Running the company: bank, changes, exit
Corporate Bank Account in the Netherlands for a Foreign-Owned BV
For groups and founders abroad.
A group chart, a UBO entry and a bank file that agree, before a Dutch bank reviews your foreign-owned BV.
- No account needed to incorporate
- The bank decides: often 2 to 8 weeks, indicative
- Bank, Quick Scan or EMI: conditions, not a ranking
A bank account that fits the group structure
We help a Dutch BV or holding BV owned by a foreign parent, or by founders abroad, open its corporate bank account: groups that form a company in the Netherlands for EU market entry, and groups preparing a CASP licence in the Netherlands.
A Dutch bank treats the application as a test of the structure. Under the Wwft (as at October 2026) it must understand who owns and controls the BV, and it reports any mismatch with the UBO register to the KVK. The other Dutch legal entities are compared on their own page.
What's included
The bank alone decides whether to open, and on what terms. We prepare what it decides on.
The prior question
Whether this BV needs a Dutch IBAN at all, given where the group banks, Dutch payroll and Dutch counterparties. Conditions, not a recommendation.
The ownership map
A group chart down to every natural-person UBO, checked against the shareholders' register and the UBO register entry, so the bank finds nothing it would have to report.
The bank file
Documents for the BV, its directors, its UBOs and the foreign parent, the parent's papers legalised, in the order the bank asks for them.
The route
The conditions under which a Dutch bank, the NVB Quick Scan or an electronic money institution (EMI) applies, with any EMI looked up in the DNB register first.
Through due diligence
Answers to the bank's questions on purpose, expected turnover, counterparties by country and source of capital; source of wealth under enhanced due diligence.
After opening, and at the end
A non-Dutch operating account notified to the Belastingdienst (Tax Administration), the UBO entry and bank file kept in line as the group changes, and the account closed before the BV is deregistered.
Related filing: VAT registration for a Dutch BV.
Does the BV need a Dutch account, and which route
Official guidance calls a business account mandatory for a BV. We found no statute imposing it, and the account need not be Dutch.
Rules differ between banks; no bank is named here as accepting or refusing anyone. As at October 2026.
| Condition or route | What the official source says | What to check | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The group banks inside SEPA | A SEPA IBAN account in the business's name may also serve the Dutch business; the Belastingdienst accepts any SEPA zone IBAN | A non-Dutch current account is notified with the RSIN and BIC; confirmation within 3 weeks | business.gov.nl; Belastingdienst |
| The group banks only outside SEPA | It must apply for an IBAN account with a bank in the Netherlands | Where the parent's own accounts are held | business.gov.nl |
| Dutch payroll or Dutch suppliers | Certain payroll providers or suppliers may still require a Dutch account | What the payroll provider asks for, when running Dutch payroll for a foreign employer | business.gov.nl |
| The NVB Quick Scan | Only for entrepreneurs assisted by the NFIA or a recognised facilitator; ABN AMRO, ING or Rabobank confirms the probability of success within 5 business days | It is an eligibility answer, not an account | NVB |
| An electronic money institution (EMI) | Runs the same Wwft due diligence as a bank; DNB's public register marks exempted EMIs as not supervised by DNB | The provider's entry in the register; no official source says whether an EMI account meets the guidance | DNB public register |
Which row fits turns on the group's facts, and we settle it with you, as when setting up a Dutch holding BV for a European group.
What a Dutch bank checks in a foreign-owned BV
What the Wwft (as at October 2026) makes a bank or EMI establish first.
Who owns and controls the BV
Reasonable measures to understand the BV's ownership and control structure, and the purpose of the relationship (art. 3 lid 2 sub b and c Wwft).
The UBO through the chain
The natural person holding, directly or indirectly, more than 25 percent of the shares, votes or ownership interest (Uitvoeringsbesluit Wwft 2018, art. 3 lid 1 sub a 1°). If no one qualifies, the managing directors are registered.
