One of the things I thought when I first came to Turkey was: “Are all payments here made in cash?” The answer is very clear: No. If you are a university student in Turkey, especially if you are a foreign national, having a bank account is almost a necessity. It both makes your life easier and formalizes things.
Why You Need a Bank Account in Turkey
Daily expenses and living expenses
In the first week you have settled in your dormitory, maybe you have bought a sim card, your water bill has arrived and you have bought groceries… But it is not possible to do everything with the foreign currency you have. Because POS devices are used in most places and people prefer to pay via debit card. In addition, the use of contactless cards has become almost standard in some campus canteens and transportation systems.
Easiness of scholarships and money transfers
Many students in Turkey live on Turkish government scholarships or support from their home countries. You will need an IBAN, an active bank account, to receive such payments. Also, if your family wants to send you money from abroad, it is much safer and faster with SWIFT through your bank account.
Online shopping and bill payments
Many students in Turkey meet their needs from websites such as Trendyol and Hepsiburada. You usually need a bank card or a virtual card to shop on these sites. Likewise, it is possible to pay bills such as water, electricity and internet via online banking, without having to wait in line for hours.
What are the Documents Required to Open a Bank Account?
Passport, student document and tax number
The first thing you need to do is to document that you are officially a student in Turkey with your passport. The student certificate from your university is important for the bank officer to process you in the correct category. You will also definitely need a tax identification number (VKN), which you can get for free from the tax office. It is very easy to get this number, you usually go to the tax office with a copy of your passport and it is given to you in a few minutes.
Residence permit and address verification process
Some banks may ask to see your residence card (i.e. residence permit) to open an account. Especially banks like Garanti and Yapı Kredi want to see your address information clearly in the system, even if you are a foreign student. If you have not yet received your card, you can temporarily complete the process with a document of address from your university or dormitory.
Open a Foreign National Account at Ziraat Bank and Garanti Bank
Ziraat and Garanti are among the most preferred banks for foreign students in Turkey. There are two reasons for this: They are both frequently used in government-related transactions and have a large number of branches.
Ziraat Bank foreign national account opening process
Ziraat is one of the largest state-owned banks in Turkey. If you are receiving a scholarship, Ziraat will definitely cross paths with you at some point. When you bring the necessary documents to open an account at Ziraat (especially the student certificate and tax number), the branch staff will already explain the procedure for foreign students. The language barrier can be a bit of a problem, but you are likely to find English-speaking staff at branches in major cities. The account opening process takes 30 minutes on average.
Garanti Bank foreign national account opening process
Garanti is a more digital-oriented bank. In other words, it has applications that will make you comfortable with mobile banking. When I went to Garanti, I presented my documents and they accepted the signed document from my dormitory for address confirmation. Some branches may not open an account without a residence permit card, so it is important that you inform yourself by phone in advance. During the transaction, the mobile banking password is given instantly and sent to the card address.
Do banks offering English services provide advantages?
Let me be clear: Finding bank staff who speak English is a matter of luck in Turkey. But branches in big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir and in university districts are better prepared for this. In particular, Garanti BBVA, Yapı Kredi and HSBC have employees in some branches who can provide service in English. Whichever bank you choose, calling customer service first and getting information will save you a lot of time.
Why branch selection is so critical in account opening?
You may have completely different experiences in two different branches of the same bank. You may hear “proof of address is enough” in one branch and “we cannot process without a residence card” in another. Therefore, it is advantageous to choose branches close to the university, as they work with more foreign students and know the process better.
Especially Completing visa preparations before you arrive in Turkey will protect you from such surprises.
Mobile Banking, ATM Usage and Daily Banking Life
I can say that after opening a bank account in Turkey, everything is carried in your pocket. Mobile applications of almost all banks are quite advanced. For some transactions, you don’t even have to go to the branch at all.
What can be done with mobile applications?
These are the transactions you can make through mobile banking applications:
- Card password creation and update
- QR code ATM withdrawal or deposit
- Pay bills such as electricity, water, internet
- Currency trading (USD, Euro, GBP, etc.)
- Instant viewing of account movements and balance status
- In-bank messaging and support request creation
- IBAN sharing and money transfer (EFT/Transfer)
- Credit card application or virtual card creation
The most used apps are Garanti BBVA Mobil, Ziraat Mobil and Yapı Kredi Mobil. Although these apps offer English language options, some menus remain in Turkish, so it may take some getting used to at first.
Currency accounts and international transactions
If you are staying in Turkey for a few months, you may need to make transactions in foreign currency other than Turkish Lira. Opening a foreign currency account in USD or Euro is a good choice, especially when money is coming from abroad. Ziraat and Garanti are flexible in this regard; you can open a new foreign currency account with a few clicks on the mobile application.
It is also possible to make SWIFT (international money transfers), but the fees vary from bank to bank. So don’t forget to check the fee schedule before the procedure.
Bankamatik and credit card usage
There is an ATM (cash machine) on almost every street in Turkey. Also, almost all grocery stores, restaurants and cafes accept debit cards. If you want to get a credit card, some banks offer low-limit cards to students, but usually you have to apply after you get your residence card. A “debit card” (debit card) will be enough in the first place.
Also, for more official information on foreign currency accounts in Turkey and international money transfers, visit The website of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.
Open a Bank Account as a Student in Turkey
Open a bank account in Turkey is one of the most important steps to make your education life easier. Being a student is already a struggle in itself; if you don’t want to complicate things like paying bills, getting scholarships, and shopping, you can’t do without a bank account.
If you’ve gathered the most critical documents, the only place you need to go now is to a convenient bank branch near you. But remember: Each bank, even each branch, may have its own order. Therefore, you can make the process easier by calling the branch before you go and asking “I am a foreign student, I want to open an account. Which documents are required?”
Don’t be afraid to take the first step. Student life in Turkey is nice, but much more practical if you have a bank account!