on a modest income or a limited residence status. If a bank turns you away, ask specifically about the basic payment account you are entitled to.

If cost is a concern, the entry-level account is usually the cheapest way to bank legally.

Banking, employment and residence

Banking, employment and residence are closely linked in Hungary. Employers pay wages into a local account, tax and social contributions are settled through the system, and having an account is part of putting your working life on a legal footing. Opening one early smooths your first pay run and the wider process of settling in.

If you are moving to Hungary to drive, line up your account alongside your residence and work paperwork. You can browse driver vacancies in Hungary and register a driver profile, and employers can post roles and manage recruitment and compliance through FastDriver.

Deposit protection

Money in a licensed Hungarian bank is protected. Deposits are covered up to EUR 100,000 per depositor through the National Deposit Insurance Fund (OBA), so if a bank were to fail, eligible deposits up to the limit are repaid. This protection is one reason to bank with a supervised, licensed institution rather than an informal arrangement.

Check that any bank or app you use is licensed and covered by the scheme before depositing significant sums.

Common issues — and the biggest mistake

A few issues catch newcomers in Hungary. An account can be temporarily restricted if compliance checks are outstanding or documents are out of date, and a bank may limit or close an account if your residence permit lapses. But the single biggest mistake is waiting too long to open an account — it delays your first salary payment and holds up the rest of your settling-in.

Start the account process in your first weeks, not after your first payday is already due.

For professional drivers in Hungary

For professional drivers, a Hungarian account is simply the tool that gets you paid and lets you live normally — salary in, rent and bills out, wherever your routes take you. The practical advice is the same everywhere: open it early, keep your documents current, and make sure your employer has the right IBAN before your first pay run.

If you are looking for work, you can browse current driver vacancies in Hungary and register a driver profile. Employers hiring in Hungary can post roles and manage compliance through FastDriver.

Banking in the Hungarian region

Banks operate across Hungary, and you can open an account wherever you live. Here is a look at the main regions and their banking.

Budapest

The capital region, with the widest choice of banks and branches and the easiest access to English-speaking staff. Driver jobs in Budapest.

Pest County

Local branches of the main banks serve Pest County, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Pest County.

Győr-Moson-Sopron

Banking in Győr-Moson-Sopron is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Győr-Moson-Sopron.

Bács-Kiskun

Residents of Bács-Kiskun use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Bács-Kiskun.

Hajdú-Bihar

The main banks operate branches across Hajdú-Bihar for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in Hajdú-Bihar.

Komárom-Esztergom

Local branches of the main banks serve Komárom-Esztergom, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Komárom-Esztergom.

Fejér

Banking in Fejér is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Fejér.

Csongrád-Csanád

Residents of Csongrád-Csanád use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Csongrád-Csanád.

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén

The main banks operate branches across Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén.

Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg

Local branches of the main banks serve Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg.

Vas

Banking in Vas is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Vas.

Zala

Residents of Zala use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Zala.

Veszprém

The main banks operate branches across Veszprém for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in Veszprém.

Baranya

Local branches of the main banks serve Baranya, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Baranya.

Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok

Banking in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok.

Heves

Residents of Heves use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Heves.

Békés

The main banks operate branches across Békés for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in Békés.

Somogy

Local branches of the main banks serve Somogy, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Somogy.

Tolna

Banking in Tolna is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Tolna.

Nógrád

Residents of Nógrád use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Nógrád.

Digital and mobile banking in Hungary

Once you hold an account in Hungary, a banking app becomes your main tool. You can transfer funds, pay bills, order a replacement card, and track your spending without ever visiting a branch; most banks also support mobile wallets so you can pay by phone. Online banking in Hungary is available around the clock.

If you want an account before you have even chosen a local bank, EU-licensed money apps let residents right across the bloc hold forint and make instant transfers. Plenty of foreigners in Hungary keep one of these alongside a traditional Hungarian bank account, using the app for quick payments and the bank for salary, rent and anything that needs a full local IBAN.

Can you open a bank account in Hungary before you arrive?

Opening a bank account from abroad is possible in Hungary in some situations, particularly with digital banks and larger institutions that offer video identification. Sorting this out before you move means you can receive your first salary or pay a rental deposit without waiting.

Traditional banks in Hungary usually still want to meet you in person for a full current account, so booking an appointment before you travel is sensible. Bring the documents the bank lists, and remember that under EU rules you have the right to a basic payment account even without a long local address history.

Choosing the right bank in Hungary

Not every bank in Hungary is equally easy for a foreigner, so weigh a few things first. Monthly charges, English-language service, the size of the ATM network and how each bank treats non-residents all vary, and a short comparison can save you both money and frustration.

Every bank in Hungary is licensed and supervised by the Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB), and your money is protected up to EUR 100,000 per depositor if a bank ever fails so that you can focus the comparison on service and cost rather than safety. Reading the full fee list, including charges for ATM withdrawals abroad and card replacement, keeps you from being caught out later.

Sending money home from Hungary

If you support relatives in another country, getting money out of Hungary cheaply matters as much as getting paid. Bank transfers, transfer companies and money apps all compete here, and the fees and exchange rates can differ enough that it is worth checking each time you send.

Even though Hungary is in SEPA, your account here is usually held in forint, so sending euro abroad still involves a currency conversion; SEPA keeps the transfer itself cheap once the money is in euro. Compare your bank’s exchange rate against a specialist money app, especially for regular payments.

Related guides

• EU bank account — overview
• Income tax in Hungary
• Hungary residence permit
• Hungary work permit

Official sources

• The Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB) — banking supervision and payment systems.
• National Deposit Insurance Fund (OBA) — deposit protection.

Information only — not financial or legal advice. Requirements, fees and coverage limits differ by bank in Hungary and can change. Always confirm directly with your bank what documents you need before you apply.