Traditionally, opening a bank account in the Netherlands was a long, bureaucratic process, a hassle which new arrivals certainly did not need when they had just arrived. But those days are gone. And on top of that, you will now receive a €125 incentive when opening an account at ABN AMRO.

New arrivals to the Netherlands no longer have to cut through metres of red tape before they can open a bank account, pay the deposit on their new home or even use public transport. Internet banking is here to stay, and ABN AMRO, for example, is focusing on offering faster, simpler and more welcoming ways for new international residents to start managing their finances in the Netherlands.

The bank has provided specialised services to international clients for the past 25 years and was previously a ground-breaker in allowing internationals to start banking before they had been given their citizen service number (BSN), an essential document on the road to Dutch residency.

Same day activation

Now the bank has gone one step further, so that newly arrived expats no longer have to prove their Dutch address before getting their money organised. That means EU and EEA clients can now open their accounts online and start using them immediately.

This same day account activation means you can receive payments, transfer money and start managing your finances on the same day as you sign up. Users can also link their new account directly to Apple Pay or Google Pay so they can start paying for goods and services without having to wait for their physical debit card to arrive.

“Our goal is to make financial life in the Netherlands easier for expats — with clear, practical advice you can apply immediately,” says Laura Wetser, ABN AMRO’s head of financial health. This strategy has allowed the bank to take the digital lead without forgetting the human touch – as a high street bank with a state-of-the-art mobile banking app.

A €125 incentive and many more benefits

And if you think banks are all about taking your money and doing little in return, ABN AMRO is offering new clients up to €125 on opening their first account to help them pay for all those little expenses which keep cropping up.

Open an account and receive up to €125.

ABN AMRO account holders also have access to the bank’s English language International Client Desk, where advisers are on hand and ready to answer any questions about savings, investments and pensions in the Netherlands. The service is free of charge, with no strings attached.

If you are planning to move to the Netherlands in the coming months or have recently arrived and want to know more about managing your finances the Dutch way, ABN AMRO is hosting a free seminar on March 23 about keeping fit financially. Sign up here

“Understanding Dutch finances doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right guidance, expats can feel at home here much faster,” says the bank’s head of sales, Harm van de Minkelis.