Best Bank in the Netherlands 2026: 7 Compared for Expats

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

Which Regional Banks Have the Lowest Fees and Best Customer Service?

Short answer: the Dutch regional banks no longer exist as separate brands. Since 1 July 2025 SNS, RegioBank and BLG Wonen continue together as ASN Bank, and the former RegioBank offices switched to the ASN name on 1 December 2025. ASN charges EUR 4.00 a month (up from EUR 3.65 on 1 February 2026); Rabobank’s Rabo Standaard costs EUR 3.60. On customer service, RegioBank topped the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor every year since 2017, and ASN, Knab and Triodos score above the big three. The catch for expats: ASN and Triodos are Dutch-language first. ABN AMRO (EUR 4.30 a month) runs an International Client Desk with English-speaking advisers.

What that means in practice, depending on what you optimise for:

• Local advisers with top customer-satisfaction scores: ASN Bank (formerly RegioBank and SNS), EUR 4.00 a month. Most useful if you speak some Dutch.
• High customer-satisfaction scores among the Dutch banks: ASN Bank (8.9), Knab (8.4) and Triodos (8.2) score above Rabobank and ABN AMRO (7.2) and ING (7.0) in the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor; of the digital banks, Revolut scores 8.7. ASN, Knab and Triodos are Dutch-primary.
• English advice at a nationwide bank: ABN AMRO at EUR 4.30 a month, with its International Client Desk for questions about savings, investments and pensions.
• Lowest fee at a nationwide bank: Rabobank, whose Rabo Standaard (EUR 3.60 a month) replaced the DirectPakket and BasisPakket in January 2026. Rabobank also has a free Rabo Free account.

The difference between Rabobank’s EUR 3.60 and ABN AMRO’s EUR 4.30 is EUR 0.70 a month, or EUR 8.40 a year. A single online transfer outside SEPA at ABN AMRO costs EUR 9 plus an exchange-rate margin. Weigh language support and transfer costs before the monthly fee.

What Is a Regional Bank in the Netherlands?

“Regional bank” in a Dutch context does not mean a bank that only operates in one province. It is the label the market uses for the branch-and-adviser banks that sit outside the big three (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank): traditionally RegioBank, SNS Bank and ASN Bank, all part of de Volksbank, plus independents such as Triodos Bank and the online bank Knab.

That landscape has shrunk. Since 1 July 2025 SNS, RegioBank and BLG Wonen continue together as ASN Bank, and the former RegioBank offices switched to the ASN name on 1 December 2025. If you are comparing “regional banks” in 2026, you are really comparing ASN Bank, Triodos and Knab against the big three.

RegioBank, SNS Bank and ASN Bank: Current Account Fees and Customer Service

Fees. There is no separate RegioBank or SNS Bank current account fee to compare any more. The ASN Bank current account costs EUR 4.00 per account per calendar month since 1 February 2026, up from EUR 3.65 (ASN tariff overview, checked 29 September 2026). That is just below ABN AMRO at EUR 4.30 and above Rabobank at EUR 3.60.

Customer service. RegioBank topped the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor every year since 2017, sharing first place with ASN in 2018. In the current Bankenmonitor ASN scores 8.9, Knab 8.4 and Triodos 8.2, against 7.2 for Rabobank and ABN AMRO and 7.0 for ING.

The expat catch. ASN Bank is Dutch-first. If you speak some Dutch, or you have a Dutch-speaking partner, the combination of a low fee and high satisfaction scores is attractive. If you do not, check how much of the service is available in English before you switch.

Knab and Triodos: Fees and Service for Expats

Knab. Knab is an online bank and a trade name of the Austrian bank BAWAG, aimed at freelancers and independent professionals. Its personal account costs EUR 6 a month and its sole-trader business account EUR 7 a month (knab.nl, checked 29 September 2026). Knab scores 8.4 in the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor, but it is primarily a Dutch-language bank.

Triodos. Triodos Bank is an ethical bank. Its current account costs EUR 5 a month from age 26, EUR 3.50 from 23 to 25 and nothing from 18 to 22 (triodos.nl, checked 29 September 2026). It scores 8.2 in the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor; check how much English support it offers before you switch.

