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How to open a business bank account in Denmark (2026 guide)

What Danish banks ask for, how long it takes, how non-residents get approved, and how to apply to Danske Bank, Jyske Bank, Sydbank or Nykredit through us.
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  • Last reviewed 1 October 2026
  • By the GlobalBusinessAccounts team
  • Checked against official sources.
How we check

OverblikAt a glance

  • Currency
  • DKK (EUR-konti er almindelige)
  • Banks covered
  • Danske Bank, Jyske Bank, Sydbank, Nykredit
  • Non-residents
  • Muligt, ekstra kontrol

Pros

  • Full Danish bank account in DKK, trusted by Danish customers, suppliers and SKAT
  • Deposits protected by the Danish guarantee scheme, unlike most fintech accounts
  • Access to credit, guarantees and share capital deposits
  • Users without a CPR number can get MitID through the bank

Cons

  • Strict anti-money-laundering checks, so onboarding can take weeks
  • Harder for companies with owners abroad or no Danish activity
  • No public flat price; fees agreed per customer
  • Branch banks may ask for a meeting or an approved auditor

Key takeaways

  • Every Danish bank asks for a CVR number first. You get it by registering the company at virk.dk.
  • Banks must identify every beneficial owner. Owners without a Danish CPR number can still be onboarded, but it takes longer.
  • Danske Bank, Jyske Bank, Sydbank and Nykredit are all supervised by Finanstilsynet, and deposits are covered by the Danish guarantee scheme.
  • Prices are set per customer, so ask for the bank's price list before you sign.
  • Apply through GlobalBusinessAccounts: we check your setup first and send your file to the bank most likely to say yes.

The short answer

To open a business bank account in Denmark you need a registered company with a CVR number, ID for the people who run and own it, and a clear explanation of what the company does. Danske Bank says its online application takes about 15 minutes and that it replies within two business days, but it will only start once the company has a CVR number.

The slow part is not the form. It is the bank’s review of who owns the company and where the money comes from. That is where most applications stall, and where applying through GlobalBusinessAccounts helps: we check your file before it reaches the bank. 

The four banks we cover

All four are Danish banks supervised by Finanstilsynet. Each sets its own prices, so the table shows what each bank is known for and what it publicly asks for, not fixed fees.
Bank Head office Best for What it asks for
Danske Bank Copenhagen Larger companies, international payments, English online banking CVR number, ID for key persons, online application
Jyske Bank Silkeborg Growing SMEs that want a personal adviser CVR, tax details, owner documents with CPR or passport, may require an approved auditor
Sydbank Aabenraa SMEs in Jutland and companies trading with Germany CVR, owner ID, business description
Nykredit Copenhagen Companies that also want property or mortgage financing CVR, owner ID, business description

Good fit if you are

  • A Danish ApS or A/S with real activity in Denmark
  • A company that needs credit, guarantees or a share capital account
  • A foreign company opening a Danish branch with Danish staff or customers

Look elsewhere if you are

  • A holding company with no link to Denmark (try a fintech first)
  • In a hurry and only need to send and receive payments
  • In a sector banks see as high risk, such as crypto or adult content

Not sure your company will be accepted?

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Step by step: from new company to open account

This is the usual order. Skipping a step is the most common reason a bank pauses an application.
  • 1. Register the company at virk.dk and get your CVR number.
  • 2. Set up MitID. If the owner can sign for the company alone, a private MitID is enough; otherwise the company needs MitID Erhverv.
  • 3. Prepare documents: registration extract from Erhvervsstyrelsen, articles of association, owner register and ID for every beneficial owner.
  • 4. Write a short business description: what you sell, to whom, in which countries, and expected monthly volumes.
  • 5. Apply. Through us, you fill one pre-check form and we prepare the file for the bank that fits.
  • 6. Answer follow-up questions quickly. Banks often ask about source of funds or large customers.

Documents Danish banks ask for

Jyske Bank’s published business terms are a good example of what all Danish banks need: the company’s name, address, CVR number and tax details, documented with an extract from Erhvervsstyrelsen or the founding documents, plus the purpose and expected size of the banking relationship.
  • Company registration extract and articles of association
  • Name, address and CPR number (or passport) for every beneficial owner
  • Photo ID for directors and anyone signing for the company
  • Description of the business and expected transactions
  • For some customers: documentation from an auditor approved by the bank

Paying in share capital for a new ApS

A Danish ApS needs share capital of at least DKK 20,000. When founders pay it in cash, the money must be paid in before the company can be registered, and the payment must be documented, for example by a confirmation from a bank or from an accountant or lawyer.

This means many founders need a bank before they even have a CVR number. Ask the bank whether it opens an account for the share capital deposit (stiftelseskonto), or let your accountant or lawyer handle the payment. After registration, the money can be used in the business. 

