I hope it is ok to write in English, otherwise I can switch to Danish. I am self employed and for months i have been trying to have a business account because no bank let me run my personal business (ENK) from a private bank account. Last month, I got a business account with a bank, after carefully reading the rules and exchanging detailed paperwork with them. Few days ago, I noticed that I can not use the account and after I called them I received an email that it is frozen (without any warning) because I do not have a permanent residence permit. I fulfill the requirements for the permit, but no one has ever asked for it and of course the bank never asked for it during the application process. It is not written in their requirements either. I can not find this requirement anywhere so I would like to ask you if you know anything about it or if it is common for a bank to freeze an account for this reason. I have already applied for the permit, but it takes time and I can not trust my bank anymore that they will unfreeze my account. I am also worried for my employees because it is also their upcoming salaries in the frozen account. I have talked to my accountant and he told me that he has other customers in the same situation recently. Banks asking them for permanent residence permit, even though some of them live in the country for many years and there is no state or bank rule for this matter. Thanks for your time. //S PS: I hope i seleted the right category. |
The sad answer is - that a bank is an independent business and they are only obliged to set up one personal account - which can then also be restricted as to on card attached og top-op card only and not Nets payment allowed and more - and they can close that personal account, if it is used for business purpose without agreement.
They can refuse business accounts without having to give any specific reason for that - but many banks would today refuse it if a customer do not have permanent residence permit - or not danish citizenship or similar issues - and they would anyway require a lot of additional documentation. So your accountant is right, there is no state or bank rule in DK or in any country I know of - requiring banks to set up business accounts.
It can also be a whitewash issue - but if you can prove to the bank that you have employees that have salary due - and sit down with you accountant or an auditor, with the management in you bank branche, then I would expect they could on freese it - but only after receiving a lot of whitewash based info about the nature of your business - transactions - in particular if from abroad, budget and more
Take a skilled auditor - who can confirm the legitimacy of your business - with you to the bank - One who understands the issue - that might help a lot
I think it would be good if, EOS everytime someone registered a CVR gave a warning - DO NO REGISTER BEFORE MAKING AN AGREEMENT WITH A BANK FOR YOUR UPCOMING BUSINESS not to stop the registration, but to make clear, that that should be resolved.
I have written a letter to the Erhvervsminister suggesting a law making it compulsory for banks to set of simple business accounts - and if they do not set up one - for a particular reason, that decision could be tried in some way independently - but they would still have to be able to to deny a business account, if they have at good reason AND that account would most likely not be one where salaries could be connected to Nets automatic payment, but would require paying by transference from a top-up account. About my letter to the minister: https://johnhannover.blogspot.com/2020/02/bank-ikke-helt-let-at-fa-konto-brev-til.html
br John Hannover