Students will be able to open a bank account as soon as they are officially registered at the local city hall 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 am and 12 noon and then again between 2 pm and 4 pm. Some banks offer evening opening by appointment.
You can start to open a bank account as soon as you have started your registration procedure at the city hall and have received the Annex 15 form. On the basis of this document, you can make an appointment at the bank to open an account. The bank will request you to present your Tax Identification Number (TIN). This is a unique number that is used in your home country for fiscal purposes. If you do not know your Tax Identification Number (TIN), you will need to contact the authorities in your home country to obtain it.
Manual for opening a student bank account at KBC bank
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.
An easy option is to open an online bank account with digital banks such as Revolut, Wise or Nickel.