💳 Choosing a Bank in the Netherlands

When you first move to the Netherlands, it is essential to open a Dutch bank account to manage your day-to-day expenses, receive your salary, and handle transactions.

📱 My Personal Banking Experience

When I arrived in the Netherlands, my FNB Visa card didn’t work at many stores. While waiting for my BSN number to open a Dutch account, I opened a Revolut account. This is possible without a BSN and Revolut made managing my finances easy, and I still use them today because of their flexibility.

If you struggle to make payments from your South African bank account, I transferred my funds from FNB to Wise and then from Wise to Revolut because the Wise card only works at some stores in the Netherlands. This is the approach that many of my friends and I used during the transition.

Revolut:

• Multi-Currency Support: Revolut allows me to easily manage multiple currencies, which is helpful for online shopping and travel.
• Affordable Transfers: I can send money to South Africa for as little as €6.
• Investment Options: They also offer the ability to invest in crypto and stocks, which I appreciate.
• Excellent Exchange Rates: I’ve found their exchange rates to be very competitive.

Note: If you'd like to try Revolut, you can use my affiliate link below.

Other Options:

🏦 Bank Options for Expats

1. Wise (formerly TransferWise):
   • Pros:
     • Low fees for international transfers.
     • Multi-currency accounts available.
   • Cons:
     • Not a full-service bank.
     • Limited traditional banking services.

Note: If you'd like to try Wise, you can use my affiliate link below

Traditional banks