Europe's Most Feature-Rich Neobank
bunq was founded in 2012 in Amsterdam and launched in 2015 as the first Dutch neobank to receive a full banking licence from DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank). Unlike most neobanks that started with e-money licences, bunq has had a full banking licence from day one — meaning deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the Dutch DGS. Known for its unique feature set including up to 25 sub-accounts (called 'pockets'), green banking (trees planted per transaction), auto-saving rules, and joint accounts, bunq is particularly popular among freelancers, expats, and environmentally conscious users.
| 🏛️ Founded | 2012 |
| 📍 Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 📈 Listed on | Private |
| 📜 Regulators | DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank) — full Dutch banking licence; EU passported under MiFID II |
| 💵 Min. Deposit | €0 |
| 💰 Stock/ETF Commission | N/A (banking, no investing beyond crypto) |
| 💱 FX / Spread | Mastercard interbank rate (no markup on purchases abroad) |
| 😴 Inactivity Fee | None |
| 🏧 Withdrawal Fee | Free (within bunq); ATM: free up to limits |
| 🖥️ Platforms | bunq App (iOS/Android) |
| 🎮 Demo Account | No |
| 🛡️ Investor Protection | DNB banking licence: deposits protected up to €100,000 (Dutch deposit guarantee DGS). |
| 👥 Clients | 15,000,000+ |
bunq is mobile-only — there is no web dashboard for regular accounts (a limited web view is available). The app is one of the most feature-rich among EU neobanks, with a unique 'Budget' feature that auto-distributes your salary across pockets, a 'Slice' feature for splitting bills, travel notifications, location-based security, and an AI financial assistant (Finn). The design is colourful and distinctive. Business accounts get additional multi-user access features.
bunq offers: up to 25 sub-accounts (pockets) per plan; Dutch IBAN (IBAN.eu) accepted across all EU countries; Mastercard debit card (metal card on higher tiers); joint accounts; shared pockets for couples; business accounts with team access; auto-save rules; green banking (bunq plants trees for transactions); and a Travel Card with no FX fees. Crypto is available via a third-party integration. No stock investing.
bunq Easy Money (€3.99/month): 1 account, 1 Mastercard. bunq Easy Green (€7.99/month): 3 accounts, green card, trees planted. bunq Easy Bank (€9.99/month): 25 pockets, 3 cards. bunq Easy Bank Pro (€18.99/month): business features, metal card. No inactivity fee. ATM withdrawals: free up to monthly limits (€200–€1,000 depending on plan). No foreign transaction fee on purchases. SEPA instant transfers included.
| Stocks & ETFs | N/A (banking, no investing beyond crypto) |
| Forex / Spread | Mastercard interbank rate (no markup on purchases abroad) |
| Inactivity fee | None |
| Withdrawal fee | Free (within bunq); ATM: free up to limits |
| Min. deposit | €0 |
bunq holds a full banking licence from DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank), regulated since 2014. Deposits are protected up to €100,000 under the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS). bunq is passported across all EU countries. Unlike many competitors, bunq does not lend out customer deposits — all funds are held at the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) or in low-risk government bonds, making it one of the safest neobanks in Europe for deposit security.
| Regulators | DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank) — full Dutch banking licence; EU passported under MiFID II |
| Investor Protection | DNB banking licence: deposits protected up to €100,000 (Dutch deposit guarantee DGS). |
| Publicly Listed | Private |
Available in 30+ European countries with a single EU IBAN. Not available outside Europe.
bunq is the best neobank for power users who want the maximum control over their finances — multiple pockets, joint accounts, auto-save rules, and green banking all in one. Its full banking licence from DNB (not just an e-money licence) and the decision not to lend customer deposits make it extremely safe. The main drawback is the monthly fee (no free tier beyond a brief trial) and the mobile-only experience.
* Banking with bunq: deposits up to €100,000 protected by Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme. No investment products are guaranteed.