Main Banks in the Netherlands: Lowest Fees and Best Customer Service Compared

The lowest fees among the branch banks are therefore at Rabobank (Rabo Standaard EUR 3.60, and the free Rabo Free), and among the digital providers at bunq Free, Wise and N26 Standard, which charge no monthly fee on their entry tiers. Among the Dutch banks, the highest customer-satisfaction scores in the Consumentenbond survey go to the smaller banks: ASN, Knab and Triodos (Revolut, at 8.7, scores between ASN and Knab). For English-language advice, ABN AMRO has its International Client Desk.

The spread between Rabobank’s and ABN AMRO’s basic package is EUR 0.70 a month. One online transfer outside SEPA at ABN AMRO (EUR 9 plus a margin) costs more than a year of that difference, so weigh language support and transfer costs first.

Banks People Ask About That We Do Not Rank Here

NIBC, Nationale-Nederlanden Bank, Handelsbanken, Van Lanschot Kempen and the private banks are not compared on this page. Check each bank’s own site for whether it offers a current account to new customers in the Netherlands.

If you are switching between any two Dutch banks that take part in the Overstapservice, see our guide to bank switching in the Netherlands.

Quick Comparison Table

Sources: the providers’ own tariff and help pages, ing.nl, abnamro.nl, Rabobank’s tariff overview (July 2026), help.bunq.com, n26.com, revolut.com/en-NL, wise.com and the iDEAL issuer list on ideal.nl, all checked 29 September 2026.

Which Is the Best Bank in the Netherlands for Expats?

The best bank in the Netherlands for an expat depends on your registration and on what you need. Before you have a BSN, bunq lets you start and add your tax ID within 90 days, ING lets you start and provide the BSN within 90 days (non-EEA passport), and ABN AMRO lets you open an account if you are registered at a Dutch address and provide the BSN within 120 days. For transfers abroad, a Wise account is an option alongside either.

Our picks in short:

1. For international transfers: Wise (not a Dutch bank account)
2. Digital bank for daily use in the Netherlands: Bunq
3. Traditional bank with English advice: ABN AMRO

A common set-up is two accounts: a Wise account for international transfers and currency conversion, plus a traditional Dutch bank or bunq for everyday Dutch banking.

1. Wise – For International Transfers

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a payment institution for sending, receiving and converting money. It is not a bank: in the EU it is Wise Europe SA, an authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium.

Key Features

• Account details for receiving money: you can receive payments, such as salary, into your Wise account
• Multi-currency account: hold and convert 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate
• Transfer fees shown up front: on 29 September 2026 Wise’s own price calculator showed a total fee of EUR 3.87 on EUR 500 to USD and about GBP 33 on GBP 10,000 to EUR (roughly 0.3-0.8%)
• No subscription fee: signing up is free; you pay when you convert currency or send money
• Debit card: EUR 7 one-off for residents of the Netherlands; free ATM withdrawals up to EUR 250 a month, then 2.69%

Opening Requirements

Wise lets you sign up online. Which features you can use depends on your country of residence and verification; Wise has a feature availability checker on its site.

Limitations

• Not a bank: Wise states that its payment services are not subject to the Belgian Deposit Guarantee Scheme
• Not an iDEAL issuer, so you cannot pay with iDEAL from a Wise account
• No branches

Our Verdict

If you send money abroad or hold other currencies, a Wise account alongside a Dutch bank account shows you the fee before each transfer. For iDEAL and everyday Dutch payments you still need an account with an iDEAL issuer.

Open Your Free Wise Account →

2. Bunq – Digital Bank for Dutch Daily Life

Bunq is a Dutch digital bank that offers a Dutch bank account opened in its app, with no BSN needed to start.

