Which is the best bank in Lithuania for foreigners? We compared 8 banks and fintechs licensed here โ by fees, English support and how easy they are to open before you have a residence permit. In 2026 you can open a Lithuanian account entirely online with just a passport, with โฌ0 monthly fees. Below you'll find the full comparison, including Revolut, Swedbank, SEB, Citadele and Paysera, with real fees, document lists, and how to get paid before your asmens kodas is issued.
You can open a Lithuanian bank account before you have an asmens kodas. Digital providers licensed in Lithuania โ Revolut, Paysera and Wise โ open accounts online with just a passport, usually within 24 hours. Traditional banks like Swedbank, SEB and Luminor will generally want a residence permit or asmens kodas, though SEB can open accounts remotely by video call.
Table of Contents
Top Banks in Lithuania for Foreigners
You do not need a Lithuanian personal code (asmens kodas) to start banking here. Digital providers open accounts online with just a passport, usually within 24 hours; traditional banks generally want a residence permit or asmens kodas first, though SEB can open accounts remotely by video call. Here is how the eight providers compare.
There's a quirk here that works in your favour: Revolut is licensed in Lithuania and issues Lithuanian (LT) IBANs. In most countries that's a drawback โ employers reject foreign IBANs. In Lithuania, it's a local account, so it can genuinely serve as your main salary account from day one.
Need the step-by-step version? Read our full guide on how to open a bank account in Lithuania as a foreigner. Want to know what actually lands in your account each month? Use the gross-to-net salary calculator.
If we were opening today, we'd open Revolut first โ it's the only way to have a Lithuanian IBAN on day one with nothing but a passport โ then add Swedbank once the residence permit arrives and a salary starts landing. Why Swedbank second: it is a full-service bank behind the shared BANKOMATAS.LT ATM network, and when you eventually want a loan or mortgage, you'll be glad the credit history sits at a bank with published lending criteria.
A note on cash before the cards: no Lithuanian bank publishes how many ATMs it runs, so the question "which bank has the most" cannot honestly be answered โ and it matters less every year anyway. Swedbank, SEB, Luminor, Artea, Citadele and the LKU credit unions all sit behind BANKOMATAS.LT, a shared network built under a 2021 memorandum that added 100 machines in smaller towns. Nationally the Bank of Lithuania counts 1,136 ATMs as at Q1 2026, with 91% of residents within 10 km of one and 99% within 20 km. A card from any bank below works at the shared machines.
Revolut
Local LT IBAN, opens in minutes
Key highlights
Key features
- Lithuanian IBAN
- Opens in minutes
- Best-in-class app
- Excellent FX rates
Account details
- Min. deposit
- โฌ0
- Opening method
- App + passport
- Card
- Virtual instant, physical optional
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
Summary
- An LT IBAN before residency
- Earns its place for FX and travel
- No branches for in-person help
Swedbank
Full-service bank once you have residency
Key highlights
Key features
- Full-service bank
- Mortgages and loans
- Shared BANKOMATAS.LT ATMs
- English app and support
Account details
- Min. deposit
- โฌ0
- Opening method
- Branch or video call
- Card
- Physical, posted
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
Summary
- The default salary bank after residency
- Self-service opening is for LT citizens
- โฌ200 to open as a non-resident
SEB
Best traditional bank for remote opening
Key highlights
Key features
- Remote video opening
- Full-service bank
- English app and support
- Free card issuance
Account details
- Min. deposit
- โฌ0
- Opening method
- Video call or branch
- Card
- Physical, posted
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
Summary
- Publishes its opening criteria up front
- Wants a Lithuanian-issued ID document
- โฌ250 plus โฌ10/month for non-residents
Paysera
Cheapest option โ Lithuania's home-grown fintech
