Deposit guarantee scheme against bankruptcy

Did your bank fail (go bankrupt)? In the Netherlands if your bank has gone bankrupt, you are covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee scheme of the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank, DNB). The Dutch Deposit Guarantee protests amounts of up to €100,000 in your bank accounts. This means you will get this money back.

What is the Dutch Deposit Guarantee scheme?

The Dutch Deposit Guarantee scheme protects deposits on your bank accounts with Dutch banks. If your bank goes bankrupt, DNB makes sure you get your money back, up to €100,000 per person, per bank. This applies to personal accounts as well as business accounts.

Which accounts are protected?

Not all financial products are covered by this scheme, but the money in your business accounts is protected, for example:

• savings accounts
• current accounts
• term deposits

Please contact your bank to make sure your specific financial product is covered by the deposit guarantee scheme.

Conditions for the Dutch Deposit Guarantee

You must meet 3 conditions to make use of this scheme:

• Your bank is covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee.
• Your business account is covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee, not by a foreign deposit guarantee scheme.
• You are the account holder.

Which banks are covered by the deposit guarantee scheme?

All banks with a Dutch banking licence are covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee. You can look up your bank in the deposit guarantee scheme register.

Foreign banks

Banks from other EU countries are covered by the deposit guarantee scheme in their own country. Your money in these banks is also protected up to a specific amount, comparable to the Dutch scheme.

When is your business account protected separately from your personal account?

This scheme also applies to business accounts. In some cases your business account is protected separately from your personal account. It depends on your business structure. If your business is not a legal person, your account falls under the 1 person per bank principle.

If for instance, you are a sole proprietor, your business account and personal account with the same bank are viewed as belonging to the same person. The deposits of these accounts are thus counted as if they are from one account. Your deposits will be compensated up to €100,000 in total.

Is your company a legal person? For instance a foundation or a private limited company? Then your business account is protected separately from your personal account, even if these accounts are with the same bank. You can get a reimbursement of up to €100,000 for each of these accounts.

How do I get my money back?

Does your bank fail, and do you meet the conditions for compensation through the Dutch Deposit Guarantee scheme? Then DNB will send you a letter with information on the steps you need to take. You should have an account at another bank to get your money back.