ING vs Rabobank for Expats 2026: Which Dutch Bank Is Better?

The ING vs Rabobank question comes up often among expats in the Netherlands. Both are large Dutch banks, and the differences that matter most are how you open the account, what the packages cost, what English-language service you can get and what you need for a mortgage.

💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026, which covers ABN, ING, bunq, Wise, Revolut and others by expat use case.

Quick answer: ING and Rabobank charge similar monthly fees for a basic current account (ING Go €4.00, Rabo Standard €3.60). ING says you can start without a BSN. Rabobank has an expat service in English with specialised mortgage advisers. Add Wise if you regularly send money abroad.

ING vs Rabobank: quick comparison

Rabobank, ABN AMRO and Wise prices were checked on 6 October 2026; the ING price and BSN period were read on ing.nl on 29 September 2026. Prices change, so check the application page.

ING

ING is one of the large Dutch retail banks. Its English application page says you do not need a BSN to get started.

Account types and fees

ING Go is the entry package at €4.00 a month. ING also sells higher packages (More, Extra and Max) with more features at higher prices. For most expats the entry package covers a debit card, online banking and the app; compare the packages on ing.nl before you pay for extras you already have, such as travel insurance through your employer or health insurer.

Opening an account

ING says you can start without a BSN. If you apply with a non-EEA passport, you must provide your BSN (at an ING Service Point) and a Dutch address within 90 days. That helps if you arrive before your municipal registration is complete. Check the terms that apply to your passport when you apply.

International transfers

Transfers inside the SEPA area are the normal route for euro payments. For transfers in other currencies, compare the total cost, meaning the fee plus the exchange rate, with a specialist service such as Wise before you send. ING publishes its fees in its Statement of Fees.

Rabobank

Rabobank is a cooperative bank. Instead of shareholders it has members (Rabobank).

Account types and fees

Rabobank sells packages: Rabo Free (free, ages 18 to 28), Rabo Standard at €3.60 a month and Rabo Comfort at €6.95 a month. On Rabo Standard, cash from Geldmaat ATMs is free, withdrawing euros at a non-Geldmaat ATM costs €0.83 each time, and withdrawing foreign currency at a non-Geldmaat ATM costs €3.50 each time. A credit card costs €2.00 a month extra on Rabo Standard (Rabobank package overview, Dutch page). Rabobank’s English page shows a different price for Rabo Standard in its comparison table, so check the price at sign-up.

Opening an account

Rabobank says you can apply for a payment package online. Its public pages do not state whether you need a BSN first. If you have not yet registered with your municipality, ask Rabobank before you plan around it.

Expat service and language

Rabobank’s expat page says the Rabo App is available in English, that it has English-speaking staff, chat and video banking, and more than 100 local branches. It lists two specialised locations for international customers, at Amstelplein 8 in Amsterdam and Fellenoord 17 in Eindhoven.

Mortgages

Rabobank advertises a free, no-obligation mortgage appointment for people considering buying a home in the Netherlands, with named mortgage advisers at the Amsterdam and Eindhoven locations. Our guide to finding housing covers the property market, and the 30% ruling guide explains how the tax benefit works. Many expats also compare offers through an independent mortgage broker.

Rabobank for business

If you plan to freelance, see our guide to ZZP registration in the Netherlands and check each bank’s business account page.

Comparison by category

1. Opening an account

ING states that you can start without a BSN and that a non-EEA passport holder has 90 days to provide it. Rabobank states that you can apply online but gives no BSN rule. For a newly arrived expat this is the point to check first, because you often need an account for salary and rental deposits within days.

2. Monthly fees

ING Go costs €4.00 and Rabo Standard €3.60, a difference of €0.40 a month, or €4.80 a year. That is small, so the content of the package and the extras you pay for matter more than the headline price.

3. English-language service

Rabobank publishes on its expat page that the Rabo App is available in English and that it has English-speaking staff and specialised locations. For ING, check ing.nl for the current English service options.

4. International transfers

For transfers outside the SEPA area, compare the full cost at your bank with Wise for your own amount and currency.

Compare a transfer with Wise

5. Mortgage services

Rabobank advertises a dedicated expat mortgage service. If a mortgage is likely within a few years, ask both banks what they need from someone with a foreign contract or 30% ruling income, and consider an independent broker.

6. Savings

Both banks pay variable rates, so check the current figure on ing.nl and rabobank.nl. Big-bank savings rates are not always the highest on the market. If interest is a priority, you can also compare fixed-term deposits through Raisin; check the current rates on its site, which is in Dutch.

ABN AMRO as an alternative

ABN AMRO is the third large Dutch retail bank. Its Basisbetaalpakket costs €4.30 a month. ABN AMRO says you can open a personal account without a BSN, as long as you give it within 120 days and register at a Dutch address. See our ING vs bunq vs ABN AMRO comparison if you are weighing those two.

When to add Wise alongside your Dutch bank

You need a Dutch bank account: iDEAL, the standard Dutch online payment method, works through Dutch bank accounts. Your Dutch account does not need to handle everything, though. Adding Wise can make sense in these cases:

You send money abroad regularly. Compare the total cost, meaning the fee plus the exchange rate, at your bank and at Wise for your own amount and currency before each type of transfer.

You receive or hold foreign currency. Wise offers account details in several currencies. Check which currencies and features are available to you in its app.

You spend money abroad. With the Wise card, cash withdrawals are free up to €250 a month, after which a fee of 2.69% of the amount above €250 applies (Wise card fees, checked 6 October 2026). Compare that with your bank’s tariff for foreign payments.

You are waiting for your Dutch bank account. Wise can be opened online. It is not a replacement for a Dutch current account, so check whether a merchant or landlord accepts it before relying on it.

Read our Wise review for expats in the Netherlands for fees, limits and how it fits into your setup.

How your bank choice connects to broader planning

Salary: the average salary in the Netherlands in 2026 gives context for what you might earn and borrow.

The 30% ruling: if you qualify, the 30% ruling affects your net salary and how your income is treated in a mortgage application.

Pension: see the Dutch pension system for how your employer pension and state pension build up.

Housing: the comparison between Funda and Pararius covers searching for a home.

ZZP: if you are freelancing, ZZP registration affects your banking needs.

Cost of living: the cost of living in the Netherlands in 2026 puts banking fees in the context of your monthly budget.

Explore our financial tools for expats for tax calculations, salary benchmarking and cost comparisons.

Conclusion: which Dutch bank should expats choose?

The fees are close, so choose on how you can open the account and what you need next.

Look at ING if:

• You arrive before your BSN is sorted and want a bank that states you can start without it
• You want its entry package, ING Go, at €4.00 a month

Look at Rabobank if:

• You are planning to buy property and want a bank with a dedicated expat mortgage service
• You want a bank with expat locations in Amsterdam or Eindhoven and an English app
• You are 18 to 28 and want the free Rabo Free package

In both cases: compare transfer costs with Wise if you regularly send money outside the SEPA area.

Have questions about banking in the Netherlands? Check out our best bank account guide for expats in 2026 for a broader overview including neobanks and digital-only options.