Students will be able to open a bank accountas soon as they are officially registered at the local cityhall and have obtained their Belgian residence permit. Make sure you can access your home account during the first month in Antwerp.
Opening a bank account
To open a bank account in Belgium, you will need the following documents:
- Passport or Belgian identity card
- Bank account application form (completed and signed)
- Some banks will request a proof of address in Belgium
Please note that additional documents may be requested by the bank, depending your personal situation.
Most banks have multiple branches in the city centre. They are mostly open between 9 a.m. and 12 noon and then again between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Some banks offer evening opening by appointment.
Bank services
Once the account has been opened, it can take up to two weeks to receive your bank card, PIN codes and the passwords necessary for managing the account. Bank statements are generally sent out monthly or can be consulted online.
Once you have a current account, you can carry out all standard bank transactions in Belgium. You can also request a credit card but some banks may wait a while to check whether you have sufficient deposits coming into your bank account before issuing you with a credit card.
Most banks offer a variety of packages for a monthly or annual fee, which includes the fees for bank cards, internet banking access, some transactions at ATMs and usually some form of account insurance.