Key Features

• Multiple accounts: up to 25 bank accounts with their own IBANs on Pro and Elite
• Trees: bunq plants a tree for every EUR 1,000 spent with a bunq card
• iDEAL: bunq is on the iDEAL issuer list
• International transfers: bunq uses Wise for credit transfers in other currencies

Plans and Pricing

bunq retired the Easy Bank / Easy Money / Easy Green names. Current personal plans (checked 29 September 2026, bunq Help: What plans are available):

• bunq Free: EUR 0.00 per month — up to 3 bank accounts with their own IBANs, 1 digital card, no physical card
• bunq Core: EUR 3.99 per month — up to 5 bank accounts, 1 digital plus 1 physical card, Mastercard rate plus a 0.5% markup on spending in other currencies
• bunq Pro: EUR 9.99 per month — up to 25 bank accounts with IBANs, 25 digital and 3 physical cards
• bunq Elite: EUR 18.99 per month — top personal plan
• bunq Pack: EUR 28.99 per month — group plan (4x Pro Personal, or 3x Pro Personal plus 1 Pro Business)

Business plans: bunq Free EUR 0.00, Core EUR 7.99, Pro EUR 13.99, Elite EUR 23.99 per month.

Opening Requirements

• Valid passport or EU ID
• No BSN needed to start: bunq asks for your tax ID within 90 days of signing up, after which the account is temporarily limited
• bunq says you can sign up even before moving to the Netherlands (from outside the EEA you can start the signup and finish it on your moving date; help.bunq.com)

Limitations

• Paid plans cost more than the cheapest traditional packages (bunq Core EUR 3.99, Pro EUR 9.99)
• No branches

Our Verdict

If you want a Dutch bank account in an app that you can start before your BSN arrives, Bunq is an option. bunq Free costs nothing; Pro at EUR 9.99 adds up to 25 accounts and 3 physical cards.

3. N26 – Free Digital Bank Account

N26 is a German digital bank with a full German banking licence from BaFin.

Key Features

• Free basic account: EUR 0 per month with a virtual debit card
• Spaces: sub-accounts for saving toward specific goals
• ATM withdrawals: 2 free euro withdrawals a month on Standard; free withdrawals outside the eurozone on Go
• International transfers: powered by N26’s partner Wise
• iDEAL: N26 Bank SE is on the iDEAL issuer list

Plans and Pricing

• Standard: EUR 0 per month (virtual card)
• Smart: EUR 4.90 per month (physical card)
• Go: EUR 9.90 per month (free ATM withdrawals outside the eurozone, travel insurance)
• Metal: EUR 16.90 per month (travel and smartphone insurance)

Prices from n26.com, checked 29 September 2026.

Limitations

• Check the IBAN you receive: some Dutch payers or billers may ask for an NL IBAN, although EU rules say your account may not be refused because it is in another EU country

Our Verdict

N26 Standard is a free account with iDEAL support. It works as a second account; if you want a Dutch bank, choose one of the banks below.

4. ING – Traditional Dutch Bank

ING is one of the three large Dutch banks and is on the iDEAL issuer list.

Key Features

• Full Dutch banking: current accounts, savings, investments, mortgages and insurance
• App in Dutch and English: rated 4.62 on the Dutch App Store (checked 29 September 2026); the app has payment requests and a 35-day forward view
• ATMs: the shared Geldmaat network (same as ABN AMRO and Rabobank)
• iDEAL: yes

Pricing and Opening Requirements

• ING Go: €4.00 a month; ING More EUR 7.00, Extra EUR 15.99, Max EUR 44.99
• Free euro cash withdrawals on all four plans
• Credit card optional with ING Go (ING Credit Card More EUR 2.00 a month), included from ING More
• No BSN needed to start: with a non-EEA passport you provide your BSN (at an ING Service Point) and Dutch address within 90 days; a non-EEA passport may also require a valid MVV
• Apple Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay available straight after opening

Sources: ing.nl open-an-account and expat pages, checked 29 September 2026. ING’s fees for payments outside the euro area are on its rates page.

Limitations

• Lowest score of the big banks in the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor (7.0)
• Not all of ing.nl is in English yet; ING says the Dutch text prevails

Our Verdict

ING is a full-service Dutch bank with an English-language app that you can open before your BSN arrives. ING Go (€4.00) sits between Rabobank’s EUR 3.60 and ABN AMRO’s EUR 4.30; pair it with a Wise account for international transfers if you send money abroad.

