How to Open a Bank Account for Your Romanian SRL in 2026: The Complete Guide for Foreign Founders
Opening a bank account has never been optional for a Romanian company in any practical sense — you need one to pay suppliers, receive payments, issue invoices, and distribute dividends. But until 2026, there was no legal deadline and no formal penalty for operating without one. That has changed.
Law No. 239/2025, effective from 18 December 2025, now requires every Romanian legal entity to hold at least one payment account — either a bank account or a State Treasury account — in Romania. For newly incorporated companies, the account must be opened within 60 business days of registration. Companies that fail to comply face fines ranging from RON 3,000 to RON 10,000, and ANAF can declare them fiscally inactive — a status that cancels the company's VAT registration, blocks Trade Register filings, and starts a 12-month countdown toward automatic dissolution.
For foreign founders who just incorporated a Romanian SRL remotely, this creates a practical challenge: Romanian banks apply rigorous KYC and AML checks, many branches operate primarily in Romanian, and the documentation requirements for non-resident shareholders are more extensive than for local entrepreneurs. This guide explains exactly what you need, what the process looks like, how long it takes, and how to avoid the most common problems.
The 60-Day Rule: What the Law Actually Says
The obligation comes from Article III of Law No. 239/2025, which amends the Fiscal Procedure Code. The key provisions are straightforward.
Every Romanian legal entity — SRL, SA, branch, or other form — must maintain at least one payment account with a credit institution or the State Treasury in Romania. For companies already in existence when the law entered into force on 18 December 2025, the obligation was immediate. For newly incorporated companies, the deadline is 60 business days from the date of registration with the Trade Register.
The consequence of non-compliance is not just a fine. ANAF can declare the company fiscally inactive, which has cascading effects: the VAT registration code is cancelled, the company must still collect and remit VAT but cannot deduct input VAT, Trade Register operations may be refused, and the company's fiscal record is marked — affecting its credibility with banks, partners, and public institutions. If the company remains inactive for more than 12 months, ANAF is required to apply to the Trade Register for dissolution. For a detailed explanation of fiscal inactivity and how to reactivate, see our guide: Fiscal Inactivity Romania 2026: ANAF Rules, Consequences, and How to Reactivate.
In practical terms, this means that opening a bank account is no longer something you deal with "when you need it." It is a legal obligation with a hard deadline, and it should be initiated immediately after you receive your Registration Certificate from the Trade Register.
Documents Required
Romanian banks conduct their own due diligence under Law No. 129/2019 on preventing and combating money laundering (which transposes the EU's Anti-Money Laundering Directives). The documentation requirements for a company with foreign shareholders are more extensive than for a purely domestic entity.
The standard package for an SRL with non-resident individual shareholders includes the company's Registration Certificate (Certificat de Înregistrare) containing the CUI and J-number, the Articles of Association (Act Constitutiv) — the version filed with the Trade Register, a current Trade Register extract (Extras de Registru) — some banks accept the one issued at incorporation, others require a recent extract not older than 30 days, the specimen signature declaration for the company's director (administrator), valid passports or national identity cards for all shareholders and directors, a description of the company's planned business activities — what the company does, who its clients are, expected transaction volumes, expected currencies, and countries involved, a statement on the source of funds — where the share capital and initial operating funds originate, and beneficial ownership information — identifying who ultimately controls the company.
If any shareholder is a legal entity (for example, a UK holding company owning the Romanian SRL), the bank will also require the parent company's certificate of incorporation, a certificate of good standing, the parent's shareholder register or equivalent document showing ultimate beneficial ownership, a board resolution authorising the opening of the Romanian bank account, and apostilled or legalised copies of all foreign documents, with certified Romanian translations.
Some banks may also request personal tax residency certificates for shareholders, proof of the registered office address (the lease agreement used during incorporation), and a power of attorney if the person opening the account is not one of the listed directors.
The exact requirements vary by bank and even by branch. It is common for a bank to request additional documents or clarifications during the KYC review. Foreign founders should expect at least one round of follow-up questions.
The Process Step by Step
The bank account opening process for a foreign-owned Romanian SRL typically follows five stages.
The first step is selecting a bank. Not all Romanian banks have the same appetite for foreign-owned companies. Some banks have dedicated departments for non-resident clients, English-speaking staff, and experience processing international KYC documentation. Others are primarily set up for local retail and SME clients and may struggle with foreign passports, apostilled documents, or complex ownership structures. The choice of bank can make the difference between a smooth 10-day process and a frustrating 8-week ordeal. Larger international banks and banks with dedicated corporate departments tend to handle foreign clients more efficiently.
The second step is preparing and submitting the documentation. Gather all documents listed above. Foreign-issued documents should be apostilled (or legalised, for countries not party to the Apostille Convention) and accompanied by certified Romanian translations. Submit everything together — incomplete applications are the primary cause of delays.
The third step is the KYC interview or verification. Most banks require some form of direct contact with the beneficial owner and/or director. This can take several forms. Some banks require an in-person visit to a branch in Romania. Others accept a video call conducted through their own platform or via a third-party identity verification provider. A few banks — particularly those with international operations — accept the process being conducted entirely through a power of attorney, where the attorney physically visits the branch on behalf of the shareholder. The format depends on the bank and on the risk profile of the client. Higher-risk profiles (complex ownership structures, high-risk jurisdictions, politically exposed persons) will face more intensive verification.
The fourth step is the compliance review. After the interview, the bank's compliance department reviews the application. This is typically the longest step — it can take anywhere from 5 to 15 business days, and sometimes longer for complex structures. The bank may come back with additional questions about the source of funds, the nature of the business, or the expected transaction patterns.
