Requirements for opening an account at Ardshinbank:
What to prepare:
- an international (foreign travel) passport
- a notarized rental agreement for at least 4 months (6+ months is preferable), or proof of temporary registration at your address
- an Armenian SIM card (in some cases, a foreign SIM registered in your name may also be accepted)
The account opening process
A visit to the branch can mean a long queue — it’s worth arriving early rather than close to closing time, since some people start lining up before the branch even opens. The procedure itself is standard: a foreign SIM can usually be used to receive the verification SMS, though some branches may ask for a local number to complete registration. According to reviewers, the bank’s main weak point is a rather dated online banking interface — something fairly common across Armenian banks in general.
If you’re weighing your options, Unibank in Armenia is one of the banks people often compare Ardshinbank against, and for accounts opened remotely from abroad, opening a bank account in Kazakhstan is a route some relocators consider as an alternative.
Reviews
- I use Ardshinbank’s mobile banking and everything works fine — I pay all three utility bills, exchange currency, receive payments, and transfer them to my own cards. It seems like people just find the interface a bit outdated, and that’s the main reason they call the banking “bad.”
- I went through a lot of banks before settling on Ardshinbank. Requirements were steep everywhere, from registration all the way to setting up an account as a sole proprietor. My card was issued based on a rental agreement, but they asked for a notarized version — apparently this depends on the branch, since some don’t require notarization at all. I ended up losing two days getting the agreement notarized and gathering paperwork confirming the apartment wasn’t under any lien, which itself took two days to issue. After signing the agreement, you also need to register your address at the local registration office within a month. In the end, I got my card after three business days.
- If you’re opening for a legal entity, I really wouldn’t recommend it — online banking for business accounts basically doesn’t work. Almost everything has to be handled in person at the branch. When I raised the broken online banking with the branch, they told me to email support instead. I’ve been emailing since early May about basic functions being broken — account statements and transfers to external accounts. They asked me to record a video showing the issue; I sent it and got silence for weeks. I followed up and they asked for a phone number; I gave it, and again — silence.
- I applied at Ardshinbank on a Tuesday, got approved by Friday, paid the account-opening fee, and had my cards the following Tuesday. The whole process felt very smooth.
- On transferring funds internationally: I tried sending money to their euro account at Commerzbank and got a rejection from the receiving bank. However, I was able to route the transfer through a correspondent account at a French bank instead, and it went through via SEPA without any issues.
Contact us if you’d like help opening an account at Ardshinbank
FAQ
Can a non-resident open an account at Ardshinbank?
Yes — foreign nationals can open both personal and business accounts, though the exact document list can vary slightly by branch.
What documents do I need?
At minimum, an international passport plus proof of address (a notarized rental agreement or temporary registration). Some branches may also ask for a local phone number.
How long does it take to open an account?
It varies by branch and case — some reviewers report getting a card within a few business days, others describe a longer approval process depending on the type of account.
Is Ardshinbank officially licensed?
Yes, it operates under a license issued by the Central Bank of Armenia (license No. 83, issued February 27, 2003).
Does Ardshinbank support receiving international transfers?
Generally yes, though experiences with specific correspondent banks vary — if one transfer route is rejected, an alternative corridor (for example, via SEPA to an EU bank) may still work.
What’s the biggest downside people mention?
Online banking, particularly for business accounts — some users report it being unreliable or slow to fix when something breaks.
