Classic catch-22: you need a bank account to rent, and an address to open a bank account. How did you actually break the loop when you arrived? Did a digital bank tide you over?
A digital bank tided me over exactly as you’d guess, then I switched once the lease actually came through.
Same loop, currently stuck in it myself.
My employer’s relocation support actually broke the loop for me — they provided a temporary address specifically for account-opening purposes.
Does a hotel or short-term rental address ever work for the bank, or does it need to be a proper lease?
Mei, in Portugal the bank accepted my temporary rental contract and my tax number, even though it was a short-term place. The tax number mattered more than the address. Get that first and a lot of doors open.
Answering my own question for anyone later: the bank accepted my student residence contract for the appointment. Opening it in my first week, fingers crossed.