The fifth step is account activation. Once approved, the bank opens the account, provides IBAN details, and issues access credentials for online banking. The initial deposit (if required — some banks require a minimum balance, others do not) can usually be made via international wire transfer.
The entire process from first contact to active account typically takes 2 to 4 weeks for straightforward cases (single shareholder, EU resident, simple business model). For more complex structures (multiple shareholders, non-EU jurisdictions, holding company ownership), 4 to 8 weeks is realistic.
Remote Account Opening: What Is Actually Possible
One of the most common questions from foreign founders is whether they can open a Romanian business bank account without travelling to Romania. The answer is: it depends on the bank.
Several larger banks in Romania now offer remote or semi-remote onboarding for corporate clients. The typical remote process involves submitting all documentation electronically (scanned and apostilled copies), completing a video verification call with a bank officer, and signing the account opening agreement either electronically or through a notarised power of attorney. Some banks explicitly require a physical presence for the first-time account opening of a corporate client but accept remote processes for subsequent accounts or for adding signatories. Others have fully digital onboarding workflows that can be completed from anywhere.
Fintech providers and digital banks (such as Wise Business or Revolut Business) offer faster onboarding and multi-currency accounts. However, for the purposes of the Law 239/2025 obligation, the account must be held with a credit institution. It is worth confirming with a fintech provider whether their Romanian-issued accounts qualify as a "payment account with a credit institution" under the Romanian Fiscal Procedure Code. If the provider is a licensed electronic money institution rather than a credit institution, there may be ambiguity about whether the legal obligation is satisfied. If in doubt, use a licensed Romanian bank.
The most reliable approach for foreign founders is to engage a Romanian lawyer to coordinate the bank account opening as part of the incorporation process. The lawyer can act under power of attorney, handle all communication with the bank in Romanian, present documents in the required format, and attend the branch in person if needed. This is included in our Complete company incorporation package.
Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
Based on our experience coordinating bank account openings for foreign-owned SRLs, the most frequent problems fall into predictable categories.
The most common issue is incomplete or incorrectly formatted documentation. Foreign founders often submit documents without apostille, without certified translation, or with translations that do not match the Romanian legal terminology. Some banks reject applications simply because the notary seal on a foreign power of attorney does not match the format they expect. The solution is to prepare all documents according to the specific bank's requirements — not according to general guidelines — and to submit everything at once rather than in stages.
The second common problem is a mismatch between the declared business activity and what the bank considers acceptable. Banks are particularly cautious with certain sectors: cryptocurrency and digital assets, online gambling, money transfer and payment services, and any business model that involves frequent high-value transactions from jurisdictions with elevated money laundering risk. If your business falls into any of these categories, expect additional scrutiny and longer processing times. Being transparent and providing detailed documentation about the business model upfront is more effective than being vague and triggering follow-up questions.
The third problem is language. Most Romanian bank branches operate primarily in Romanian. Even in Bucharest, finding a branch with staff who can handle the entire corporate account opening process in English is not guaranteed. Written correspondence, internal forms, and account agreements are almost always in Romanian. Having a Romanian-speaking representative — either your lawyer or a local partner — present during the process significantly reduces friction.
The fourth problem is timing. Many founders treat the bank account as something they will deal with after incorporation, after they have clients, or after they need to issue their first invoice. Under the new rules, this approach is risky. The 60-day clock starts on the date of Trade Register registration — not on the date you decide you need a bank account. Starting the process in week one, not week eight, is the safest approach.
What Happens After the Account Is Opened
Once the account is active, there are a few practical steps to take immediately.
The share capital deposit should be documented. While proof of capital deposit is no longer mandatory at the time of filing for SRL incorporation, having a bank statement showing the share capital amount deposited in the company's account is important for the company's records and for future due diligence (by investors, partners, or auditors).
The account must be registered with ANAF. In practice, the bank reports the account to ANAF automatically. However, you should verify that the account appears correctly in the company's fiscal record. You can check this using our free ANAF Company Verification Tool.
If the company is registered for VAT or intends to make payments to the state budget, a Treasury account (cont de trezorerie) may also be needed for paying taxes. Most companies handle this through online banking transfers to the relevant Treasury account numbers.
The company should also configure e-banking access for all authorised signatories, set up e-Factura integration if applicable (mandatory for B2B invoices in Romania), and establish a record-keeping system for bank statements and payment documentation — essential for the annual financial statements filing.
Key Deadlines at a Glance
The critical dates every foreign founder should have on their calendar are as follows. Day zero is the date the Registration Certificate is issued by the Trade Register. By day 60 (business days), the company must have an active Romanian bank account. Failure to comply by day 60 triggers potential fines of RON 3,000 to RON 10,000. If the company is subsequently declared fiscally inactive and does not reactivate within 12 months, ANAF applies to the Trade Register for dissolution.
The practical recommendation is to start the bank account process no later than week two after incorporation — ideally in parallel with the ANAF fiscal registration.
How We Can Help
At Mihai Attorneys, we coordinate bank account opening for foreign-owned Romanian SRLs as a routine part of our company incorporation service. Our Complete package (€1,400 fixed fee) includes full bank coordination: we prepare the documentation in the format required by the specific bank, act under power of attorney, manage all communication in Romanian, facilitate remote KYC where the bank permits it, and attend the branch in person when physical presence is required.
If your company is already incorporated but you have not yet opened a bank account, we can handle the process as a standalone engagement. We also manage ongoing banking coordination through our Corporate Secretarial retainer packages — including signatory changes, account documentation updates, and compliance with the new mandatory account requirement.
You can verify your company's current ANAF status — including whether it has been declared fiscally inactive — using our free Company Verification Tool.
Contact us at alin.mihai@mihaiattorneys.com or through our contact page — we respond within 12 hours.