5. ABN AMRO – For English-Speaking Advice

ABN AMRO is one of the three large Dutch banks. It runs an International Client Desk for customers with international situations.

Key Features

• International Client Desk: advisers fluent in English; an appointment is free of charge
• App in Dutch and English: rated 4.61 on the Dutch App Store (checked 29 September 2026)
• Wide product range: current accounts, savings, investments, mortgages, insurance
• iDEAL, Apple Pay and Google Pay

Pricing

• BasisPakket Betalen: EUR 4.30 per month, including a debit card at EUR 0; one payment package per person
• Credit Card: EUR 2.55 per month
• Online transfer outside SEPA: EUR 9, plus an exchange-rate margin of 0.85% on USD and GBP

Opening Requirements

• Valid passport or EU ID
• An official Dutch home address
• No BSN needed at opening: you provide it within 120 days
• Online application in less than 10 minutes, according to ABN AMRO

Sources: abnamro.nl, checked 29 September 2026.

Our Verdict

ABN AMRO suits expats who are registered at a Dutch address but still waiting for their BSN (it gives 120 days), and those who want English-language advice on savings, investments or pensions.

6. Rabobank – Lowest Traditional Fee

Rabobank is a cooperative bank (Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.).

Key Features

• Cooperative model: owned by its members
• Full banking services: current accounts, savings, mortgages, insurance
• ATMs: withdrawing at a Geldmaat ATM is free of charge
• iDEAL: yes

Pricing

• Rabo Standaard with debit card: EUR 3.60 per month (tariff overview July 2026; EUR 3.45 in January 2026)
• Rabo Free: EUR 0.00

Our Verdict

Rabobank has the lowest fee of the three large banks. Check how much of its service is available in English before you choose it.

Rabobank, ING and ABN AMRO Compared: Lowest Fees and English Support

Lowest fees: Rabobank’s Rabo Standaard costs EUR 3.60 a month, ING Go €4.00 and ABN AMRO’s BasisPakket EUR 4.30.

English support: both the ING and ABN AMRO apps are available in English (Apple App Store). ABN AMRO adds an International Client Desk for questions about savings, investments and pensions, and a phone team for expats, non-residents and US persons.

Satisfaction: in the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor Rabobank and ABN AMRO score 7.2 and ING 7.0, the lowest of the banks surveyed.

For the smaller and former regional banks — ASN Bank, Knab and Triodos — see the regional banks section above.

7. Revolut – For Frequent Travellers

Revolut operates in the Netherlands through Revolut Bank UAB, which holds a banking licence in Lithuania and is on the iDEAL issuer list (ideal.nl, checked 29 September 2026). It scores 8.7 in the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor.

Pricing and Features

Revolut’s Dutch site lists five plans: Standard (free), Plus (EUR 3.99 a month), Premium (EUR 10.99), Metal (EUR 19.99) and Ultra (EUR 65). It advertises a local IBAN, and its banking services in the Netherlands are provided by the Dutch branch of Revolut Bank UAB. Revolut says opening an account does not guarantee access to all services in the app, as some depend on additional eligibility criteria (revolut.com/en-NL, checked 29 September 2026).

Our Verdict

Revolut can be a secondary account for travel and spending in other currencies. Confirm its current terms before you choose it as your primary bank in the Netherlands.

Expat Banking in the Netherlands: Requirements, Students and Non-Residents

Three variations on “which is the best bank account for expats in the Netherlands” come up often, and they have different answers.

What do you need to open a bank account in the Netherlands as an expat?

It differs per bank. ING lets you start before your BSN arrives and, with a non-EEA passport, asks for the BSN within 90 days. ABN AMRO asks for an official Dutch home address and lets you provide your BSN within 120 days. bunq lets you start without a BSN and asks for your tax ID within 90 days. Check the live onboarding terms of any provider before you rely on the account or the card. If your BSN has not arrived yet, our guide on opening a Dutch bank account without a BSN covers the options, and how to open a bank account in the Netherlands walks through the full process.

Which bank account is best for international students in the Netherlands?

