My bank blocked my account — what do I do?
Bank accounts increasingly blocked under Wwft (Anti-Money Laundering Act): (1) Call your bank immediately — usually identity-verification issue. Provide passport/ID + income proof. Bank can unblock within 24-72h on valid documents. (2) Request written explanation: “Please specify in a letter the exact reason for blocking and which documents are needed for unblocking.” Bank must motivate. (3) Kifid (Financial Services Complaints Institute): 070-333 7777, free, binding for <€1,000,000 cases. Procedure 3-6 mo. (4) DNB complaint: on suspected structural Wwft errors (e.g. discriminatory blocking by nationality). (5) Interim injunction county court: for acute damage (rent, salary, livelihood). Court fee €87. Judgment within 2-4 weeks. (6) Prevent: stay active (no long inactivity), proactively update ID before big international transfers.
Step by step
- 1Call bank customer service urgentlyING 020-22 25525, Bunq via app, ABN 0900-0024, Rabobank 0900-0900. Specifically ask for “account blocking, identity verification dept.”
- 2Provide requested documentsPassport/ID, BSN, salary (3-mo payslips), foreign pension proof, deed/rental contract. Upload via secure portal or in-app upload. Keep upload confirmation.
- 3Request written justificationLetter to bank office: “Request for written explanation of blocking on account [no.] of [date] and which documents are needed for unblocking. No response within 14 days: Kifid complaint.”
- 4No solution: Kifid070-333 7777 or online at kifid.nl. Free for consumers. Binding on <€1,000,000 cases. Procedure 3-6 mo, mediators often work quickly to pressure bank.
- 5Acute damage: interim injunctionOn imminent homelessness, dismissal, or threat to subsistence from no money access: summary proceedings county court. Court fee €87. Judgment 2-4 weeks. Court can order bank to partial unblock.
All contacts
Frequently asked questions
Why does my bank block my account without reason?
Wwft requires banks to “de-risk”: accounts with unclear income, long inactivity, or suspected money-laundering patterns get blocked. Often: long absence from NL, sudden large deposits, or new-employer-without-update.
Can I still pay essentials during the block?
Bank must allow on serious need (rent, energy bill) payment to be allocated to that purpose. Request “humanitarian release” in conversation. Otherwise: open at another bank (Bunq/Revolut fast, ~7 days).
How long does Wwft blocking typically last?
Standard 5-30 days after providing documents. More complex (foreign pension, large asset transfer): 2-4 months. On bank refusal: Kifid typically speeds to 1-2 months.
Can bank close account permanently?
Yes, “unilateral termination” with cause. Can't do arbitrarily — bank must give 4-week written notice. On wrongful: interim injunction + Kifid. Discriminatory termination (nationality) is legally prohibited.
Can bank permanently close my account without reason?
With 4-wk notice: yes. But discriminatory closure (nationality, money source) is legally forbidden. On refusal to explain: Kifid + DNB. Discrimination cases: Netherlands Institute for Human Rights.
How fast can I open backup account?
Bunq: 5 min via app. Revolut: 10 min. ING/ABN/Rabobank: 1-2 weeks appointment. Tip for expats + freelancers: always have 2 banks for risk spread. Bunq + Revolut most popular backup 2026.
Sources
🔎 Common search queries
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