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Banking in Bahrain

There are many formalities when opening a bank account in Bahrain, including a lot of paperwork.

To be eligible to open a bank account you will need a residence visa and a 'letter of no objection' or a 'no objection certificate' (NOC) from your employer. This letter must highlight your salary to show how much will be paid into your account. Most banks will also ask for a photocopy of your passport and some banks will also ask to see your tenancy agreement to establish your residential address. You should take copies of all these documents, as well as identity photographs.

Bahrain banks offer banking services including cheque clearance, standing orders, direct debits and credit card repayments. A certain number of transactions per year are usually free, after which a charge may be issued at the discretion of the bank manager. Charges vary between banks, as in most countries, so it is best to look around to see what is offered by different banks first before opening an account.

Current accounts pay little or no interest and, if they do, you must usually have a substantial balance to qualify. Therefore a savings or deposit account is the best option for surplus funds.

Transactions are usually made with cash in Bahrain as most people are suspicious of cheques. Most current accounts therefore are not cheque accounts.

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