Business accounts: Bosnia and Herzegovina
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an EU candidate country with business-friendly taxes and a banking system dominated by subsidiaries of European groups. The convertible mark is pegged to the euro at 1.95583 marks per euro, so currency risk is low. A special feature is the country's two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, plus the Brčko District: a company registers in one of them, and some rules depend on that choice.
A Bosnian company for the account
- The main form is the limited liability company (d.o.o.). Minimum capital is KM 1,000, about $573, in the Federation and KM 1 in Republika Srpska.
- Corporate income tax is 10% in both entities.
- VAT is single for the whole country at 17%, with mandatory registration above KM 100,000, about $57,300, of annual turnover.
- The company is registered by the registration court in the chosen entity, then with the tax office and the Indirect Taxation Authority.
We will calculate online the cost of opening an account for your company and maintaining it for a year.
Federation or Republika Srpska
A company is registered where it will operate: in the Federation through the cantonal registration court, in Republika Srpska through the agency for intermediary, IT and financial services, and in the Brčko District through its own court. The choice affects minimum capital, payroll contribution rates, local fees and the tax office's approach, while VAT and customs are the same countrywide. If the business operates in both entities, a company is usually registered in one and a branch in the other.
Obligations after the account opens
Through its current account the company pays salaries, taxes and contributions, files a monthly VAT return with the Indirect Taxation Authority, and once a year files financial statements and a corporate income tax return. An accountant is needed from the first month.
Who banks open company accounts for
| Company | Chances | What the bank cares about |
|---|---|---|
| A local company with an office and director in the country | high | court register extract, tax numbers, director at the meeting |
| A local company with foreign owners | medium | source of capital, activity in the country, owners' documents |
| A foreign company not registered in the country | low | usually a subsidiary or branch is registered first |
What documents the bank asks for
- The court registration decision and founding act.
- The company ID number and tax registration, and the VAT number if needed.
- Passports of the director, founders and beneficial owners.
- A specimen signature card and a decision on authorised signatories.
- Foreign corporate founders' documents with apostille and certified translation.
- A description of the business and source of capital.
Timeline
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Company registration at court and tax office | 2-4 weeks |
| Apostille and translation of foreigners' documents | 1-2 weeks |
| Opening the account after registration | a few days to 2 weeks |
A temporary account is opened first to pay in capital, and after registration it is converted into the company's regular current account.
Currency and deposit protection
Company accounts are opened in convertible marks, euros and other currencies. The Deposit Insurance Agency guarantees deposits up to KM 70,000, about $40,100, per depositor per bank. Dollar amounts use the ECB rate of 5 October 2026 via the mark's euro peg, rounded up.
Why banks refuse
- The director cannot attend the meeting and sign the signature card.
- Beneficial owners are not disclosed or foreign founders' documents lack an apostille.
- The source of capital is not evidenced.
- Higher-risk activity: gambling, crypto, currency exchange.
- The company is wanted only for transit payments with no activity in the country.
How we help
We choose the entity and company form for your goal, register the company at court and the tax office, arrange apostilles and translations, open the temporary capital account and then the current account, prepare the source of funds file and accompany the bank meeting.
What we do
- Corporate account - opening assistance
See also
Personal account · Investment property · All country programs
FAQ
Can a foreigner open a company account in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
What taxes does a company pay?
How much capital does a company need?
What currency are accounts in?
How long does opening take?
Is company money protected at a bank?
Which bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina suits your company?
We compare banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina on terms for your company, prepare the compliance documents and guide the account opening. The catalogue covers every country.
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