Bank bullcrap

Its always interesting to get used to a new culture, but I'm always surprised how much bank culture changes in every country. I had always assumed that the same bank in different counties would more or less operate in the same way. Its not true however. To this end I have constructed a how-to list for getting paid in Sweden.

1. Get informed by employer (university) what your bank is (Nordea).

2. Go to Nordea to open account. Get told you aren't able to open account. Open account after insisting that its actually possible for you to open an account (its possible). [NB: you open an account so you don't have to pay an 80 kronor (~€7) fee for making transactions]

3. Get cheque in mail (yes thats a real paper cheque in the snail mail. Yes it is 2011, that wasn't a dream).

4. Go to Nordea where you have an account in order to avoid fees to deposit cheque. Be informed that depositing a cheque in the bank costs 50 kr for members.

5. Be informed that if you take a special envelope, only available from the teller (as far as I can tell) and send your cheque to the bank by post (pre-paid by the bank) then you won't pay any fee.

Seriously.