NemKonto for businesses

Every Danish business must have a NemKonto: the account public authorities use for payments to you, such as VAT refunds from the Danish Tax Agency. The NemKonto is linked to the company’s CVR or SE number.

With a Danish business account, the bank can usually register it as your NemKonto. If you only have a foreign fintech account, check that the provider supports NemKonto before you rely on it as your only account.

Your right to a basic business account

Since December 2024, the Danish Act on Payment Accounts and Basic Business Accounts gives smaller businesses and associations the right to a basic business account at the largest Danish banks. The account lets you receive payments and use it as your NemKonto.

The bank must handle a complete request within 10 days. It can still refuse in specific cases, such as suspected money laundering, and you can complain about a refusal. The law makes it easier to get an account, but the bank’s customer checks still apply, so a complete file remains the key to approval.

Opening a Danish business account as a non-resident

It can be done, but expect more questions. Danish banks must identify every beneficial owner, and without a Danish CPR number they rely on passports and foreign documents, which take longer to check.

Once you are a customer, owners and staff without a CPR number can still use online banking. Jyske Bank, for example, lets an administrator create a foreign user and order a separate MitID for them using a passport, driving licence or national ID card.

What helps most: a Danish address or office, Danish customers or staff, and a clear reason for banking in Denmark. Without those, a fintech account is often the faster first step.

How long it takes and what it costs

A simple Danish ApS with Danish owners can be approved in days. Companies with foreign owners or complex structures often take several weeks. Danske Bank promises first contact within two business days of the application.

Danish banks do not publish one flat fee for business accounts. They set prices per customer based on size and activity, and publish price lists for individual services. Ask for the full price list before signing, and compare the monthly account fee, payment fees and card fees.

Is my money protected?

Yes. Deposits in Danish banks are covered by the Danish guarantee scheme, Garantiformuen, up to the EU limit of EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank. Companies count as depositors.

This is a key difference from electronic money institutions such as Wise or Revolut, which safeguard client money but are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes.

Danish bank or fintech account?

Many Danish companies use both: a Danish bank for DKK, taxes, share capital and credit, and a multi-currency fintech for day-to-day payments abroad.
Danish bank Fintech (Wise, Revolut, Qonto)
Account opening Days to weeks Usually faster, fully online
Non-resident owners Possible, more checks Often easier
Deposit guarantee Yes, up to EUR 100,000 No, funds safeguarded
Credit and guarantees Yes Limited or none
Multi-currency Available, priced per customer Built in



    Why apply through GlobalBusinessAccounts

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    • We tell you which of the four banks fits you best


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    Read our full reviews

    Wise Business review: fees and how to apply
    Revolut Business review: fees and how to apply
    Qonto review: fees and how to apply

    Frequently asked questions

    Can a foreigner open a business bank account in Denmark?
    Yes, if the company is registered in Denmark with a CVR number and the bank can identify every owner. Without a Danish CPR number or address, expect more questions and a longer review.
    Yes. Danske Bank, for example, only accepts applications from businesses with a CVR number. You get one by registering the company at virk.dk.
    Not to apply, but you need it to sign and log in. If the owner can sign for the company alone, a private MitID is enough. Users without a CPR number can get a MitID through their bank.
    Simple cases can take days. Companies with foreign owners or complex structures often take several weeks. Danske Bank replies to applications within two business days.
    It depends on your setup. Danske Bank suits international payments, Jyske Bank and Sydbank suit SMEs that want an adviser, and Nykredit suits companies that also need property financing. Our free pre-check tells you which fits.
    There is no flat price. Danish banks set fees per customer and publish price lists for each service. Ask for the full list before signing.
    Yes. Deposits are covered by Garantiformuen up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank, and companies count as depositors.
    At least DKK 40,000. When paid in cash, it must be paid in and documented, for example by a bank, accountant or lawyer, before the company is registered.
    Yes. Every Danish business needs a NemKonto linked to its CVR or SE number so public authorities, such as the Danish Tax Agency, can pay money to it.
    Since December 2024, smaller businesses have a right to a basic business account at the largest Danish banks. The bank must answer a complete request within 10 days and can only refuse in specific cases, such as suspected money laundering. You can complain about a refusal.
    Often yes. Danske Bank has an online application. Some banks still ask for a meeting, especially when owners live abroad.

    Sources

    Checked 16 October 2026.

    GlobalBusinessAccounts editorial team

    We review business account providers against official registers and each provider's own published terms, and update articles when terms change. Last reviewed 16 October 2026. How we check

    Written by the GlobalBusinessAccounts team. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Provider terms change, so check each provider's current terms before applying.

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