Open a Business Bank Account in the Netherlands: The 2026 Guide for Americans

Banking in the Netherlands as a US citizen is harder than it should be, and it is entirely because of FATCA — the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. FATCA requires foreign banks to report accounts held by Americans to the IRS. For Dutch banks, this means extra compliance infrastructure and the risk of penalties for mistakes. Many banks have decided the simplest solution is to reject American applications entirely.

If you are a DAFT applicant, the business bank account is not optional. You need a Dutch IBAN to deposit your €4,500, and the IND needs to see a Dutch business account on your opening balance sheet. Here is which banks work and which do not.

Bunq: The Primary Choice for Americans

Bunq is a Dutch-licensed digital bank that has built FATCA compliance into its systems from the start. They accept US citizens, they are familiar with DAFT applicants, and account opening happens same-day through the app.

Requirements: US passport, BSN, KvK extract. Cost: €9.99 to €17.99 per month for business plans. IBAN: Dutch (NL). Biggest advantage: You can create sub-accounts (compartments) — essential for the "dusty account" equity protection strategy where you keep €5,000+ in an untouchable equity reserve and run operations through a separate account.

ABN AMRO: The Traditional Backup

ABN AMRO is the most expat-friendly of the big three Dutch banks. Their key advantage is a 120-day BSN grace period — you can start the account opening process before your BSN arrives. This is useful if your gemeente registration is delayed.

Requirements: Passport, proof of address (BSN not immediately required). Speed: 1 to 3 weeks. Cost: €15 to €25 per month. IBAN: Dutch (NL). The process involves more paperwork than Bunq and requires a branch visit, but the 120-day grace period can save weeks.

ING: Do Not Count on It

ING has the strictest KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements for US citizens. Some branches will accept Americans, others will not. The experience is inconsistent and branch-dependent. If you walk into an ING branch and get turned away, you have wasted a day. Do not make ING your primary plan.

Wise and Revolut: Supplements Only

Both are excellent for multi-currency management and international payments. Wise provides a Belgian (BE) IBAN; Revolut provides a Lithuanian (LT) IBAN. For day-to-day business — receiving USD payments from US clients and converting to EUR — they are hard to beat. But they should not be your primary DAFT equity account. Some IND officers and KvK systems prefer a proper Dutch (NL) IBAN.

The Deposit Strategy

Once your account is open, transfer at least €4,500 from your US bank. But deposit more — €5,000 to €6,000 — to create an equity buffer. Immediately separate the funds: put the buffer into an "Equity Reserve" sub-account that you never touch, and run business expenses through a separate "Operating" account. This prevents accidentally spending below the €4,500 equity floor that the IND audits at renewal.

For the complete FATCA banking guide, the equity protection strategy, and the dual US-NL tax framework, see the Netherlands DAFT (Self-Employment) Visa Guide.

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