Key highlights
Key features
- Lithuanian IBAN
- Low itemised fees
- Opens without residency
- Home-grown fintech
Account details
- Min. deposit
- โฌ0
- Opening method
- App + passport
- Card
- Virtual instant, physical optional
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
Summary
- The cheapest option of the eight compared here
- Doubles as a backup arrival account
- An e-money institution, not a bank
- No deposit insurance on balances
Luminor
Opens on a residence permit
Key highlights
Key features
- Accepts a residence permit online
- Baltic-wide bank
- Mortgages and loans
- Lowest ATM surcharge here
Account details
- Min. deposit
- โฌ0
- Opening method
- Branch or online
- Card
- Physical, posted
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
Summary
- Useful across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
- App is the weakest of the traditional banks
Citadele
A real bank with a fintech-grade app
Key highlights
Key features
- Opens online in minutes
- Free C lite plan
- Top-rated bank app
- Free for students
Account details
- Opening method
- App or branch
- Card
- Debit, posted in ~3 days
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
Summary
- Free plan on the virtual card
- Needs LT-issued ID and LT address
- Requires sole Lithuanian tax residency
Urbo bankas
A small local bank with cheap plans
Key highlights
Key features
- โฌ1 Minimalus plan
- Widest regional footprint
- Remote opening
- English internet bank
Account details
- Opening method
- Remote or branch
- Card
- Debit only, โฌ1/month
- IBAN type
- Lithuanian (LT)
- Non-resident data check
- โฌ100
Summary
- Branches in towns the big banks skip
- No free ATM cash on Sumanus
- Adds โฌ1/month card administration
Wise
Multi-currency, not a bank replacement
Key highlights
Key features
- 40+ currencies
- Mid-market exchange rate
- Best for foreign invoicing
- No monthly fee
Account details
- Min. deposit
- โฌ0
- Opening method
- App + passport
- Card
- Virtual instant, physical optional
- IBAN type
- Not Lithuanian (multi-currency)
Summary
- Pairs with an LT IBAN, not a replacement
- No Lithuanian IBAN โ it issues a Belgian one
- A payment institution, not a bank
What each account actually charges
The cards above carry the shape of each provider. The fee detail is the same set of questions for all eight, so it belongs in one table rather than repeated across eight boxes.
| Provider | Plans and monthly fee | Free ATM cash each month | Transfers, cards and exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut | Standard plan โฌ0 | 5 withdrawals or โฌ200, then 2% (min โฌ1) | โฌ1,000/month currency exchange free, 1% above it |
| Swedbank | Bazinis โฌ1.70, Standartinis โฌ2 | โฌ800 on both plans | Basic payment account โฌ1/month with 15 transfers |
| SEB | MINIMUM โฌ1, DAILY โฌ2, PREMIUM โฌ7, YOUTH โฌ0 at 18โ25 | โฌ800 on MINIMUM | Card issuance free |
| Paysera | โฌ0 | In Lithuania โฌ0.15 + 1% per withdrawal | 30 SEPA transfers a month free, then โฌ0.30; card โฌ1/month, second card free |
| Luminor | Luminor Debit basket โฌ2 โ free under 21, โฌ1.40 at 65+ | โฌ800, then 0.5% (min โฌ0.40) | โ |
| Citadele | C lite โฌ0 ยท C smart โฌ2.49 ยท C supreme โฌ4.99 | โฌ200 on C lite, โฌ900 on C smart, then 2% (min โฌ2) | C lite is a virtual card, open to new customers only |
| Urbo bankas | Minimalus โฌ1 (โฌ0.50 on social support) ยท Sumanus โฌ5 (โฌ0 on the Lojaliems terms) | โฌ800 on Minimalus only โ Sumanus has no allowance and falls to standard charges | 15 free SEPA transfers a month on Minimalus; โฌ1/month card administration; โฌ100 non-resident data check |
| Wise | โฌ0 | โ | Free to open a personal account; no fee to hold 40+ currencies |
Two conclusions come out of that table rather than out of any single card. Luminor is the one traditional bank on this page that will open an account on a residence permit alone, which is why it sits above Citadele and Urbo despite the weakest app of the three. And Wise is the cheapest way to hold and convert foreign currency, but it issues a Belgian IBAN, so it pairs with a Lithuanian account rather than replacing one.