Register proof before opening
Proof of registration in the Handelsregister (Business Register) and a check of the UBO entry (art. 4 lid 2 Wwft). An account may open earlier only if it cannot yet be used (art. 4 lid 4).
Who may sign
That the person representing the BV is authorised to do so (art. 3 lid 2 sub e Wwft). For a corporate director, that means proof of who may sign for that director.
Discrepancies are reported
Every mismatch the bank finds with the UBO register goes to the KVK (art. 10c lid 1 Wwft), so four documents must agree.
How the process works
The BV exists first, then the file, then the bank's review.
Incorporate the BV
(the notaris, civil-law notary). By notarial deed, with no bank statement since 1 October 2012 (art. 2:203a BW). The notary hands over the shareholders' register; see incorporating a Dutch BV.
Register the BV and its UBOs
(the notary or the company; KVK). Within one week of the deed (art. 20 lid 1 Hrw 2007); fee EUR 85.15 in 2026. No account application without a KVK number.
Assemble the bank file
(you, with us). The documents below, with the parent's papers legalised by apostille or in two steps. No official time is published.
Reconcile the four documents
(us, with you). Chart, shareholders' register, UBO entry and bank file agree before submission, because the bank reports any UBO discrepancy to the KVK.
Choose the route
(you, with us). A Dutch bank, the Quick Scan where you qualify (an eligibility answer within 5 business days), or an EMI checked in the DNB register.
Application and due diligence
(the bank or EMI). Identity of the BV, its UBOs and representative; ownership and control; purpose; enhanced due diligence where it applies. Often 2 to 8 weeks, indicative.
Decision
(the bank). No relationship before due diligence is complete. Refusal is lawful on commercial grounds; a Wwft refusal must rest on a risk of misuse too great. No statutory period.
After opening
(the company). A non-Dutch operating account is notified to the Belastingdienst, confirmed within 3 weeks. UBO changes within 7 days; the account closed before the BV is deregistered.
Statutory Practice estimate
- Incorporate the BVNotaris (civil-law notary)No bank statement since 1 October 2012
- Register the BV and UBOsNotary or company; KVKWithin 1 week of the deed (art. 20 lid 1 Hrw 2007)Fee EUR 85.15 (2026)
- Assemble the bank fileYou, with usNo official time is published
- Reconcile the four documentsUs, with youNo official time is published
- Choose the routeYou, with usQuick Scan answer within 5 business days (eligibility only)
- Application and due diligenceBank or EMIOften 2 to 8 weeks, indicative
- DecisionBankNo statutory period
- After openingThe companyBelastingdienst confirmation within 3 weeksUBO changes within 7 days
Is your group chart ready for a Dutch bank?
We check the file against your group's real chart, down to each natural person, before any bank sees it.
Documents you will need
What banks list for a BV, grouped by party. A bank may ask for more.
- KVK extract of the BV
- Articles of association
- Shareholders' register, handed over by the notary at incorporation
- The KVK UBO report
- Countries where the BV will do business, if the account is used abroad
- An organisational chart, for a layered structure
- Valid identification and proof of address of each director and UBO
- Non-resident in the Quick Scan: an ID copy legalised by a notary (ABN AMRO, Rabobank)
- The parent's registry extract and constitutional documents, with apostille or two-step legalisation
- For a corporate director: proof of who may sign for it (art. 3 lid 2 sub e Wwft)
- Possibly also: business plan, expected turnover, source of capital; source of wealth under enhanced due diligence
Dutch requirements, deadlines and state charges
The figures around the account, each with its statute or official page. The account itself carries no state fee.
