In financial services the cost is almost always in recurring fees rather than the headline price. Guides report total annual cost, the only figure that allows an honest comparison.
The cost of an Italian current account is not just the advertised monthly fee. Banca d'Italia measures actual management spending, including commissions and real account usage.
Verified on Jul 2026 · 1 source
Postepay Evolution should not be read as a simple prepaid card: it has an IBAN and an annual fee. The base cost is clear, but transfer, withdrawal and direct-debit fees can change the bill for anyone using it as a light current account.
Verified on Jul 2026 · 1 source
In Banca d'Italia's survey, online accounts have lower unit prices and lower fixed costs than traditional accounts. The saving remains real only if the operations you use often are included or cheap.
Current account in ItalyThe annual fee is EUR 19. In the first year you should also count the EUR 5 issue fee, so a digital request brings the practical cost to EUR 24 before any transaction fees. At a post office the initial outlay stated by Postepay can be higher. The difference comes from separating recurring fee, issue fee and initial activation top-up.
Postepay Evolution