Opening a bank account in Luxembourg is like a sport for the super-rich, the entire financial industry, and even normal people from all over the world. They’ve all flocked to Luxembourg for decades, parking cash in banks, investment funds, and other vehicles.
But, whether you’re looking to open a private bank account offshore, Swiss bank account opening options, or a Luxembourg private account, private banking can have its challenges.
Note: if you hate free markets, tax efficiency, and capitalism, you should probably stop reading here… Luxembourg will ruffle your feathers.
On the other hand, if you’re an entrepreneur or investor, or you’re interested in protecting your nest egg… then this article is for you.
Over the years, Luxembourg has become a banking powerhouse and an investment fund mecca for high-net-worth individuals. And, it’s an incredibly interesting option for banking, investments, and all things financial.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Non-residents can open a bank account in Luxembourg
- Deposit amounts will vary depending on the bank, branch, and banker
- Required documents to open an account will vary depending on your client profile and banking products and services you are after
- It can be challenging to open a bank account in Luxembourg if you don’t know which bank offers the services you need
- Luxembourg is an attractive option for individuals interested in investment banking products and services
How did it get this way?
In 1929, Luxembourg created special laws for holding companies. But, the world wouldn’t take advantage of it until decades later…
Enter the ‘60s. Eurobonds were the hottest trade in the world. And some banks were finding it tough to get in on the action thanks to their local regulations. So, German banks flocked here for light regulation and non-existent banking laws, and Luxembourg became a Eurobond fund center almost overnight.
Then, Luxembourg introduced another piece of legislation in 1981… this time formalizing banking secrecy.
And, non-resident companies, funds, and investors from neighboring countries started taking notice. Even Belgian dentists, German butchers, and regular everyday people got in on the action.
People were scheduling group trips, popping over to Luxembourg en masse on buses, getting dropped off at Luxembourg banks, and proceeding to buy Eurobonds and other investments. Why? It was tax-free. And, Luxembourg banks were safe and had developed a reputation for low taxes and wealth creation.
Today, this tiny land-locked microstate with 600,000 people is the second richest in the world and has one of the biggest financial centers on the planet.
Yet, most people can’t find it on a map.
Whether you’re an individual, entrepreneur, investor, a massive corporation, or a financial kingpin, Luxembourg is worth paying attention to. Especially if you’re looking for wealth management, or just want a safe place to bank.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Banking in Luxembourg Today
- Who Should a Luxembourg Bank Account?
- Opening an Account in Luxembourg as a Non-Resident
- Best Bank in Luxembourg for Expats
- Opening a Company Bank Account in Luxembourg
- Difficulties & Challenges of Banking in Luxembourg
- Ready to Open an Offshore Bank Account?
Banking in Luxembourg Today
Luxembourg is an offshore financial center on steroids.
Think about it…
Where else in the world can you find private banks like Switzerland, an investment fund industry like Ireland or Cayman, and corporate tax efficiency on par with Bermuda or Netherlands?
One place: Luxembourg.
Literally, Luxembourg is the tax haven that other financial centers use. And, what’s interesting is that normal people (and their businesses) can use it too.
Benefits of Opening a Bank Account in Luxembourg
There’s a wide range of reasons why you might want to open a personal or a company bank account in Luxembourg…
Here are a few highlights:
- Luxembourg is a private banking and investment hub.
- Banks here accept non-residents & foreign companies
- You can get in with $500,000 and sometimes less
- Remote opening is still possible
- Excellent for investments, asset management & wealth structuring
- Certain banks have deposit insurance of €100,000
- A long history of dealing with offshore companies
Alternatively, if you’re looking for information on other popular private banking hubs, like Andorra banks, click here to access our free guide on what you need to know about banking in Andorra.
Do You Want to Explore All Your Offshore Banking Options?
Who Should a Luxembourg Bank Account?
This is a private banking and investment hub. So, regardless of whether you open a bank account in Luxembourg (personal or business), it’s expected that you’ll invest in something.
Generally speaking, people and companies come here for wealth creation, tax structuring, asset protection, creative financing, estate planning, or corporate tax efficiency.
So, if you’re a freelancer making $100,000 per year, look at banks elsewhere. Likewise, if you’re looking for business banking for a non-resident company and don’t have a significant annual turnover, Luxembourg probably isn’t a great choice.
Here are some groups that find banking in Luxembourg useful:
- Companies and high-net-worth clients looking for investment & asset management
- Those interested in private banking & wealth management and have at least $500,000+
- Individuals & companies struggling to bank elsewhere in Europe or other private banking hubs
- Those requiring corporate structuring, tax efficiency, banking, or investment facilities in or via Europe
- Expats working in Luxembourg that require a local bank account
- Trusts, foundations, family offices
- Corporates, banks, investment funds
In the next few sections, we’re going to look at two core groups who are interested in banking in Luxembourg, non-residents and expats. But first, it’s important to note that Luxembourg is not a suitable banking hub for everyone. Fortunately, there are many other private banking jurisdictions to consider, including a Monaco bank account, a Switzerland bank account, an Andorra bank account, and many more.
Opening an Account in Luxembourg as a Non-Resident
Luxembourg, or the Grand Duchy, only has a population of 600,000 people. It’s tiny. Yet, there are 135 banks in the country.
In 2019, Luxembourg’s private banks had about $427 billion under management. And a majority of those assets were from.. non-resident private clients and corporates.
When compared to other countries around the world, it’s clear that Luxembourg banks really like non-residents and foreign companies.
In fact, 42% of all assets under management at private banks in Luxembourg are from non-EU countries.