Why You Can Trust This Guide
A note on language. Lithuanian banks publish most, but not all, of their customer material in English โ the apps and internet banks of all five are fully translated, and Russian is widely spoken at branch level too. Price lists are the exception: Swedbank's, Citadele's and Urbo's are published in Lithuanian only. If a fee matters to your decision, confirm it against the bank's own current price list before you open, because several of them changed during 2026.
How to Choose the Right Bank in Lithuania as a Foreigner
If you were arriving in Lithuania today and could open only one account, the answer would be Revolut โ not because it is the best bank, but because it is the only one you can definitely open. Revolut Bank UAB is licensed here, so the IBAN starts with LT and an employer can pay into it like any local account, while every traditional bank wants a Lithuanian ID document, a local address or a residence permit. Three questions decide the rest: do you have residency yet?, do you need a branch?, and what will you use the account for?
If you've just arrived and have no asmens kodas
Start with Revolut or Paysera. Both open online with a passport, and both issue Lithuanian IBANs, so a salary can land from your first payday. Among the traditional banks, Luminor is the one whose online route explicitly accepts a "permanent/temporary permission to live in the Republic of Lithuania" alongside a Lithuanian ID โ the others are stricter. Swedbank's self-service opening is for Lithuanian citizens, and Citadele asks for a Lithuanian-issued passport or ID card, a Lithuanian address, a Lithuanian phone number and tax residency in Lithuania only. Add a traditional bank later, once the permit arrives.
If cost is what matters
The monthly spread across the whole market is about โฌ1.50, so it should rarely decide anything. The cheapest published basic plans are SEB's MINIMUM and Urbo's Minimalus at โฌ1 a month, then Swedbank Bazinis at โฌ1.70, Luminor Debit at โฌ2 and Citadele Mastercard Debit at โฌ2.49. Watch two things the headline price hides: Urbo adds a separate โฌ1 monthly card administration fee, and every bank is required to offer a basic payment account at โฌ1 a month (โฌ0.50 if you receive social support) that most people never ask about. If you are under 26, SEB's YOUTH plan and Swedbank's youth plans are โฌ0, and Luminor is free under 21 โ granted on age, with no proof of study needed.
If you need a branch nearby
No Lithuanian bank publishes a branch or ATM count โ all five run locator maps instead โ so treat any number you see elsewhere with suspicion. Their own location lists show Urbo with the widest regional footprint, service points in Alytus, Kฤdainiai, Maลพeikiai, Plungฤ, Tauragฤ and Druskininkai, while Luminor concentrates its consultation centres in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipฤda and Panevฤลพys. Nationally the Bank of Lithuania reports 1,136 ATMs at Q1 2026 and withdrawal available in 197 localities, 91% of residents within 10 km of a machine.
If you're buying property or need a mortgage
You'll need a traditional bank โ Swedbank, SEB or Luminor. Fintechs don't lend. Expect to need residency, Lithuanian income and a local credit history first, which is the practical argument for opening a bank account well before you need one.
Living With a Lithuanian Account
Two things decide what the account is like once it is open: whether a Lithuanian IBAN unlocks the payments you need, and whether you know the one screen that quietly costs foreigners money.
Why you'll probably want a local account eventually
Salary, rent standing orders, Sodra contributions, VMI tax refunds and utility direct debits all run smoothly on a Lithuanian IBAN โ and a Revolut LT IBAN counts as one, which is not true in most other EU countries, where a Revolut IBAN is foreign and payroll sometimes rejects it.
The ATM trap that costs foreigners money
When an ATM or terminal offers to charge you in your "home currency" instead of euros, decline and choose EUR. This is Dynamic Currency Conversion, and it hands the rate to the machine operator rather than your card. Since Regulation (EU) 2019/518 the markup must be shown as a percentage over the European Central Bank reference rate before you confirm; the Bank of Lithuania is blunt that the choice is yours and a merchant cannot switch the currency on you. Abroad, Swedbank warns that a foreign ATM operator's own surcharge "can reach 6% of the withdrawn amount".
