Open and Close your bank account
If you are here for over one year (masters) you can open a bank account (the bank will check your passport for a visa). Best place to go is the ABN AMRO branch at the Erasmus Campus.
Please bring your passport and a letter from IHS course bureau in which it is mentioned that you are registered as a master student.
While arranging the bank account, please note that the best card is called "Wereldpas". This card can be used abroad (for example in Lund when you are on fieldwork). You can ask the bankemployee which card will be the most suitable card for you, but if you want to use it abroad this is the best card. Please ask for it specifically, otherwise you have to pay extra charges later if you want to change the type of bank card.
When you want to close your bank account, you have to handover your card and inform them what you want do with the balance. They prefer to transfer it to another bank account in your homecountry (if possible). It is not possible to keep the bank account, because you do not have a fiscal number (we call that a 'sofi-number' in Dutch).
You have to close the bank account in person preferably. This can be done at all branches of ABN AMRO, also on Coolsingel.
When you visit ABN AMRO, always bring your identification with you (passport etc). If you have questions at the end of the course concerning this matter, please contact Finance Department.
