What to remember
- Compare the cost of the transactions you actually make.
- Check account, card and transfer charges separately.
- Ask what changes if salary transfers stop.
Describe how you use the account
Count monthly transfers, cash withdrawals and international payments. Ask for costs in branch, in the app and at ATMs. Services included in a package may have limits.
Salary accounts and conditions
A package may require salary transfers or a minimum balance. Ask what happens when you no longer meet the condition. Check account and card fees separately.
Closing and inactive accounts
Read closure and inactivity rules. An account is not closed simply because you stop using it. Request confirmation from the bank after settling any outstanding charges.
Turn fees into a yearly cost
Assume ALL 150 monthly account maintenance, ALL 600 yearly card maintenance and two ALL 50 transfers each month. The annual cost is 150 × 12 + 600 + 2 × 50 × 12 = ALL 3,600. Do not add transfers again if included in a package. Check first-year versus renewal prices and compare identical usage, including your actual withdrawals and payments.
Illustration, not a bank offer. These figures are assumptions used to explain the calculation.
When you use more than one currency
If you receive euros and spend lek, ask where each currency is held and when conversion occurs. A card may have a particular billing currency even when used abroad. For international transfers, ask for the recipient amount, your fee and possible charges by other banks. Keep the terms and distinguish an indicative rate from the rate used for your transaction.
Questions to take to the bank
Use this list when requesting your written offer.
- What does a year of my normal usage cost?
- Which services are included, and up to what limits?
- What is charged while the account is unused?
- How do I obtain confirmation of closure?
Frequently asked questions
Does an unused account close automatically?
Do not assume so. Check the terms, follow the bank’s closure procedure and keep confirmation.
Is a package cheaper than separate services?
It depends on usage and package conditions. Compare identical transactions and account for features you will actually use.
Sources and examples
Bank of Albania: product and fee transparency ↗
Links beside specific explanations identify their official sources. Worked examples are educational assumptions, not bank offers. The bank confirms the terms for your situation.