Turkish citizen faces challenges opening bank account in Finland

Mehmet Hakan Bedestenlioğlu, a Turkish citizen, arrived in Finland about a month ago, as his wife began her master’s studies at the University of Jyväskylä. The family plans to stay in Finland for at least a few years. However, Bedestenlioğlu has faced significant challenges in opening a bank account, having tried at four different banks without success.

He expressed feelings of desperation, stating, “I feel hopeless because no one is helping me. Without a bank account, I can’t do anything.” Each bank presented unique obstacles: one required a Finnish identity card, another a Finnish-speaking assistant, one was unresponsive, and the last had no available appointments for the next month. Although Bedestenlioğlu speaks fluent English, Finnish banks are required to operate primarily in Finnish or Swedish.

In Turkey, where he worked as a bank manager for 26 years, he noted that welcoming new customers, including foreigners, is standard practice. He understands the caution exercised in Finland regarding issues such as money laundering, but desires the opportunity to at least discuss opening an account.

The Office of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman is familiar with such language issues, receiving numerous annual inquiries about banks denying services based on language or language proficiency. Equality specialist Elli Björkberg emphasized the importance of ensuring fair access to essential services in society.

When asked about their language policies, Osuuspankki, Nordea, and S-Pankki provided varied responses, with some offering services in English. Notably, S-Pankki mentioned that services are primarily in Finnish and Swedish, with limited English support. However, after this article was drafted, Bedestenlioğlu reported good news: he successfully opened a bank account in Finland.