How to Open a Bank Account in Lithuania as a Foreigner
With a digital provider it is roughly ten minutes: download the app, photograph your passport, record a short identity video, wait for approval. Traditional banks take longer and usually want residence documentation first, though SEB can complete the process over a video meeting rather than in a branch.
Need the full step-by-step walkthrough?
Our dedicated guide covers every document, the branch visit and the online process, what to do if you're rejected, and how to get your card faster.
Read the full account-opening guide โDocuments You Need to Open a Lithuanian Bank Account
Requirements differ by citizenship, and again by whether you go to a fintech or a traditional bank.
| Document | EU / EEA citizens | Non-EU citizens |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or national ID card | Required | Required โ passport |
| Residence permit or visa | โ | Required by traditional banks |
| Lithuanian address | Required by traditional banks | Required |
| Asmens kodas | Not needed for fintechs, usually needed for banks | โ |
| Employment contract | Speeds up approval | โ |
| Proof of income | โ | Often requested |
| Source-of-funds explanation | โ | Common for non-residents |
Bring originals, not photocopies. Several banks want a Lithuanian-issued document โ SEB asks for a passport or ID card "issued by the Republic of Lithuania" โ so a foreign passport alone will not always clear the online route. Opening in an app, have the passport in hand for video verification and sit somewhere well lit.
Common Banking Mistakes Foreigners Make in Lithuania
Most of the money foreigners lose in their first year goes on a handful of avoidable things, none of them about picking the wrong bank.
Exchanging cash at the airport when you probably don't need to. Lithuania is in the eurozone, so arriving from another euro country there is nothing to exchange; the trap catches people flying in with dollars or pounds. TOP EXCHANGE runs the Vilnius Airport desks, 08:00โ19:00 in departures and 10:00โ21:00 in arrivals, plus a 24/7 self-service kiosk taking USD and GBP. Its commission is โฌ3.60 for a first-time customer, โฌ1.80 or nothing on a repeat visit with a receipt, and nothing on the machine โ but the rate is shown only on the board inside the office, so there is no comparing before you land. Paying by card in euros, or withdrawing from a bank ATM, avoids the question.
Blowing through the free ATM allowance without knowing there was one. Every bank gives a monthly quota of free withdrawals and charges a percentage above it, and the quotas are lower than newcomers assume. Swedbank allows โฌ800 a month, then 1% (minimum โฌ1); Luminor โฌ800, then 0.5% (minimum โฌ0.40); Citadele's Mastercard Debit โฌ750, then 2% (minimum โฌ2). Urbo publishes no free allowance โ 1.5%, minimum โฌ2 โ and runs no ATMs of its own. Tightest is Revolut's free Standard plan: five withdrawals or โฌ200 a month, then 2%. If you use cash, this matters more than the โฌ1โ2.49 monthly fee everyone compares.
Assuming every fintech balance carries the same protection โ or that none does. Revolut Bank UAB is a licensed Lithuanian bank (licence LB002119), so a Revolut current account is deposit-insured up to โฌ100,000 exactly like Swedbank. Paysera is not a bank โ it holds an e-money institution licence โ and Wise is a Belgian payment institution which states outright that "our payment services aren't subject to the Belgian Deposit Guarantee Scheme". Both segregate client money rather than insuring it โ a different promise. And money moved into a Revolut Flexible Account leaves deposit insurance for the investor-liability scheme.
Opening at a traditional bank as a non-resident without checking the price. The fee is buried in the price list rather than shown during onboarding. Swedbank charges โฌ200 to open an account for someone who is not a legally resident consumer; SEB charges โฌ250 plus โฌ10 a month for non-residents, meaning people without the right to reside in Lithuania, the EU, the EEA or the UK. Neither applies once your residence permit is in hand โ which is why it is usually worth waiting for the permit and running a fintech account meanwhile.
Banking for Students, Freelancers and Business Owners
Students
International students can usually open a fintech account immediately with a passport, and a traditional bank account once enrolled and registered. Ask about student pricing.
