More than 22,500 payment accounts opened for Ukrainian refugees

16 May 2022

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than 22,500 Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands have been able to open a payment account with Dutch payment service providers. That is more than two-thirds of the adults among the estimated 53,000-plus refugees (including minors) registered in the Netherlands so far.

Hand holds smartphone with digital payment apps above open laptop, ready to start online payment in informal working environment.

To open a payment account, a refugee must be aged 18 or over, have a recognised and valid identity document and, in many cases, have received a citizen service number (BSN) from a Dutch municipality. For refugees who do not have an accepted Ukrainian identity document, the government and payment service providers are working together on a reliable and workable solution.

A payment account is essential: it enables a refugee to receive wages or living allowances independently, pay in shops, cafés and restaurants, withdraw cash and, more generally, participate more easily in society. We regret that this is not yet possible in every case and are doing everything we can to reach a solution quickly with the government.

Refugees who cannot yet open a payment account, for example because they do not yet have a recognised identity document, are eligible for a temporary prepaid debit card from the municipality where they are staying. BNG Bank has already supplied 17,000 prepaid debit cards to Dutch municipalities for this purpose. A municipality can load living allowances onto such a card, which the cardholder can use almost anywhere a regular debit card is accepted.