ING vs bunq vs ABN AMRO: Choosing a Dutch Bank Account as a Newcomer
ING and ABN AMRO are traditional Dutch banks with physical branches plus apps, both offer English-language websites, though ABN AMRO's English resources and dedicated expat support go further than ING's. bunq is an app-only bank built specifically around newcomers, no branches at all, onboarding in minutes, multilingual support, and pricing tiers from a free account up to Elite at 18.99 EUR a month, which adds features like fee-free currency exchange (ZeroFX) and multiple IBANs in one app. All three (along with Revolut) let you open an account before you have a BSN, provided you submit it within roughly 90 days, a separate detail covered in full elsewhere on this site. Whichever bank you choose, your deposits are protected up to 100,000 EUR per person per bank under the EU-wide Deposit Guarantee Scheme, so the real decision comes down to whether you want a physical branch and traditional banking relationship or a fully digital, app-first experience, not which one is objectively safer.
The Official Rule
All three of these are legitimate, fully licensed banks operating in the Netherlands, and your money is protected the same way no matter which you choose: under the EU-wide Deposit Guarantee Scheme, deposits are protected up to 100,000 EUR per person, per bank, according to newcomer banking guidance from ACCESS NL. That protection applies equally to a branch-based bank like ING or ABN AMRO and to an app-only bank like bunq, so safety isn’t really the variable that should drive your decision, the practical banking experience is.
What Actually Differs Between Them
| ING | bunq | ABN AMRO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branch access | Yes, traditional branch network plus app | None, entirely app-based | Yes, traditional branch network plus app |
| English support | English-language website available | Multilingual app, described as usable "in the language of your choice" | More comprehensive English resources than ING, per ACCESS NL |
| Onboarding speed | Standard account opening process | Reportedly minutes, fully remote, no paperwork or branch visit | Standard process, with a dedicated FAQ for clients without a BSN |
| Pricing structure | Fee varies, check current rates directly | Free tier, plus Core, Pro, and Elite tiers up to 18.99 EUR/month | Fee varies, check current rates directly |
Where bunq Genuinely Stands Apart
bunq’s own positioning leans hard into being the newcomer-first option, and the specifics back that up. According to bunq’s own expat page, you can “open a bank account before you unpack,” with onboarding built around a video selfie and no in-person requirement at all. On pricing, bunq publishes four tiers: a genuinely free account, bunq Core at 3.99 EUR/month, bunq Pro at 9.99 EUR/month, and bunq Elite at 18.99 EUR/month, the last aimed specifically at people managing money across borders. Elite includes ZeroFX, which lets you pay in foreign currencies without losing money to exchange markups, and up to 10 free foreign currency transfers a month depending on your plan. The app also supports multiple IBANs within one account, useful for keeping rent, savings, and daily spending visibly separate without opening accounts at different banks.
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Where ING and ABN AMRO Still Win
The app-only model isn’t automatically the right fit for everyone, and this is where traditional banks hold real advantages. If you expect to need in-person help, a mortgage application down the line, cash handling, or simply the reassurance of a physical branch you can walk into, ING and ABN AMRO offer that in a way bunq structurally cannot. Between the two, ACCESS NL’s newcomer banking guide notes that ABN AMRO provides more comprehensive English-language resources than ING, worth factoring in if you expect to need detailed support in English rather than Dutch, though both are described as the two primary retail banks offering English-language websites.
The BSN Overlap, Briefly
All three banks, along with Revolut, let you open an account before you have a BSN, generally requiring you to submit it within about 90 days once you receive one. This is genuinely useful for newcomers but it’s a big enough topic with its own nuances, deadlines, and a specific EEA-residency requirement for bunq, that SettledIn covers it as its own page: see The BSN Catch-22 for the full mechanics, deadlines, and what happens if you miss one.
