In short: Suits those who want a low-cost card without a deposit and can visit a branch in person. The bank is small, and interest on balances is practically zero.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Yes
- Remote account opening
- No
- Visa / Mastercard
- Yes
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Insurance deposit
- not required
- Belkart-Premium
- free issue, servicing 100 BYN for the full term (3 years)
- Mastercard Standard and Visa Classic
- free issue, servicing 100 BYN or 200 USD/EUR for the full term
- Urgent issue
- 50 BYN
- Card forms
- plastic and virtual
- Tariff period
- per the February 2025 review; check against the bank's tariffs
Pros
- No insurance deposit required
- Choice of Belkart-Premium, Visa and Mastercard
- Servicing is paid once for the whole card term
- In 2026 reviews the bank is not named among banks on EU lists
Cons and limits
- Small bank
- A visit in person is mandatory
- The tariffs provide a separate annual fee for non-residents
- Interest on balances is practically zero
## About the bank
BSB Bank is the Belarusian-Swiss Bank (a closed joint-stock company), registered on 7 October 2002. Its capital is fully foreign: the owners are the Swiss companies Swiss Investment Century and Profinvest Professional and Financial Investment. Assets were 567.9 million BYN as of 1 July 2022, and the bank holds licence No. 7 of 18 August 2017. It is a small bank, outside the largest group, but it works with non-residents under clear rules.
The bank has a mobile app for iOS, Android and Huawei and serves both private customers and businesses. In 2026 reviews BSB Bank is not named among banks on EU lists, which lowers the risk of declined payments abroad and in foreign services.
## Account for non-residents
Russians and other non-residents can open accounts and cards. There is no remote start: a personal visit with a passport is required. According to a 2023 review, the bank also asked for a Belarusian phone number, so confirm this requirement beforehand.
An application for a non-resident account can be submitted on the bank's website. The documents are checked in advance, so less time is spent at the branch. The tariffs include a separate annual fee for non-resident individuals; the bank publishes the current amounts, because the 2024 and 2025 tariffs differ across reviews.
## Cards and payments
The bank issues three card products to non-residents. Issue is free, and servicing is charged at once for the full term.
| Card | Currency | Servicing for the full term |
|---|---|---|
| Belkart-Premium | BYN | 100 BYN (3 years) |
| Mastercard Standard | BYN, USD, EUR | 100 BYN or 200 USD/EUR |
| Visa Classic | BYN, USD, EUR | 100 BYN or 200 USD/EUR |
Prices are from the myfin.by review for February 2025; check them against the bank's tariffs. All cards come in plastic and virtual form, and urgent issue costs 50 BYN.
Russian Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked in Belarus since 2022, and Belarusian ones do not work in Russia. For payments in Russia, choose Belkart. Support for Mir and SBP (Faster Payments System) should be confirmed on the bank's website.
## Fees and limitations
- No insurance deposit is required.
- Validity and servicing are paid for the whole card period, not monthly.
- The bank is small, and interest on balances is practically zero.
- On 25 September 2026 the processing centre carried out maintenance from 02:00 to 06:30, and the bank's cards could work with interruptions during that time.
## Who it suits
BSB Bank suits those who want a low-cost card without a deposit and are ready to visit a branch once. It fits Belkart-Premium in Belarusian roubles and Visa or Mastercard for use abroad. For a large bank with a wide branch network, look at other options.
Frequently asked questions
Does BSB Bank require an insurance deposit?
According to reviews, no deposit is required for non-resident cards. This sets the bank apart from Belarusbank and Priorbank.
Can I open a BSB Bank card remotely?
No, a non-resident has to come in person. An application to open an account can be submitted on the bank's website, and the documents are checked in advance.
How much does card servicing cost?
According to the myfin.by review for February 2025, servicing of Belkart-Premium is 100 BYN for three years. For Visa and Mastercard it is 100 BYN or 200 USD/EUR for the full term. Issue is free, and urgent issue costs 50 BYN.
Do I need a Belarusian phone number?
According to a 2023 review, the bank asked for a Belarusian number together with a passport. Check the requirement at the branch before your visit.
Does the card work outside Belarus?
Visa and Mastercard are used outside Russia. In Russia, pay with Belkart, because Belarusian Visa and Mastercard do not work there.