How to Open a New Bank Account?

There are various kinds of bank accounts. Required information for opening a bank account varies from bank to bank. Following are the most common information required with every bank.

Individual and Joint Account (Salary and Current)

• Bank’s prescribed account opening application form (to be signed by the applicant in front of respective bank personnel),
• Two passport size photographs of the account holder(s) attested by the introducer,
• Specimen Signature card (to be signed by the applicant in front of respective bank personnel),
• Estimated transaction profile, and
• Any of the following identification documents (current valid passport/ valid driving license/ voter ID card/ armed forces ID card/ a Bangladeshi employer ID card bearing the photograph and signature of the applicant/ a certificate from any local government organization such as Union Council chairman, ward commissioner etc).
• TIN number.
• One passport size photographs of the nominee(s) attested by the account holder.

All photocopies should be verified with the original and attested by an authorized officer of the bank.

Sole Proprietorship Account

• Bank’s prescribed account opening application form. (to be signed by the applicant in front of respective bank personnel),
• Two passport size photograph of the proprietor attested by the introducer,
• Specimen signature Card (To be signed by the applicant in front of respective bank personnel),
• Copy of valid trade license issued by Local Government authority (city corporation, pourashava, union parishad etc.),
• Permission from Bangladesh Bank (for buying house, indenting or other specific businesses),
• TIN issued by income tax authority, and
• The personal identity of the proprietor of the firm has to be established by any of the documents as mentioned in individual or joint customer category. If the trade license carries the photo and signature of the proprietor, this is not required.

Limited Company Account

• Bank’s prescribed account opening application form
• Certified copy of the memorandum and articles of association of the company
• Certificate of incorporation,
• Certificate of commencement of business (for public limited companies only)
• Extract of the Board resolution sanctioning the account opening and signing authority
• List of the Director with address in specified from,
• Photograph of the signatories,
• Copy of valid trade license,
• Introducer’s signature in the A/C opening form and at the back of the photograph(s) of Account holder(s),
• List of names with appointment letter and Specimen Signature of the Persons authorized to operate the Account, and
• The personal identity of all the directors or beneficial owner(s) proprietor of the Firm has to be established by any of the documents as mentioned in individual or Joint Customer category.
• Partnership Firm Account
• Bank’s prescribed Account Opening application form signed by the partners in front of respective bank personnel,
• Certified copy of Partnership Deed/ Agreement,
• List of the Partners with Address,
• Extract of resolution of the partners Meeting,
• Copy of valid Trade License,
• Photograph of the signatories/ Partners,
• Specimen signature card (To be signed by the signatories in front of respective bank personnel,
• Introducer’s signature in the A/C opening form and at the back of the photograph(s) of Account holder(s),
• Identity of all partners/ directors must be verified in line with the requirements for personal customers. Where a formal partnership agreement exists, a mandate from the partnership authorizing the opening of an account and conferring authority on those who will operate it should be obtained,
• Evidence of the trading address of the business or partnership should be obtained and a copy of the latest report and accounts (audited where applicable), and
• An explanation of the nature of the business or partnership should be ascertained (but not necessarily verified from a partnership deed) to ensure that it has a legitimate purpose.
• Please click here to visit the websites of different banks.

Foreign Currency Account Opening

• Bangladeshi nationals residing abroad, foreign nationals residing abroad or in Bangladesh, foreign firms registered abroad and operating in Bangladesh or abroad, and foreign missions and their expatriate employees in Bangladesh can open Foreign Currency (FC) accounts.

Required documents and information for foreign currency account

To open a Foreign Currency Account one has to apply to the branch manager generally notifying –

• Which currency he / she would like to operate in,
• Name of the account holder,
• Passport number,
• Date of passport issuance,
• Name of the passport issuing authority,
• Present foreign address,
• Present local address,
• Telephone number,
• Address of the nominee.