What Real People and Guides Flag
A recurring, practical point from newcomer banking guides: don’t expect to lean on a credit card the way you might at home. Dutch retailers overwhelmingly favor debit and PIN-based payments, and credit card acceptance is comparatively limited, so most people end up using their everyday debit card, whichever bank issues it, for the bulk of daily spending. It’s also common, and entirely allowed, to hold accounts at more than one bank, some newcomers open a bunq account quickly before arrival purely for the fast, BSN-less onboarding, then add a traditional account later once they’re settled and want branch access or a longer banking relationship.
Step by Step
- Decide what matters more to you: branch access and a traditional banking relationship (ING, ABN AMRO) or fully digital, app-first convenience (bunq).
- Check current fees directly with your shortlisted bank or banks, since pricing structures and rates change and shouldn’t be assumed from any single source.
- If speed before arrival matters, consider bunq’s remote onboarding, keeping in mind bunq specifically requires a Tax Identification Number from an EEA country, covered in detail on the BSN Catch-22 page.
- Gather your documents: valid passport, proof of a Dutch address, and your foreign Tax Identification Number.
- Open your account and start using it, remembering to submit your BSN once you receive one, generally within about 90 days.
- Consider a second account later if your needs change, holding accounts at more than one bank is common and doesn’t cost you anything in deposit protection, which applies per bank.
What You’ll Need
- A valid passport for identity verification with any of the three banks.
- Proof of a Dutch address, requirements vary by bank and your registration status.
- A foreign Tax Identification Number (TIN) from your country of tax residency, required across all three, with an EEA-only restriction specific to bunq.
- A smartphone for app-based onboarding and day-to-day banking, effectively required for bunq and heavily used even at ING and ABN AMRO.
Compliance Note
This page compares the general features, pricing structure, and practical differences between ING, bunq, and ABN AMRO as of 2026, based on each bank’s own published information and independent newcomer banking guidance. It is not financial advice, and it does not constitute an endorsement of any single provider. Fees, plans, and account terms change, confirm current pricing and terms directly with each bank before opening an account or relying on any figure here.
FAQ & Common Pitfalls
Which bank is cheapest?
It depends what you're comparing. bunq publishes a genuinely free tier alongside paid plans up to Elite at 18.99 EUR a month, so on paper it can be the cheapest option if the free tier covers what you need. ING and ABN AMRO's exact current monthly fees vary and change, so rather than repeating a number that may be outdated, check each bank's own current fee page directly before deciding, especially if a rock-bottom monthly cost is your main priority.
Do I need a Dutch bank account at all, or can I use my home country's account?
For day-to-day life, you'll want a Dutch IBAN. Landlords, employers, utility providers, and Dutch government portals like the Belastingdienst generally expect payments and refunds through a Dutch or at least SEPA-compatible account, and having a visibly Dutch account tends to simplify interactions with landlords and institutions who may be less familiar with foreign account details.
Is bunq a real, regulated bank, or something more like a fintech app?
bunq operates as a licensed European bank, not an unregulated fintech wrapper, which is why it can offer full Dutch IBAN accounts and the same EU-wide Deposit Guarantee Scheme protection (up to 100,000 EUR per person) as ING or ABN AMRO. The app-only model is a deliberate design choice, not a sign of lighter regulation.
Can I use a credit card for everyday shopping like I might at home?
Less than you might expect. Dutch shops overwhelmingly favor debit or PIN-based payments over credit cards, and credit card acceptance is more limited than in many other countries, according to newcomer-focused banking guides. Most people end up relying on their everyday debit card for daily spending regardless of which bank they choose, and treat a credit card, if they get one at all, as a secondary option built up over time as they establish a spending history.
Do I have to pick just one bank, or can I use more than one?
Nothing stops you from holding accounts at more than one bank, and some newcomers do exactly that, for example opening a bunq account quickly before arrival for the BSN-less onboarding convenience, then later adding a traditional ING or ABN AMRO account once they want in-person branch access or a longer-term banking relationship. Just remember the 100,000 EUR deposit protection applies per bank, not combined across all your accounts.