Figures as at October 2026. Apostille fees are set by the issuing state, not by the Netherlands.
| Item | Rule or amount | Basis and year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account or bank statement to incorporate | None; the bank statement rule (art. 2:203a BW) lapsed on 1 October 2012 | Civil Code, Book 2 | Burgerlijk Wetboek Book 2 (Civil Code) |
| First registration in the Business Register | Within one week of the deed | Art. 20 lid 1 Hrw 2007 | Handelsregisterwet 2007 (Business Register Act) |
| KVK registration fee, one-off | EUR 85.15 | Art. 5 Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019, 2026 | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019 |
| Business Register extract | EUR 9.60 digital certified; EUR 19.20 on paper | Art. 1 sub f and art. 2 sub b, same regulation, 2026 | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019 |
| UBO-register extract, digitally certified | EUR 3.10, a register tariff, not the price of the document a bank asks for | Art. 1 sub g, same regulation, 2026 | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019 |
| UBO of a BV | More than 25 percent, directly or indirectly | Uitvoeringsbesluit Wwft 2018, art. 3 lid 1 sub a 1° | wetten.overheid.nl |
| UBO register changes | Within 7 days | business.gov.nl, 2026 | business.gov.nl, UBO register |
| Business account approval | Often 2 to 8 weeks; indicative, not statutory | business.gov.nl, 2026 | business.gov.nl |
| Basic business payment account | Enacted as art. 4:71k Wft; not in force on 6 October 2026; the date is set by royal decree | Staatsblad 2026, 182, Artikel VI | Staatsblad 2026, 182 |
| Dutch IBAN | 18 characters: NL, two check digits, a four-letter bank code, ten digits | Betaalvereniging Nederland | Betaalvereniging Nederland |
Problems we solve
Handled without promising an outcome. We never sign for the BV, act as its director, nominee or attorney, or supply its address (Wtt 2018).
- A refusal with no reason given
Banks have freedom of contract, and FIU reports stay secret (art. 23 lid 1 Wwft). One cause DNB recorded (2021): insufficient link with the Netherlands, the case for meeting the Dutch substance list without a nominee.
- A UBO entry that does not match the chart
The bank must report the mismatch to the KVK. We trace the UBO through every layer and bring the four documents into line first.
- A party in a high-risk jurisdiction
For an EU-listed high-risk third country, the bank collects source of funds and source of wealth and needs senior-management approval. We prepare that file, without promising acceptance.
- "There is a new legal right to an account"
A basic business payment account was enacted (Staatsblad 2026, 182), not in force on 6 October 2026; a royal decree sets the date. The Wwft still prevails (art. 4:71g lid 1 Wft).
- The group changes after opening
A share transfer above the BV can change who the UBO is: the register is updated within 7 days, and the bank checks it. When due diligence can no longer be met, the bank ends the relationship (art. 5 lid 3 Wwft).
Has a bank already said no?
We review a refused or closed file against the bank's legal duties before the next application goes in.
Why work with us
Floris Hendriks, Formation and corporate changes lead, Amsterdam. Dutch, English, German.
From our practice: on every bank file we settle the ownership chart first, down to each natural person, because the bank holds it against the UBO register. The shareholders' register, the UBO entry and the documents then follow the chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Dutch holding BV need a Dutch bank account, or can it use the group's SEPA account?
Official guidance calls a business account mandatory for a BV, though we found no statute imposing it. A SEPA IBAN account in the business's name may also serve, and the Belastingdienst accepts any SEPA zone IBAN. Only a company banking solely outside SEPA must open in the Netherlands. A non-Dutch account is notified, with confirmation within 3 weeks.
Why do Dutch banks refuse foreign-owned companies, and do they have to say why?
Banks have freedom of contract with business clients. A Wwft refusal must rest on a risk of misuse the bank finds too great, and a report to the FIU stays secret (art. 23 lid 1 Wwft). In DNB's 2021 figures, 82 percent of refusals by the largest banks were primarily the bank's own choice. Remedy: a complaint or the courts.
Can you guarantee that the account will be opened?
No. The bank or EMI alone decides whether to open and on what terms, and the only official timeline, often 2 to 8 weeks, is indicative. We prepare the file and answer the follow-up questions with you. We never sign for the BV, act as its director or nominee, or supply its address.
Can we open the account before the BV is registered?