Freelancers (individuali veikla)
You're not legally required to keep business money separate, but it makes your annual declaration far easier. See our guide to individuali veikla vs. a company.
Company owners (UAB)
A UAB needs a dedicated business account for share capital and operations. Expect heavier documentation and 5โ14 business days. See business bank accounts.
Money Transfers and Payment Methods
Lithuania is in the eurozone, so SEPA transfers to other euro countries are cheap and usually same-day or instant. Sending money outside the eurozone through a traditional bank is where the cost hides โ typically a 2โ4% FX markup on top of the stated fee. To put real numbers on it: SEB's 2026 price list charges โฌ13 for an outgoing non-SEPA transfer online (โฌ23 in a branch, โฌ24+ if you cover all charges "OUR") โ and โฌ10.14 just to receive an incoming foreign-currency payment. Citadele charges โฌ18 out and โฌ10 in; Urbo โฌ20 out and โฌ12 in.
For transfers to Ukraine, Belarus, the UK or the US, Wise and Revolut use rates far closer to mid-market. Compare the amount that arrives, not the upfront fee.
What paying actually looks like day to day
Lithuania is more cash-friendly than its reputation suggests. In the Bank of Lithuania's most recent survey, 62% of point-of-sale payments were cash in 2022 โ down from 68% in 2019, still well above the euro-area average โ with cards at 32%; in the 2024 round Lithuania had the highest share of online payments in the euro area at 29% of day-to-day payments. Contactless works nearly everywhere and Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely supported, but keep some cash for markets, small cafรฉs outside the cities and tips.
Contactless goes through without a PIN up to โฌ50 per transaction, a threshold set EU-wide by Regulation 2018/389 that your bank cannot change. The same rule is why a terminal occasionally demands a PIN for a โฌ3 coffee: it caps you at โฌ150 cumulative, or five consecutive contactless payments, before forcing verification.
Revolut vs a Lithuanian Bank: Do You Need Both?
In most countries the answer is "yes, you need a local bank." Lithuania is the exception, because Revolut's IBAN is Lithuanian. Many people here run Revolut as their only everyday account.
Revolut, Paysera and Wise โ for arriving, getting paid and travelling
- Opens in minutes: online, with a passport, before you have residency
- Lithuanian IBAN: Revolut and Paysera both issue LT accounts for salary
- Currency exchange: rates far closer to mid-market than any bank here
- Sending money home: cheaper and faster than a SWIFT transfer
- No mortgages: fintechs don't do meaningful lending
- No branches: nobody to sit down with when something goes wrong
Swedbank, SEB and Luminor โ for settling in and borrowing
- Mortgages and loans: the only route to property finance in Lithuania
- Branches: in-person help for notarised documents or a frozen account
- Local credit relationship: worth having before you need to borrow
- Investment products: pensions and brokerage under one roof
- Wants residency: usually a residence permit or asmens kodas first
- Costs more to start: non-residents pay โฌ200 at Swedbank, โฌ250 at SEB
The setup that works for most people
Open Revolut or Paysera on day one, so a salary can land the week you start work rather than the month your permit arrives, then add Swedbank, SEB or Luminor once you have residency โ a mortgage application is a bad moment to discover you have no local banking history. Keeping both is not redundant: the fintech stays useful for foreign currency and travel. And if you will only ever hold one and have no plans to borrow here, Lithuania is one of the few countries where Revolut alone is defensible, because of that LT IBAN.
Lithuanian Banking Terms You'll Encounter
| Lithuanian | English |
|---|---|
| Sฤ skaita | Account |
| Asmens kodas | Personal identification code |
| Pavedimas | Bank transfer |
| Mokฤjimo kortelฤ | Payment card |
| Grynieji pinigai | Cash |
| Iลกgryninimas | Cash withdrawal |
| Mokestis | Fee / charge |
| Palลซkanos | Interest |
| Periodinis mokฤjimas | Standing order |
| Tiesioginis debetas | Direct debit |
| Indฤlis | Deposit |
| Paskola | Loan |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a Lithuanian bank account without an asmens kodas?