Students have a different priority list: no monthly fee matters more than a mortgage relationship. Triodos, for example, charges nothing from 18 to 22, and bunq Free and N26 Standard cost nothing. We compare that case separately in best Dutch banks for students and young expats and in best bank for international students in the Netherlands.

Can non-residents open a Dutch bank account?

If you are not registered in the Netherlands — you work cross-border, own property here, or are still in the pre-arrival phase — check each bank’s rules. ABN AMRO asks for an official Dutch home address; bunq says you can sign up before moving to the Netherlands (from outside the EEA you can start the signup and finish it on your moving date; help.bunq.com). We set out the options in a Dutch bank account for non-residents.

How this comparison of Dutch banks is made

The ranking on this page is a desk comparison of published fees, published onboarding requirements and English-language service. It is not a survey of consumer reviews: where we quote satisfaction, we name the source, which for Dutch banks is the Consumentenbond Bankenmonitor. For the wider field, see our full comparison of banks for expats. Our method is described in how our comparisons are made.

How to Open Your First Dutch Bank Account: Step by Step

1. Before you have a BSN: open an account you can use without one, for example bunq (tax ID within 90 days), or, once you are registered at a Dutch address, ABN AMRO (BSN within 120 days). A Wise account can handle transfers from abroad, but it is not a Dutch bank account.

2. After registration at the gemeente: once you have your BSN, choose your main Dutch account: a traditional bank or a digital bank such as Bunq or N26.

3. Set up direct debits: link your health insurance, rent (if paid by direct debit) and utility payments to your account.

4. Compare transfer costs: before sending money abroad, compare your bank’s fee and margin with the quote in Wise.

What About iDEAL?

iDEAL is a widely used online payment method in the Netherlands. The official iDEAL | Wero issuer list includes ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, bunq, ASN Bank, Knab, N26 Bank SE and Revolut Bank UAB. Wise is not on that list (ideal.nl, checked 29 September 2026), so you cannot pay with iDEAL from a Wise account.

If you shop online in the Netherlands, an account with an iDEAL issuer is useful. You can keep a Wise account for international use alongside a Dutch bank or Bunq for everyday Dutch payments.

Dutch Banking Practicalities

Dutch Direct Debits (Automatische Incasso)

Many Dutch service providers — landlords, insurers, utilities, subscriptions — collect payment by direct debit (automatische incasso) on a fixed date each month.

IBAN Discrimination

EU rules say your account may not be refused because it is in a different EU country (Your Europe). A Dutch employer, landlord or biller should therefore accept a valid SEPA account from another EU country. If one refuses, you can point to these rules.

Mortgage Planning

If you plan to buy property, ask lenders early what they need from you: contract, income history and bank statements differ per lender. ING and ABN AMRO both let you make an appointment through their websites.

Banking Costs Over Time: An Example

An example for one year, with 2 international transfers of EUR 500 a month from EUR to USD, using the published ABN AMRO tariffs and Wise’s own price calculator on 29 September 2026:

For someone sending EUR 1,000 a month abroad, the difference between ABN AMRO’s tariff and Wise’s quote in this example is about EUR 225 a year. Exchange rates and fees change, so check the quote before each transfer.

For Freelancers (ZZP’ers): Business Banking Considerations

A separate business account keeps your bookkeeping (boekhouding) apart from your personal spending and makes bank statements easier to share with your accountant.

Options for ZZP business accounts: Bunq has business plans from bunq Free Business (EUR 0) to Elite Business (EUR 23.99 a month). Knab’s sole-trader business account costs EUR 7 a month. ING, ABN AMRO and Rabobank also offer business accounts; check their current prices.

See the freelancer ZZP guide for the broader context of Dutch self-employment finances.

Banking Without a BSN: Your First Weeks in the Netherlands

Many new arrivals need an account before their BSN arrives. The options:

Step 1: Open an account that does not need a BSN at the start. bunq lets you start without a BSN and add your tax ID within 90 days; bunq says you can sign up even before moving (from outside the EEA you can start the signup and finish it on your moving date; help.bunq.com). A Wise account can receive and convert money, but it is not a Dutch bank account and does not support iDEAL.