The point is, that non-EU residents and international companies are welcome in Luxembourg. If, of course, they have enough money to get in (and have the right information and contacts to open accounts).
Can You Open a Virtual Bank Account in Luxembourg as a Non-Resident?
It depends on which bank you approach, the banker you’re dealing with, how much you plan on depositing, and what you plan on doing after the account is open.
In other words, whether or not you can open a personal or a company bank account online in Luxembourg depends on the bank’s internal policy, what type of account you’re opening, and how attractive (or profitable) you are to the bank.
If you’re depositing a few million, GlobalBanks has bankers that will fly to you, sign the papers, and welcome you as a client… literally. And depending on the bank and your risk profile, sometimes an in-person meeting can be waived entirely or done via video call. (If you’re a GlobalBanks Insider and want help, just fill out a request form from your Insider Dashboard and we’ll lay out all the options for you.)
If you’re depositing under $1 million, opening an account in Luxembourg online is still possible. But again, it’s going to boil down to the bank and banker you choose and your risk profile. We discuss how to do this, along with specific banking options and opening solutions in our Premium Banking Reports located in the GlobalBanks Insider Library.
Generally, if you’re depositing enough money and plan on investing, opening an account in Luxembourg online is possible.
Best Bank in Luxembourg for Expats
The best banking options for expats in Luxembourg will ultimately depend on what’s important to you and what type of account you’re opening.
Are you looking for private banking services and asset management? Or do you just want a retail account to receive your salary? Big difference.
Plus, everyone has different priorities. For example…
- Are you working in Luxembourg? If so, do you have a proper work contract?
- Are you already a resident of Luxembourg? Or planning to become one?
- Do you want a retail account for day-to-day transactions and to receive your salary?
On the retail side, the best bank for expats in Luxembourg revolves around ease of opening, fees, service, and maintenance requirements.
For some expats, opening an account online (without visiting Luxembourg) takes precedence over everything. In this case, the bank that allows non-residents to open an account online wins. Unfortunately, for retail banking, most banks will require non-residents to physically come into a branch. But, as always, there are exceptions.
Other times, it’s about speed and how “easy” the process of opening an account is. So, expats here are mainly concerned with what documents are required and how long the process takes from start to finish. Does the bank require you to have a formal employment contract, a specific type of work contract, make a certain amount of money, or particular residency status? If your employer is slow with complying documents, you’re a freelancer, or you just don’t have the right documents, then opening an account might be painfully slow. With this in mind, banks with a less stringent onboarding process might be a fit for you.
Some banks in Luxembourg might require an initial deposit from an existing bank account in a certain country. If you don’t have an account in a pre-approved country, your account in Luxembourg won’t be activated. So, if you can’t meet the pre-existing bank account demands, look elsewhere.
As with everywhere in Europe, EU citizens are going to have an easier time opening retail bank accounts in Luxembourg than non-EU citizens.
So, what’s the best bank for expats in Luxembourg?
There are over 130 banks in Luxembourg, but here are a few popular retail options for expats employees to start:
- ING
- BNP Paribas
- Post Luxembourg
Opening a Company Bank Account in Luxembourg
Yes, opening a company bank account in Luxembourg is possible. But, is it realistic? Not for everyone.
While Luxembourg has catered to foreign non-resident companies for decades, the focus is on asset management and private banking services, not transactional business banking.
So, if you are looking for a bank that will be able to support your business with day-to-day transactional banking, you’ll find better options elsewhere.
In addition, some banks in Luxembourg have specific client preferences, so bank (and banker) selection is critical. For instance, some banks will only consider EU companies and holding structures, or require local (or regional) substance or ties. Meanwhile, other banks are more open-minded, opening a company bank account in Luxembourg for non-EU companies, offshore companies, and sometimes even trading companies.
Some banks will have strict annual turnover and a required deposit level, while others are looser or have none. For instance, if your company has a high annual turnover, the bank will want to see a higher deposit amount.
Typically a high number of outgoing transactions are discouraged either through specific restrictions (e.g. “only 5 outgoing transfers per month”) or high fees.
Difficulties & Challenges of Banking in Luxembourg
Opening an account in Luxembourg isn’t always easy. There are stumbling blocks, cultural considerations, and barriers you’re going to need to overcome… but with a bit of help (and the right information) these are completely avoidable.
To get started, you need to understand each bank’s opening process, preferences, and sensitivities before approaching them. Trying to open an account with $500,000 when the bank requires $5 million will end up being a waste of time.
Some people complain that bankers in Luxembourg can be cold and snooty, and make the process of opening an account difficult. The more likely scenario? They just approached the wrong bank, had no direct contacts, an undesirable risk profile, or simply presented themselves as unprofitable (or problematic).
Here are a few challenges that you should consider before applying for a bank account in Luxembourg:
- Not all banks will open a non-EU company bank account in Luxembourg
- Opening an account can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing
- It can be difficult to find out what is actually required to open accounts (including, minimum deposits)
- What’s considered an acceptable minimum deposit size can vary from banker to banker
- Outgoing transfer fees are sometimes high
- Restrictions on monthly transaction activity
- And banker selection can make or break you
Ready to Open an Offshore Bank Account?
If so, you can access GlobalBanks Insider and start the process of applying for an offshore account in a few clicks.
GlobalBanks Insider is a dedicated account opening solution that involves direct support from our team and direct introductions to the banks of your choosing. It gives you instant access to the…
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And “yes!” GlobalBanks Insider is designed to help foreign and non-resident individuals and companies open bank accounts.
Use this link to see how GlobalBanks Insider can help you successfully open accounts.