Yes. Revolut, Paysera and Wise open accounts online with just a passport. Traditional banks such as Swedbank, SEB and Luminor generally want a residence permit or asmens kodas, although SEB can open accounts remotely by video meeting.
Can I open an account before I move to Lithuania?
With fintech providers, generally yes โ they operate across the EEA. Traditional Lithuanian banks usually expect a local address and residence documentation, and non-residents are often asked to explain their reason for banking in Lithuania.
Will a Lithuanian employer accept a Revolut IBAN?
Usually yes, because Revolut is licensed in Lithuania and issues LT IBANs โ unlike in most other countries, where a Revolut IBAN is foreign. Confirm with your employer's payroll department before your first payday.
Is my money protected?
Deposits at licensed banks are covered up to โฌ100,000 per depositor per bank under the EU deposit guarantee scheme, administered in Lithuania by the Deposit and Investment Insurance company (IID). Revolut counts here: Revolut Bank UAB holds a full Lithuanian banking licence, so your current-account balance is insured on the same terms as money at Swedbank. Paysera is an e-money institution and Wise a Belgian payment institution โ both safeguard client funds by segregating them rather than insuring them, which is a different promise. One exception to watch: money moved into a Revolut Flexible Account sits outside deposit insurance.
Do Lithuanian banks speak English?
The major banks offer English apps and support, and Vilnius branches are used to serving foreigners. Fintech apps are fully English, and Russian is widely spoken in banking.
How long does a card take to arrive?
Digital cards are typically available in the app immediately. Physical cards usually arrive by post within about a week.
What is the cheapest bank account in Lithuania?
Among the real banks, Citadele's C lite plan is free and Urbo bankas charges โฌ1/month on its Minimalus plan โ but both come with caveats for newcomers: Citadele has no published route for non-EU citizens without a Lithuanian residence permit (and charges non-EU/EEA residents โฌ350 at opening plus โฌ15/month), and Urbo requires Lithuanian documents even for remote opening. If you have neither yet, Revolut and Paysera are โฌ0/month and open with just a passport.
Which account is best for receiving a salary in Lithuania?
Any account with a Lithuanian (LT) IBAN โ that includes Revolut and Paysera, not just the traditional banks, because both are licensed here and issue LT IBANs. Employers and Sodra pay into them without issues. Wise doesn't issue a Lithuanian IBAN, so keep it as a secondary account for foreign currencies.
Is my money safe in a Lithuanian bank?
Yes. Every bank here is supervised by the Bank of Lithuania, and the โฌ100,000 deposit guarantee covers Citadele and Urbo exactly as it covers Swedbank or SEB.
What should I watch out for when using my card abroad?
Choose the local currency rather than your 'home' currency โ that is Dynamic Currency Conversion, and EU rules require the markup to be shown as a percentage over the ECB reference rate before you confirm. And mind the ATM operator's own surcharge: Swedbank warns these can reach 6% of the amount withdrawn. A bank-branded ATM plus local currency is almost always cheapest.
Do I need to visit Lithuania to open an account?
No. Revolut, Paysera and Wise open fully online from abroad with a passport, and Revolut's account comes with a Lithuanian IBAN. SEB can onboard remotely by video call. Urbo also opens remotely โ but only if you already hold a Lithuanian passport, ID or residence permit plus Smart-ID or Mobile-ID, so it isn't an option before you move.
Important disclaimer
Fees, requirements and services change, and several Lithuanian price lists were revised during 2026. This page is general guidance, not financial advice โ always confirm details directly with the provider before opening an account.
Related Guides
Ready to Open Your Lithuanian Bank Account?
Revolut gives you a Lithuanian IBAN in about ten minutes with just a passport. Prefer a branch and a local bank from day one? Swedbank is the full-service option once your permit arrives.
Nothing on this page is paid placement and no provider pays to appear. Where one runs an affiliate programme we may earn a commission if you sign up through our link; where one does not, we link to them anyway. Ordering reflects published terms and how well each option works for someone arriving from abroad โ never what it pays.