Step 2: Register at the gemeente as soon as possible. Your municipality tells you which documents to bring. Your BSN follows once the registration is processed.

Step 3: Open your main Dutch account. Once you are registered at a Dutch address, ABN AMRO lets you open an account and provide the BSN within 120 days.

Sending Money to Your Dutch Account

Whether you are transferring your savings to the Netherlands for the first time, or regularly moving money between your Dutch account and a home account, the exchange rate and fees matter.

Your home bank: check its sending fee and exchange-rate margin before you transfer; these differ per bank.

Wise: Wise converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee before you send. On 29 September 2026 its price calculator showed about GBP 33 in fees on a GBP 10,000 transfer to EUR (about 0.3%).

Send money internationally with Wise — quoted exchange rate

What Happens to Your Dutch Bank Account When You Leave

Closing your account: redirect any active direct debits and incoming salary payments first, then close the account with your bank.

Keeping your account open: this depends on the bank. ABN AMRO lets you keep a current account while you live abroad but charges a surcharge for non-residents (abnamro.nl, checked 29 September 2026).

Wise account: which features you can use depends on your country of residence; check Wise’s feature availability for your new country.

Tax on departure: when you deregister from a Dutch gemeente, your Dutch tax position changes. Discuss the timing and the effect on box 3 with your accountant or the Belastingdienst.

Related Guides

• Complete Guide to Moving to the Netherlands in 2026 – your full relocation checklist
• Dutch Health Insurance for Expats: Complete Guide 2026 – understand mandatory insurance
• 7 Best Apps to Learn Dutch in 2026 – start learning the language
• DigiD Guide for Expats 2026 – set up your digital identity, needed for DigiD-verified banking tasks

Final Recommendation

Not sure which banking setup suits your situation? Our bank account chooser asks a few quick questions about your needs and suggests a combination for you.

1. Wise for international transfers and currency conversion (not a Dutch bank account)
2. A Dutch bank such as ABN AMRO or Rabobank, or Bunq, as your main account for iDEAL, direct debits and salary

This combination gives you transfers abroad with a fee shown up front, plus iDEAL and direct debits through your Dutch account.

Open Your Free Wise Account →

Dutch Banking: Common Questions from Newly Arrived Expats

Do Dutch banks charge for using ATMs? ING, ABN AMRO and Rabobank use the shared Geldmaat network. At Rabobank, withdrawing at a Geldmaat ATM is free; at ABN AMRO, euro withdrawals are free in the tariff class below EUR 17,500 (above it: EUR 5 plus 0.50%). Abroad, the card’s foreign-currency terms apply: ABN AMRO charges EUR 2.25 plus 1.2% per withdrawal in a foreign currency, and Wise gives free withdrawals up to EUR 250 a month, then 2.69%.

What happens to my Dutch account when I leave the Netherlands? It depends on the bank; ABN AMRO lets non-residents keep a current account but charges a non-resident surcharge. Close accounts you no longer need.

Is Dutch banking secure? Check the deposit guarantee that applies to your bank on the website of De Nederlandsche Bank. Wise is a payment institution, not a bank; Wise states that its payment services are not subject to the Belgian Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

For more on managing your finances in the Netherlands, see the finance apps guide and the Dutch tax system guide. The international money transfer guide covers how to compare costs when moving money across borders. For interest-bearing options, see the best savings accounts for expats in the Netherlands, and for one-off transfers home the guide on the best way to send money from the Netherlands.

The Dutch Banking System: Background Worth Knowing

iDEAL. iDEAL is not a separate card: when you pay online with iDEAL, you confirm the payment in your own bank’s app or website. You need an account with a bank on the iDEAL issuer list; that list includes Dutch banks and also N26 (Germany) and Revolut (Lithuania).

Direct debit (automatische incasso). Dutch companies, landlords, utilities and insurers often collect recurring payments by direct debit. A SEPA direct debit may not be refused because your account is in another EU country.

Rabobank and the cooperative tradition. Rabobank is a cooperative bank, owned by its members rather than by shareholders.