Basic Bank Account

De basisbankrekening is voor personen die volgens de wet geen recht meer hebben op The basic bank account is for people who, according to the law, are no longer entitled to a basic payment account or who are dependent on a recognized social worker for their banking and payment matters. A basic bank account includes basic services such as internet banking and mobile banking, account-to-account transfers, direct debits, and a debit card. iDEAL is usually included as well. The basic bank account falls under the Agreement on a package of primary payment services.

Target group

• Vulnerable people who, according to the bank’s duty of care, need help with applying for and using a payments account. These people may be struggling with addiction or serious debt, for example.
• People who are no longer legally entitled to a regular payments account. These are often people whose last regular payments account was closed because it was misused for fraud or money laundering.

Conditions for consumers

• The person applying for the account is 18 years of age or older or has a declaration of majority from a juvenile court.
• The applicant has a citizen service number (BSN)(opens in new window) . Asylum seekers without a BSN can sometimes apply for a regular payments account, possibly through the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) .
• The applicant has a permanent place of residence or abode in the Netherlands, or a postal address at a government agency or recognized social services agency in the Netherlands.
• The applicant has a valid identity document recognized by the Netherlands.
• The applicant has a valid reason for needing a Dutch IBAN. This is referred to as a genuine interest, for example, if they have immediate family ties in the Netherlands, or if they are working or studying in the Netherlands.
• The applicant does not have any other Dutch payments account (including jointly with someone else) and has not applied for one.
• The applicant cannot open any other type of payments account.
• The applicant applies for the basic bank account at the bank where they last had a payments account.
• The applicant has not previously had a basic bank account that was closed because the account holder did not comply with the bank’s terms and conditions.
• The bank must be able to comply with the requirements set out in the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act(opens in new window) .
• If the applicant has been involved in financial crimes in the previous 8 years, the bank may require them to submit the application together with a recognized social worker.

Conditions for banks

• The banks offering the basic bank account have signed the Covenant on a package of primary payment services.
• A bank that offers basic bank accounts will process an application if it was the applicant’s last bank or if the applicant’s last bank does not participate in the Covenant.
• Banks that offer basic bank accounts will only accept the fully completed application form available at www.basisbankrekening.nl(opens in new window) by post.
• A bank must continue to comply with its legal obligations when offering a basic bank account. This includes establishing and verifying the identity of the account holder.
• A bank may not offer an account to anyone who is on a national or international sanctions list.

Features of a basic bank account

• The payments account is in euros.
• The account holder can pay with a debit card at points-of-sale (such as shops).
• The account holder can pay online with a debit card.
• The account holder can withdraw cash from an ATM.
• The account holder can deposit cash.
• The account holder can receive money via transfers.
• The account holder can make transfers themselves.
• The account holder can pay by direct debit.
• The number of payment transactions is unlimited.
• The account holder can use internet banking and mobile banking.

Apply

Answer a few questions and read our recommendation(opens in new window) (in Dutch) on our website for the basic bank account.

Please read our explanation(opens in new window) (in Dutch) carefully before completing and submitting an application for a basic bank account.