Bank Account

You can open a bank account after receiving your residence permit card. This is because a foreign ID number is an obligation to open a bank account that provides banking services such as credit cards, online shopping, ATM usage, etc. We suggest Yapı Kredi Bank since it has a branch on campus (Student Center, lower 1st floor).

However, if you urgently need to open a bank account before you receive your residence permit, you can do so at certain banks. In this case, the banks which open accounts without a residence permit card may ask for deposits. This regulation is subject to change from bank to bank. Therefore, we do recommend you wait for your residence permit and then open a bank account at Yapı Kredi Bank.

Opening a Bank Account After Receiving Residence Permit - Recommended

You can visit any bank branch to open an account. We would recommend Yapı Kredi bank which has a branch on the main campus located in the Student Center lower 1st floor. Alternatively, you can also visit the 4. Levent branch.

To have an account, you must bring the following documents with you:

1- Your residence permit card

2- Your passport

3- Address Registration Document

4- KU ID card or a Student Enrollment Certificate (not a must but will expedite the process)

When you are at the bank, please get a queue number from the ticket dispenser which has an English option.

For more information on Yapı Kredi, you can check Yapı Kredi page for foreigners.

Opening a Bank Account Before Receiving Residence Permit - Not Recommended

If you urgently need to open a bank account before receiving your residence permit card, you can do so at governmental banks like Ziraat Bankası, Halkbank and VakıfBank. You can visit any Ziraat Bank branch to open an account, there is one in Sarıyer. For the directions to their Sarıyer branches, click here.

Please note that regulations on the matter may change on a case by case basis therefore they may not allow you to open a bank account without a residence permit, hence this is not a recommended option.

To open an account, you must bring the following documents with you:

1- Your tax ID number

2- Your passport

3- A housing document (it can be your notarized rental contract or a document from the Housing Department through H-Trackit if you stay at KU boardings)

4- KU ID card or a Student Enrollment Certificate (not a must but will expedite the process)

When you are at the bank, please get a queue number from the ticket dispenser which has an English option.