Jerry Grbic, CEO of ABBL; Credit: ABBL

On Tuesday 17 December 2024, the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL) announced the publication of a guide to facilitate the opening of professional bank accounts for commercial companies in Luxembourg.

The guide has been designed to address the challenges that many entrepreneurs face when opening a professional bank account. According to ABBL, the guide provides clear information on the minimum identification and verification standards required for opening and managing a professional bank account in Luxembourg. It also gives advice on building strong banker-client relationships and provides a coherent framework reflecting the expertise of Luxembourg banking institutions.

Created in collaboration with ABBL member institutions and in consultation with the Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (CSSF), the guide aims to make opening a bank account and accessing banking services as simple and transparent as possible for all businesses, from startups to large corporations.

According to ABBL, opening a professional bank account can be considered a demanding process by entrepreneurs. The required steps - such as the submission of detailed documentation and compliance with regulatory requirements - can often lead to delays and uncertainties. With over 100,000 companies registered in Luxembourg and thousands more created each year, ABBL noted that streamlining this process has become increasingly important for the country’s competitiveness. Entrepreneurship representatives and policy makers have stressed the need to improve these procedures.

ABBL explained that it has worked in collaboration with its member banks to address these concerns. By aligning banking services with the needs of businesses, while complying with regulatory requirements, it aims to help entrepreneurs build more effective banking relationships. "Banks play a key role in supporting businesses through financing and financial management," said ABBL CEO Jerry Grbic. "This guide is part of our efforts to make the process of opening a bank account clearer and smoother for entrepreneurs."

The guide, “Business Enterprises: Your Path to Successful Bank Account Opening”, provides practical information for businesses of all sizes. It includes:

- step-by-step guidance on how to meet the minimum requirements for opening an account;
- a checklist of required documents, such as company ID, shareholder information and beneficial ownership details;
- explanations of regulatory requirements, to help business owners understand the reasons for information requests.

Camille Seillès, Secretary General of ABBL, explained: "This guide was developed in collaboration with the main banking institutions operating in Luxembourg and the CSSF. It defines a standard for the documentation and information required by banks, thus providing companies with a reliable resource to prepare effectively."

This guide is the first in a new series that the ABBL will publish. The next publications will address the following needs:

- trusts and private wealth foundations;
- non-profit associations;
- co-ownership syndicates;
- investment funds.

The guides are available in English, French and German to ensure accessibility to Luxembourg's multilingual business community.

The ABBL also noted that many members of the business community did not have a comprehensive view of the commercial offer actually available on the market. To address this,  it created a list of specialised contacts within banks and other financial institutions interested in specific business segments. This list highlights the diversity of services available but is not exhaustive, as other institutions may also be willing to engage with entrepreneurs. The list has recently been updated and expanded.

The ABBL stressed the importance of consistent regulation, better communication and collaboration with stakeholders to simplify the account opening and monitoring processes and support business creation in Luxembourg.

To access the guide, lists of specialised contacts and for further information, visit: https://abbl.lu/en/home/bank-account-opening