ÅA Survival Guide 2015-2016

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S e r v i ce s
9. Services
9.1 Bank Services
There are several banks (bank/pankki) operating
in Åbo and Vasa, for example:
• Aktia,
• Liedon osuuspankki (Åbo),
• Kyrönmaan osuuspankki (Vasa),
• Nordea,
• Osuuspankki,
• Danske Bank,
• Ålandsbanken,
Cash Withdrawal
You can use Finnish bank/credit cards and also
foreign credit cards to withdraw money from
self-service cash machines – ATMs – known as
”Otto”, (bankautomat/pankkiautomaatti) that are
open round the clock.
International Credit and Payment Cards
The main international credit and payment cards
accepted in Finland are Visa and Master Card and
some of the brands’ sub cards like Visa Electron
and Maestro. These cards are accepted in major
department stores and restaurants. Please check
beforehand with the place where you wish to do
your purchase if they accept the card you want
to use. Also note most transactions require that
you use your PIN code to verify the transaction.
Money Exchange
You can change money in most banks in Finland.
For more information, visit your own bank in
Finland. You can also visit the money exchange
bureau Forex in Åbo:
Eriksgatan 13, 20100 Åbo
Open Mon-Fri 8.30-20.00 and Sat 10.00-17.00
Office Hours
Most banks are usually open Mon-Fri 9.30/10.00-
16.30. Some banks have branch offices that are
open until 19.00. Please note that all banks are
closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Please check
the exact opening hours for your bank at their
website.
Opening a Bank Account
If you are an EU/EEA citizen and in stay in
Finland for half a year or a year you do not need
to open a bank account, especially if you have
online/internet banking with your bank in your
home country. In order to open a Finnish bank
account, you need to have an active address in
Finland. Please fill in and send the change of
address notification before trying to open a bank
account in Finland.
Service fees vary from bank to bank but opening
a bank account is generally free of charge.
Comparing the banks is often difficult, but most
of them offer students and young people under
26 self-service packages free of charge. These
include an ATM-card, usually Visa Electron, for
cash withdrawals and the possibility to pay
bills online. For additional services, a fee will
be charged. Price lists are available at the bank
counters and online.
Paying Bills
Cheques are not used in Finland. During your
stay, there will be many different fees and bills,
like your rent, that you are required to pay. This
is mainly done through internet banking, which
is the easiest and cheapest way to pay your bills.
The fee for a payment made at the bank counter
by a bank official varies.
9.2 Post
The mail in Finland is handled by a government
owned company called Posti. The main post
offices (posti/post) in Åbo and Vasa are:
Åbo
Eriksgatan 19, 20100 Åbo
Open: Mon-Fri 8.00-20.00, Sat 10.00-14.00
Vasa
Hovrättsesplanaden 23, 65100 Vasa
Open: Mon-Fri 8.00-19.00