Banking Archives - Russianvagabond

Are you an international student who newly arrived in the Netherlands? Getting a bank account must be one of the first things on your checklist. While European students can keep using their EU cards, non-EU students will need a local bank account in the Netherlands. Without a European bank, you aren't able to take out cash, pay your bills, or, most importantly - your semester fee. Best banks for international students in the Netherlands: Revolut Bunq ABN AMRO ING Opening a student account in a Dutch bank is a straightforward process. You only need a valid ID and address in some cases. Most online banks don't require any additional documents. However, conventional brick-and-mortar banks will ask for more papers, e.g., your BSN. Bank account for international students in the Netherlands Most retail banks in the Netherlands offer a free account for university students and graduates. To benefit from a free account at the classical Dutch bank, you need to be of a particular age and have confirmation from your university. The age range varies across different banks, but generally, the limit is 30 years old. Most student accounts are free of charge and include consist essential services such as: Payment option Debit card Maestro card ATM cash withdrawals Local and international transfers Access to internet banking and mobile app 1. Revolut Revolut has been my bank of choice since 2018. It’s the best bank you can find in the Netherlands and in Europe overall. Besides, it’s the fastest-growing digital bank with the widest range of features. For everyone who is traveling abroad, this is the best option. Revolut is based in the UK; hence, all its services run in English. Besides the Netherlands and the UK, Revolut is available for everyone living in EEA countries, Switzerland, Australia, and since March 2020 in the US as well. The bank account and services are totally free. After you sign up for an account, Revolut will send you your debit card anywhere you wish to. If you once go traveling and pay in a different currency, bank won’t charge additional fees for it, and it will also convert your money at the best possible rate (for you!). Honestly, having a debit card and bank account with Revolut has been a massive help for me while living abroad, but also while traveling all over the world. The main perks you get when getting a Revolut: Free multicurrency, international bank account Free debit card - you pay only for a delivery Credit card is optional IBAN for Sepa transfers Free money transfers 24/7 Free multicurrency payments Free withdrawals worldwide Easy instant top-up Instant transfers/payments Fantastic app with a great user interface and simple navigation Customer support via chat 24/7 If a standard free account isn’t enough for you, you can check their premium plans. Revolut has two premium tiers. The first is called Premium, and it costs 7.99 EUR per month. The second is called Metal and costs 13.99 EUR. Paying this monthly price will get you a chick metal card. Things to know: Cash withdrawals in the Netherlands and abroad Withdrawing money from any ATM is free for up to 200 EUR per month; after that, it costs 2%. Read our full review on Revolut. https://russianvagabond.com/revolut-germany-review/ 2. Bunq Bunq's packages Bunq is a Dutch digital bank and our favorite choice for all non-dutch speakers in the Netherlands. This bank is the best for the younger generation, with no paperwork, a fantastic mobile app, great customer experience, and elegant design. Hence, Bunq is the number one bank for all expats and international students out there. They provide all services and customer support in English, allowing you to open & manage your account 100% online. Bunq was founded in the Netherlands and has expanded to all European countries. You can use their cards while traveling in Europe and beyond at zero additional costs. Their banking offers are innovative, simple, and inexpensive. It also provides cheap international transfers (non-EU) via Wise and interest on savings in your account. Besides, you can use your account and card in 6 different languages and in all European countries and beyond. Bunq offers: Affordable bank accounts starting from free Cheap cash withdrawals Dutch IBAN Free Maestro and Mastercard plus virtual card Free transfers and incoming transfers International money transfers with Wise Interest paid on the card balance - 9x more than you get in other banks Deposit protection for up to 100,000 EUR Top up your balance with IDEAL for free Fantastic user interface and simple navigation Special account for freelancers Customer service in English, Dutch and other languages Quick card delivery You can choose between a free saving account, a cheap account for just 2,99 EUR, or a premium for 8,99 EUR. A saving account doesn't include a debit card, but it's good enough if you only need mobile banking. But with a premium account, you get: free cash withdrawals 25 sub-accounts 3 debit cards including Mastercard and Maestro free travel card and many other perks Moreover, Bunq offers a 1-month free trial so that you can test the product. FeaturePriceMonthly costFree to 2,99 EUR for standard features International debit cardFreeSEPA transfersFree and in different currencies Cash withdrawals in EUR0,99 EUR per transactionCash withdrawals in foreign currencies0,99 EUR per transactionPayments in EURFreeIn-store card payments in foreign currencies1,5% of the transaction plus 0,5% or 0,5%depending on the packageBalance top-up Free with IDEAL and SOFORT, otherweise 0,5%Contactless paymentsFree In contrast to other Dutch banks, Bunq doesn’t require BSN (citizen service number) to sign up; you just need your ID. 3. ABN AMRO ABN AMRO is one of the largest banks in the Netherlands. Among traditional banking institutions, AMRO is suited best for students since they speak English and offer free student account. The student package is available for people aged 18 to 30 enrolled in Dutch universities. AMRO also provides free mobile and online banking. Besides the bank account, students can apply for a credit card. However, you can open an account only after arrival and with BSN. However, AMRO only operates within the Netherlands, so it might not be the best solution for frequent travelers. ABN AMRO offers: Free payments and withdrawals Optional credit card for just 1,70 EUR per month 24/7 support Mobile banking FeaturePriceMonthly costFree for students International debit cardFree MastercardSEPA transfersFreeCash withdrawals in EURFree Cash withdrawals in foreign currenciesFee of 2,25 EUR + 1,2% commission Payments in foreign currenciesFee of 0,15 EUR + 1,2% commissionCredit card1,70 EUR Things to know You pay a commission of 0,5% for depositing cash into your account Unfortunately, despite its high popularity in the Netherlands, ABN AMRO receives negative feedback from its customers, averaging 1,2 out of 5 stars. Read reviews here. So you want to make sure to check out other options for students in the Netherlands before signing up with this bank. 4. ING ING is a Dutch multinational bank that also provides accounts for students in the Netherlands. Fortunately, their website and app have English versions. Besides, students benefit from a free bank account and affordable credit card with 1,000 EUR in balance. You can use your free student account for up to five years; after that, a small monthly fee applies. Similar to AMRO, ING requires BSN as well as confirmation from your university. To open an ING account, you need to visit one of their branches in the Netherlands or submit scanned documents online. That's why we always choose digital banks - the ease of application and speed beat all conventional institutions. ING offers: Free bank account for students English speaking service Free bank account for students Mobile app Credit card for just 1,55 EUR per month FeaturePriceMonthly costFree for studentsInternational debit cardFree MastercardSEPS transfersFreeCash withdrawals in The Netherlands/EUR Free in all Dutch ATMsCash withdrawals abroad 2,50 EUR fee + 1,2% commissionPayments in foreign currencies1,2% per transactionCredit card1,55 EURContactless paymentsFree Things to know Not all information is available in English High fees for overdrafts and overseas cash withdrawals Similar to ABN AMRO, ING receives shockingly negative feedback from its customers.