Union Bank Albania review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Union Bank Albania suits people banking in Albania who want a plain Visa debit card with free ATM withdrawals and a local bank licence. Free ATM allowance of ALL 0 keeps everyday cash free, and the Bank of Albania licence puts the money in a supervised domestic bank rather than an offshore wallet.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free ATM withdrawals with an allowance of ALL 0
- A Visa debit card, so it works wherever Visa is accepted
- Supervised by the Bank of Albania, the local regulator
- Dating from 2006, with the legal entity named as Union Bank Sh.a.
Cons
- The free ATM allowance is ALL 0, so cash outside the country gets costly quickly
- The card runs on visa alone, so it pays only where that network is accepted
- Fees come from a printed tariff annex, so checking the current rate means reading the bank's own document
Who it suits
- Albanian residents paying and withdrawing locally
- People who want the card and the deposit at the same supervised bank
- Shoppers who already use Visa
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing multi currency spending abroad, where Wise keeps more of the rate
- Travellers who rely on a bigger cash allowance, since Monzo Flex offers £200 in free withdrawals
- Euro area users who prefer a UK current account, since Starling Personal Account Debit Card offers £0
How Union Bank Albania compares
Where Union Bank Albania is available
- Available
- Albania
- Licence in Albania
- Bank of Albania (18), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the free ATM withdrawal allowance?+
The published tariff annex sets free ATM withdrawals at ALL 0. That covers cash machine withdrawals, and anything taken beyond the allowance is charged under the bank's own schedule. Check the annex before travelling, as the allowance applies per period rather than for the year.
Is the money held at a regulated bank?+
Yes. The licence list names the Bank of Albania as the regulator in Albania, so deposits sit with a supervised domestic bank rather than a crypto platform. The bank trades as Union Bank Sh.a., which is the name that appears on statements and terms.
What kind of card is it?+
It is a debit card on the visa network. A debit card spends straight from the account balance, so there is no separate credit line to manage. Debit cards make up 73.4% of the cards in this comparison.
Where can the card be used?+
Because it runs on visa, it is accepted at Visa merchants at home and abroad. Take note that acceptance does not remove currency conversion costs on spending in another currency, which is the main cost for a card like this.
Is there a monthly fee?+
Most cards in this comparison charge no monthly fee, with a median of €0, and this bank's published annex is the place to confirm the figure for the account you open. Debit cards from banks of this kind are often free to hold.
How long has the bank been running?+
The bank was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Albania. That matters mostly for stability of deposits, since a long standing domestic bank is a different proposition from a new crypto card issuer.
How does the allowance compare with other cards?+
Free ATM allowances across this comparison have a median of €0, and this bank sits at ALL 0. For contrast, Monzo Flex offers £200 and Starling Personal Account Debit Card offers £0.
Sources
- docslib.org/doc/1917973/supervision-annual-report-supervi... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Licences
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_of_Albania checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Union Bank (Albania) Banks Tirana 2006”
- makeapubliclist.com/list-of-top-17-best-banks-in-albania checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“Headquarters: Tirana, Albania - Union Bank (Albania)”
- freebinchecker.com/bin-lookup/467810 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Card network
“VISA debit card (VISA CLASSIC level) issued by Union Bank in Albania”
- freebinchecker.com/bin-lookup/537589 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“MASTERCARD debit card issued by Union Bank Sh.a. in Albania”
- unionbank.al/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Aneksi-nr.1-DOKUM... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals
“Ne ATM te Bankes 0 Lek/ 0 Euro - debit card cash withdrawal”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Monthly fee, Currency conversion fee, Protection.
Union Bank Albania
Albanian residents who want a supervised local bank debit card with free cash withdrawals.