Opening a bank account

Steps when creating a student bank account

• 1. Collect the necessary documents

  • A valid ID (passport, ID card, official residence document)
  • You will need your Declaration of Registration (DoR) from VU Amsterdam in order to open a student account. This declaration is available from the moment you are registered at our university, and can be collected digitally via the 'Complete registration' page in your vu.nl dashboard.
  • Your citizen service number (BSN). When you register in the BRP you will receive a BSN.  You can fill this in online. If you do not have a BSN it is often possible to provide this later on in the process.
  • For ING bank:  ING bank asks students with a foreign ID to show them their Dutch home address with an original extract from the Personal Records Database ('Basis Registratie Personen' in Dutch, or BRP). This document is available at the municipality where you are registered. If you do not have a BRP, it's best to open a bank account at ABN Amro or Bunq bank (see below).

• 2. Open your bank account

  ABN Amro bank

  International students can open an ABN AMRO Student Package, that includes:

  • A free bank account with debit card, internet-mobile banking
  • Contract in Englisch
  • Overview of your income and expenses
  • Open in 5 minutes via your cellphone with a valid passport and your BSN (social security number)

  Unfortunately it is not possible for International Students to apply for a Credit Card. More information on how to open you account can be found in this document, or in short:
  
  Do you have a passport?

  1. Download the ABN AMRO app via the Apple App store or Google Play store.
  2. Click on the button for opening a new account and walkthrough all the steps in the app.
     Tip: Do you need any help with the steps in the app? Click here for an explanation. 

  Do you not have a passport?
  You will need to have an European ID-card (no drivers license) 

  1. Go to our webpage to become a customer, please use this link.
  2. Click on the button “become a customer” and walkthrough all questions and steps.
  3. When all steps are completed you will receive a confirmation off your request in your mail.

  ING bank

  ING offers several benefits for international students. It is an English-speaking Dutch bank that provides a dedicated student account, which is free of charge and ready for immediate use. There’s no need for a BSN (Social Security Number) or proof of registration at a Dutch educational institution.
  
  Payments can easily be made using a physical card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Garmin Pay. All banking services are conveniently managed through a single app. Additionally, you can enjoy a free ING Savings account with a variable interest rate when you open your student account, provided it’s your first ING account.

  Bunq bank

  Bunq is an online bank.  You can easily open your account online and you only need to bring a valid ID to your appointment.

• 3. Close your Dutch bank account before you leave

  It is very important to close your Dutch bank account before you leave. You should visit the nearest bank office and they will help you close the bank account. If you do not close your bank account, you will continue to be charged for the use of it, which could result in an unexpected bill when visiting the Netherlands in the future.

• Exceptions

  In case you do not have your BSN yet, or if you are a minor, there are still options available. See below for more information.

Opening a bank account without a citizen service number (BSN)

• ING bank

  ING offers several benefits for international students. It is an English-speaking Dutch bank that provides a dedicated student account, which is free of charge and ready for immediate use. There’s no need for a BSN (Social Security Number) or proof of registration at a Dutch educational institution.
  
  Payments can easily be made using a physical card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Garmin Pay. All banking services are conveniently managed through a single app. Additionally, you can enjoy a free ING Savings account with a variable interest rate when you open your student account, provided it’s your first ING account.

• Bunq bank

  It is possible to open a bank account before having your BSN. However, you do need to hand in the BSN at a later time.
  
  Bunq is an online bank. Students can open a bank account here without a BSN (but do need to submit it within 3 months) and must have an address within EEA. You can easily arrange this online and you only need to bring a valid ID. See Bunq's page for more information (please note: you can change the language at the bottom left of the page).

Opening a bank account as a minor

• ABN Amro bank

  You can make an appointment at any of the ABN Amro offices via +31 088 - 226 2635. The request via our branches can take longer than the request via our app or website.

• Bunq bank

  When you are still a minor, it is possible to open a bank account at Bunq bank.

  1. One of your parents needs to create a account on the Bunq website.
  2. Within their own account, the parent creates a sub-account for you. 
  3. You will then receive an invitation for your bank account via SMS. 

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