The best banks in the Netherlands

Have you recently moved to or are planning to relocate to the Netherlands? Being an expat if you want to lead a stable life, having a bank account in one of the best banks in the Netherlands is vital. From going shopping to paying your rent, utility bills, or looking for your salary, free bank account the Netherlands is required for all.

The Netherlands has a very stable and diverse banking system. While searching for the banks in the Netherlands, you will be wondering which bank to choose in the Netherlands? Because there are near about 96 national and international banks and more than 140 cooperative Dutch banks. But you need to find out the best bank in the Netherlands that meet your specific requirements.

If we talk about the different types of accounts, then usually there are two types – current account and savings account. But there are various other types of accounts also like credit, loan, etc.

We have selected the best Dutch banks that offer English service and clear contracts to expats and non-Dutchspeakers. We have listed below the criteria by which we have listed a top 4 of the best banks in the Netherlands.

Banking in the Netherlands
      English speaking customer service
      Free creditcard
      Savings account
      Flexible contracts
      Clear contracts (no hidden costs)
      Fair credit rate
      Low withdrawal fees

 

Company
Pro’s /Con’s
Rating
#1 -The best bank for expats
n26 dutch bank
★★★★★
Rating

The best bank for expats and English speaking people – free mastercard, low fees and excellent customer service.

      Free Mastercard
      Hassle-free bank transfers
      English website
      Push notifications with transaction updates
      English speaking customer service
      ✘  Purely online bank
9.3
Visit N26.nl
#2

bnq dutch bank
★★★★★
Rating

Neo bank – one of the fastest growing bank with a great app, English onboarding process, no international ATM withdrawal fees and excellent customer service.

      Instant app notifications
      Great mobile banking app
      Advanced Siri Integrations
      No international ATM withdrawal fees
      English speaking customer service
      ✘  The monthly account fee is relatvily high
8.7
Visit Bunq.nl
#3

ing dutch bank
★★★★★
Rating

The perfect bank if you need more than only a current account (investing / trading advice etc) – English language available in the app and on the website.

      Mobile banking in English language
      Higher interest rates
      English website
      No minimum account opening fees
      English speaking customer service
      ✘  High international ATM withdrawal fees
8.3
Visit ING.nl
#4

rabo
★★★★☆
Rating

Great bank for if you need more than only a current account – personal advice at local branches possible.

      Low minimum opening deposit
      Competitive rates on the various banking products
      Great customer support
      Low interest rates
      English speaking customer service
      ✘  The monthly account fee is quite high

8.0
Visit Rabobank.nl

The best banks in the Netherlands

After moving to the Netherlands, you can open an account in any of your preferred banks. To make it easy for you, we are clubbing here the best bank for expats in Netherlands.

N26

Get the best mobile bank that helps you manage your account anytime, anywhere. Open your account within minutes from your smartphone and save and spend your money as per your requirements. By opening the account in one of the best banks in the Netherlands, you can enjoy all the facilities of the bank that are designed by keeping in mind the modern lifestyles.

Different Plans by N26

You can open two types of accounts in N26 bank: Personal and Business

Personal

  • N26 – Make free ATM withdrawals by opening a standard account for free. You get a debit card that is accepted worldwide.
  • N26 You – The Dutch bank opens your account in this plan at € 9.90/month. In this plan, you can enjoy travel insurance and also get a contactless card in your preferred color from the available ones. You can also enjoy free ATM withdrawals.
  • N26 Metal – Open an account in € 16.90/month, and in addition to getting dedicated customer support, you can also enjoy the N26 plan’s benefits. You will also get a metal card from the three available colors.

Business

  • N26 Business – Get a free business account and ATM withdrawals in Euros. On all your purchases from the N26 Mastercard, you can enjoy a cashback of 0.1%.
  • N26 Business You – The bank opens the account at a minimal charge of € 9.90/month and gives you Mastercard debit in five unique colors. You can make free payments in any currency without being charged any exchange rate.

Advantages

  • Manage your account anytime, anywhere.
  • The bank does not charge you any hidden fees.
  • You stay updated about all your spendings.
  • All your transactions are secured with 3D Secure technology
  • Manage your expenses by getting a better insight into your spendings.

Disadvantage

  • Though it is one of the best banks in the Netherlands, it is aimed more for tech-savvy people.

Visit N26.nl


ING

While doing bank comparison Netherlands, the ING bank offers you a wide range of saving options. Being an expat the banks makes it easier for you to open a bank account in minutes with its English language enabled mobile banking feature.

Advantages

  • Mobile banking in English language.
  • You can download the mobile banking app on your tablet or smartphone for free. It helps you to manage your banking affairs easily.
  • View your balance, confirm your orders, and also do other personal settings on your mobile banking app.
  • Higher interest rates and there is no minimum account opening fees.

Disadvantages

  • The bank charges you ATM withdrawal fees if you are doing transaction oversees.
  • Branch access is difficult.

Visit ING.nl


Bunq

When you are making Dutch banks comparison, you can try Bunq bank that makes your life easier by allowing you to manage money more easily. You can enjoy easy budgeting, easy savings by getting a better insight into your spendings. The bank also predicts your future balance to manage your spendings effectively today.

Advantages

  • Instant notifications always make you aware of every transaction.
  • Change PINs, link your accounts to sub-accounts, or any other changes with your card, bunq lets you enjoy effortless card management.
  • Advanced Siri Integrations lets you have full control over your money with your voice.
  • The bunq app lets you enjoy carefree traveling by guiding you with exchange rates, the card that you need to use, and everything else that is required to make your traveling enjoyable.

Disadvantages

  • The monthly account fee is quite high.
  • The bank lacks providing its customers with excellent customer support.

Visit Bunq.nl


Rabobank

Grow a better world by opening a bank account in the best bank for expats in Netherlands.

Advantages

  • You can open a saving or checking account at a very minimum opening deposit.
  • Enjoy competitive rates on the various certificates of deposits.
  • You can enjoy excellent online banking features that are very quick and easy to use.
  • The bank makes its customers available with excellent customer support and banking products.

Disadvantages

  • The bank offers very low interest rates.
  • The monthly service fee is very high on checking accounts.

Visit Rabobank.nl


Tips and tricks

After shifting to the Netherlands, you should be ready with the following documents to open a bank account in the best banks here:

  • Carry a valid identification proof and also the residence permit if your bank asks for it.
  • You should have your address proof- utility bill and rental contract are usually accepted in the Netherland banks.
  • Also, carry your citizen service number (BSN). This is the number that you receive after registering yourself with the tax office.

These are general requirements that banks usually ask for while opening a bank account. However, it is recommended to confirm with your bank beforehand to avoid any delays in opening the bank account and avail facilities.


Advantages of online banking in the Netherlands

When living in the Netherlands, it is essential to have a bank account since you don’t know when you may need immediate banks. The first step is to figure out the best bank type to choose from. Let us tell you the benefits of online banking in the Netherlands.

Benefits Of Online Banking

Lower Fees: The insignificant infrastructure and lower overhead costs enable banking institutions to pay more interest rates on savings. With online banking, the fees are generally lower since banks do not have to pay the cost and upkeep of their branches, and those savings are provided to the customers.

Easily Pay Bills Online: One of the Netherlands’ top benefits of online banking is paying bills online. All you will need to do is to log into the account and pay the bills immediately.