No. The NVB says no business account application is possible without a KVK number, and the Wwft requires proof of Handelsregister registration and a check of the UBO entry before the relationship starts. Nor is an account needed for the deed: the bank statement on incorporation lapsed on 1 October 2012.
Is an EMI account, such as Revolut or Wise, good enough for a Dutch BV?
An EMI runs the same Wwft due diligence as a bank. Before using one, look the provider up in DNB's public register, which states explicitly that exempted EMIs are not under DNB supervision. No official source says whether an EMI account meets the guidance that a BV must have a business account, so we make no claim either way.
Who is the UBO of a BV owned by a foreign company, and why does the bank check the register?
The natural person holding, directly or indirectly, more than 25 percent of the shares, votes or ownership interest, traced through every layer; if no one qualifies, the managing directors are registered. Residence and nationality make no difference. The bank checks the entry because it must report every discrepancy to the KVK (art. 10c lid 1 Wwft).
How long does it take to open a corporate bank account in the Netherlands?
The only official figure comes from business.gov.nl: approval often takes 2 to 8 weeks. It is indicative, and no statutory period applies to a business account. The Quick Scan answer within 5 business days concerns eligibility only, not an open account. Registration with the KVK, within one week of the deed, comes first.
Is there now a legal right to a business bank account in the Netherlands?
Not yet. Art. 4:71k Wft (Staatsblad 2026, 182) gives EU entities in the Dutch Handelsregister a basic payment account in euro, but it was not in force on 6 October 2026; a royal decree sets the date. Even then the Wwft prevails (art. 4:71g lid 1 Wft). Whether a BV with a non-EU parent qualifies is our reading only.
We have a shareholder in a high-risk country. What changes?
Enhanced due diligence applies. Where an EU-listed high-risk third country is involved, the bank collects the source of funds and the source of wealth of the client and its UBOs, and senior management must approve the relationship (art. 8 lid 1, art. 9 lid 1 sub c and e Wwft). We prepare that file; acceptance is never promised.
Can a foreigner open a business bank account in the Netherlands, and can it be done online?
Residence and address conditions differ between banks; some accept a foreign address if at least one owner lives in the Netherlands. In the Quick Scan, contact is in English, and ABN AMRO and Rabobank accept an ID copy legalised by a notary. A US founder arriving under the friendship treaty between the US and the Netherlands prepares the same file.
What is the Quick Scan Dutch Business Bank Account, and who can use it?
A route run by the NVB with three banks: ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank. It is open only to entrepreneurs assisted by the NFIA or a recognised facilitator. The bank confirms the probability of a successful application within 5 business days of receiving the Quick Scan. It is not an accelerated route to an active account.
Is there a fee for opening a business account?
There is no state fee for the account itself; banks may charge for extra checks, and no official amount exists. The state charges around it: KVK registration of the BV costs EUR 85.15 and a register extract EUR 9.60 digital or EUR 19.20 on paper (2026). Our own fee is quoted on request.
What does a Dutch IBAN look like?
A Dutch IBAN has 18 characters, according to Betaalvereniging Nederland: the country code NL, two check digits, a four-letter bank code and a ten-digit account number. The Belastingdienst accepts any SEPA zone IBAN, not only one that starts with NL.
Which bank is best for a corporate account?
We do not answer with a name: rules differ between banks. The conditions are where the group already banks, whether the BV runs Dutch payroll or pays Dutch suppliers, and whether it qualifies for the Quick Scan. An EMI is looked up in the DNB register first. The choice is made on the group's facts, in a conversation.
Can we buy a BV that already has a bank account?
We never offer a company with an account. Selling or brokering the sale of legal persons is a licensed trust service under the Wtt 2018; after a change of owner the UBO register is updated within 7 days, and the bank checks that entry. A ready-made company in the Netherlands is acquired by notarial share transfer, with buyer-side assistance only.
Request a bank-readiness review
Send us the group chart and where the group banks today. Our reply sets out the conditions and the route.
- Name
- Company
- Country of the parent company
- Message
Confirmation: Thank you. We reply to the email address you gave.