How to Open a Bank Account in Norway as an Expat (2026)

Opening a Norwegian Bank Account as an Expat

Norway's banking system is modern and efficient, but getting your first account as a newcomer requires the right paperwork in the right order. This guide walks through every step.

Why You Need a Norwegian Bank Account

You will need a Norwegian bank account for:

• Salary payments: Most Norwegian employers require a Norwegian account number
• Vipps: A mobile payment app that requires Norwegian bank account + Norwegian phone + BankID
• AvtaleGiro: Norwegian direct debit for utilities, rent, insurance
• Taxes: Norwegian Tax Authority (Skatteetaten) pays refunds to Norwegian accounts
• BankID: Required for accessing Nav, Altinn, and other government services

Wise and Revolut can supplement but cannot replace a Norwegian bank account for daily life in Norway.

The Main Norwegian Banks for Expats

DNB (Den Norske Bank): DNB says its 2.4 million personal customers and 244,000 business customers make it Norway's largest bank (DNB). Account types: Brukskonto (current account), Sparekonto (savings). DNB's price list (October 2026) charges 295 NOK a year for a bank card without a customer programme, the same as on its Pluss and SAGA programmes (DNB).

Nordea Norway: Nordea's Min dagligbank package, which includes a current account (brukskonto) and one bank card, costs 29 NOK a month as of October 2026, and is free for students and customers under 18 (Nordea).

Handelsbanken: Its price lists (October 2026) charge 295 NOK a year for a bank card (0 NOK up to and including age 26) (Handelsbanken) and nothing for online or mobile banking (Handelsbanken).

SpareBank 1 (regional banks): Network of regional savings banks across Norway. Local community focus. Useful if you are outside Oslo/Bergen/Trondheim.

Komplett Bank: Online-only Norwegian bank. Requires a personnummer for account opening.

Documents You Need

Bring these to the bank branch:

1. Valid passport or national ID card
2. D-number (if you have one) or Norwegian personnummer
3. Norwegian residential address — rental contract, lease agreement, or employer letter confirming Norwegian address
4. Employment contract or offer letter showing you work or will work in Norway
5. Proof of income (recent payslip, if already employed)

For EU/EEA citizens: a national ID card is acceptable instead of passport.

Getting a D-Number First

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen or have not yet received a Norwegian personnummer, you first need a D-number, a temporary identity number. How to get it:

1. Your employer applies on your behalf at Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
2. Or you apply in person at a Skatteetaten service point (Tax Office) in Norway
3. D-number is issued within 1–3 weeks

See our full guide: D-number Norway

Opening Your Account: Step-by-Step at DNB

1. If you do not have BankID, fill in DNB's form for becoming a customer without BankID yourself; DNB reviews it manually and, within two weeks, emails you either to visit its nearest branch or to send more information by post (DNB)
2. Bring all documents listed above
3. Complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) form — you will answer questions about the purpose of the account and your income source
4. Account confirmed and IBAN provided immediately
5. Debit card (Visa/Mastercard linked to DNB) arrives by post
6. BankID setup: Once your account is active, return to the branch or use the online process to activate BankID — requires national ID verification

Becoming a DNB customer without BankID costs 650 NOK if you are 18 or older, and nothing if you are under 18 or are becoming a customer only to open a deposit account (depositumskonto), although DNB's price list charges a separate fee for setting up a private tenant's deposit account (750 NOK, or 1,250 NOK if a branch sets it up); DNB takes the 650 NOK fee from your account once the customer relationship is set up (DNB price list, October 2026).

Understanding BankID

BankID is Norway's digital identity system and it is deeply woven into everyday life. Once you have a Norwegian bank account, activating BankID should be your immediate next step. Here is why:

• Government services: You need BankID to log in to Altinn (tax portal), Nav (social security), Helsenorge (health services), and most municipal services.
• Vipps: Setting up the Vipps payment app requires BankID.
• Digital contracts: Signing rental contracts, employment documents, and insurance policies often requires BankID.
• Online shopping: Many Norwegian e-commerce sites use BankID for identity verification during checkout.

BankID comes in two forms: BankID on mobile (BankID på mobil) which uses your phone, and the newer BankID app. Most banks now guide you toward the BankID app, which works across devices. Setup typically requires one in-person visit to the bank branch with your passport.

Understanding Vipps

Once you have BankID, you can set up Vipps.

To set up Vipps, you need:

• A Norwegian bank account
• A Norwegian phone number
• BankID activated

Download the Vipps app, register with your Norwegian phone number, and verify with BankID. The process takes about five minutes. Link your Norwegian debit card, and you are ready.

Before Your Bank Account Is Ready: Alternatives

The gap between arriving and having a functional Norwegian bank account can be 2–4 weeks. During this period:

• Wise: Open immediately with just a passport. Use your Wise IBAN to receive any initial transfers. Use the Wise card for daily spending.
• Revolut: Same — open with passport, use for card payments
• Cash: In a shop or other sales premises where a business regularly sells goods or services to consumers, you have the right to pay with cash (legal tender) if you could pay there by other means. This does not apply to vending machines, unmanned shops, premises open only to a limited group of people, or amounts above 20,000 NOK (finansavtaleloven § 2-1).
• Ask your employer: Some employers offer a small advance payment or can process payroll to a non-Norwegian account temporarily

Norwegian Account Number Format

Norwegian bank accounts use an 11-digit number in the format XXXX.XX.XXXXX. The first four digits are the bank's clearing code (registreringsnummer), which identifies the specific bank and branch. For example, DNB accounts typically start with 1503 or similar prefixes, while Nordea accounts use different codes.

Your IBAN (International Bank Account Number) for Norway is formatted as: NO followed by 2 check digits, then your 11-digit account number. For example: NO93 8601 1117 947. You will need the IBAN when giving your account details to anyone sending you money from abroad.

When your employer asks for your account number to set up salary payments, they need the 11-digit Norwegian format — not the IBAN.

Account and Card Fees

The banks' own price lists (checked October 2026) show these charges for a debit card and everyday banking:

• DNB: a bank card without a customer programme costs 295 NOK a year (DNB)
• Nordea: the Min dagligbank package, which includes a current account (brukskonto) and one bank card, costs 29 NOK a month, plus 25 NOK a month for each extra card; it is free for students and customers under 18 (Nordea)
• Handelsbanken: the bank card costs 295 NOK a year, or 0 NOK up to and including age 26 (Handelsbanken); online and mobile banking cost nothing (Handelsbanken)

If you are between 18 and 27, DNB's Ung programme gives you an account and a free bank card with no annual fee (DNB).

Savings Accounts and Interest

Once your current account is running, consider opening a savings account (sparekonto). Norwegian savings accounts offer modest interest rates — check current rates at finansportalen.no, which is a comparison tool. Most banks let you open a savings account through their nettbank (online banking) without visiting a branch.

A BSU (Boligsparing for Ungdom) account is a tax-advantaged savings scheme for people under 34. You can save up to 27,500 NOK a year (300,000 NOK in total), and for 2026 you get a tax deduction of 10% of the amount deposited, up to and including the year you turn 33. You get no deduction for a year in which you own a home on 31 December (Skatteetaten). If you are planning to buy property in Norway and you are under the age limit, open a BSU account as early as possible.

Common Mistakes Expats Make

• Waiting too long to start the process: Begin your bank account application within your first week. The D-number and bank setup can run in parallel if your employer handles the D-number application.
• Not bringing enough documentation: Banks may ask for additional documents beyond the standard list. Bring everything you have.
• Forgetting to activate BankID: Your bank account is only half useful without BankID. Many expats delay BankID activation, which blocks access to government services and Vipps.