Sun, 22 November 2009
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Our guide to opening a bank account in the Netherlands.The main Dutch banks are:
ABN-AMRO (www.abnamro.nl)
Fortis Bank (www.fortis.nl)
ING Bank (www.ingbank.nl)
Rabobank (www.rabobank.nl)
SNS (www.snsbank.nl)
ABN-AMRO, recently nationalised, has the most information in English online and a special expat package but you should generally have no problem conducting business in English at any of them. Postbank merged with ING in 2009.
Documents legally required:
• Passport and/or residence permit
• BSN Burgerservicenummer (previously called sofi-nummer). You'll get this when you register with the GBA or direct from the tax office.
• Proof of address (bevolkingsregister extract, utility bill, rental contract etc)
• If you want to open anything other than a savings only account you will also need:
• Evidence of income such as an employment contract or payslip.
The credit rating of new clients may be checked with the Central Credit Registration Office (BKR). An account can be opened in your name and your partner's (they will also need identity documents).
A private bank account is a privérekening. Various cards are on offer but the bankpas is standard. You must pick up the pass personally (with ID). A four-digit pincode (pinpas) will be posted separately but you can change this at a bank. When you pay by pin, you swipe your card through the machine and punch in your four-digit number. It's the most common method of payment used in shops, supermarkets, bars and restaurants.
People should also know that ING (formerly Postbank) also charges 30 euros a year for the pinpas card and as of 2009 has introduced new monthly charges , which is scandalous to say the least.
I have had a great experience dealing with the RaboBank Expat desk. (better than with the ABN desk.)
http://www.rabobankexpats.com/
Do NOT open an ABN Amro account. Do not even go near this bank.
ABN Amro's "customer service" is proactively hostile, and their technology is backward.
Hostile customer service: e.g. no replies to high priority correspondence, even after complaints; highly aggressive responses to complex circumstances, despite being advised well in advance of possible complexities; pointless private account managers who have no authority or initiative (i.e. simply adding to costs); use of government funds to profiteer while mistreating established clients in circumstances that the government funds were specifically designed to address; etc etc etc.
Technology incompetence: e.g. issuing bank cards that can't even be read by their own authorising system, on multiple occasions.
Stay away, stay away.
Here’s a current guide to health insurance, doctors, dentists and pharmacies.
Lost in the Dutch immigration system? Look no further than this guide compiled for our Survival Guide 2009.
Some basic facts and figures about living and working in the Netherlands.
The challenges and benefits of the maternity system in the Netherlands and how it differs to other countries.
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