Ciao Daniela

Prego, as Paolo mentioned and is trying to explain...but let us not confuse residency status with your residency permit. These are two separate issues of course.
Italian Resident status is applied for at your local Italian Consulate. I not quite sure if this is what the Bank requested or just a residency permit certificate which can be obtained from the local commune or post office in Italy.
While I was waiting for my dual Citizenship papers to be finalized, the way I got around your situation was by presenting my property documents to the local commune and requesting they issue a letter (certificate) confirming my address of residence in Italy as a property owner. To be honest, at my local commune did not even what to see my documents because they were aware of my family history in our small town. The secretary prepared a certificate titled (Ceritficato di Residenza) and the mayor signed sealed and certified my residence certificate so that I could show it to who ever requested it in Italy. At that time, I was presenting the certificate to a custom officer at the shipping docks for a container of building materials arriving from Canada to determine how much % IVA to pay. I would call your notaio in Italy and have him or her deal with this request as I understand it to be the same certificate I received and not your residency status. The Notaio should be able straight out the situation with the bank in Italy for you with no problems.
Paolo is right the “faccia di merda” at the Italian bank does not even check to see if you are a Permanente resident of Italy which of course is another issue and as I mentioned that must be obtained and addressed at your local Italian Consulate in NY. If you do go there, I suggest you apply for dual Citizenship which allows you the same privileges of a local Italian resident. It’s great that you are 1st generation born of Italian parents as from my experience with dual citizenship; this is viewed by the Italian Government as having the legal rights to an Italian citizenship. All you have to do is fill out the proper forms, get your Italian (Euro Passport) as well. Besides your codice fiscale having a Italian Passport helps when dealing with the bureaucratic bullshit.
Deciding on a Permanente residency status in Italy
It’s always best to speak to a legal advisor at your local Italian Consulate back home. Discuss your options with an Accountant before choosing a status of citizenship as you may have to determine and consider what effect your status selection will have on your current employment, benefits, income package and tax structure, then out weigh the advantages of the status type selection before making your final decision. Some countries request you give up your residency status at home in order to have another residency status in another country.
For now... I recommend keeping your Permanente residency status in the US until your ready to retire or move to Italy permanetely. Please note when you have dual citizenship no one will bother you in Italy. With dual citizenship you are legally allowed to stay in Italy for up to 6 months each year.

Salve
Frank Tarsitano

Paolo, I live in New Jersey...
As far as the utility companies go, they were happy with any address at all... they basically just needed to know the address of the condo, my name, and the routing number and account number of the bank to debit. It was the bank who said they would not allow the direct debit to pass through the account. (In the USA, they dont check things like this.)

When I go back in July, I will have the finalized "successione" - the legal papers that the notary prepared for me to say I am the owner of the condo. As Frank suggested in this thread, I will contact the notaio before I go and see if he can obtain a residency certificate for me. Then armed with both of those, I will head to the bank.
The only other problem I foresee is that I was told that utility companies send a contract to the residence for you to sign and return when you want a direct debit arrangement... I wont be there that long that I can wait for it, so I'll have to get family to pick up mail and handle those forms.
such beauracracy!!!
Thank you Paolo and Frank! You've been a great help.
Daniela

Ciao Daniela

Your welcome, ask your American Bank with which bank in Italy do they deal with as every bank has a contact bank normally it is the central bank of Rome before monies are then transferred to the actual bank branch location in your towns destination. If the teller tells you otherwise they are lazy or full of shit! All branches have their trading codes for transferring funds and they must provide you with that info if you are a client.

One suggestion go to the nearest HSBC Bank they have many locations across Italy and US. I found them to be efficient. I think there is also a Banca Intesse or Banca Commerciale di Italia in New York which you might find even easier to communicate directly to these Utility companies in Italy. It might be worth opening a small account at these banks to serve your purpose. If not what the hell, you could always buy a pair of new shoes in Manhattan and than go home to New Jersey. You deserve a break after all this running around " gira la testa"

Good Luck
P.S Let me know how you make out
Saluti
Frank Tarsitano
www.italysouth.org