Bunq Review 2026

What is bunq?

bunq is a Dutch digital bank founded in Amsterdam in 2012. It calls itself the "Bank of The Free" — and with good reason. bunq holds a full Dutch banking licence (one of the very few digital banks in Europe to do so) and is covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) up to €100,000.

What makes bunq unique is that it's one of the only fully licensed EU banks that lets you open an account without a local address or proof of EU residency.

Is bunq good for expats?

bunq is particularly strong for expats who need a real EU IBAN before they have a local address. If you're moving to the Netherlands, Belgium, or elsewhere in the EU and need to set up direct debits or receive a salary before you have a registered address, bunq is the only licensed bank that makes this possible.

The multiple Budget accounts (up to 25) are also great for expats managing multiple financial goals — rent, emergency fund, travel budget — in separate sub-accounts with their own IBANs.

bunq plans and fees

• bunq Easy Bank (€3.99/month): Full bank account, Dutch IBAN, Mastercard, 3 Budget accounts.
• bunq Easy Bank Pro (€9.99/month): 25 Budget accounts, joint accounts, travel insurance.
• bunq Easy Money (€13.99/month): Adds higher interest on savings.
• bunq Easy Green (€17.99/month): Premium card, top-tier insurance, carbon offset features.

Bottom line

bunq is the best option if you need a real EU banking licence without a local address. It's more expensive than the e-money alternatives, but the deposit guarantee and the ability to open remotely make it worth it for expats who want proper banking from day one.