Business accounts: Curaçao
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, with a central bank shared with Sint Maarten. Since 31 March 2025 its currency has been the Caribbean guilder, pegged to the US dollar at 1.79. Island banks serve local business, tourism, trade and logistics, as well as international companies managed by local licensed service providers.
Who Curaçao banks open company accounts for
| Company | Chances | What the bank cares about |
|---|---|---|
| A Curaçao company with an office, staff and clients on the island | high | real activity, local director, turnover |
| An international company managed by a local provider | medium | ownership structure, source of capital, client countries |
| A company with a gaming licence | low | many local banks do not serve such companies |
| A foreign company with no link to Curaçao | low | why a Curaçao bank is needed |
A Curaçao company and a local director
The main forms are the public limited company (NV) and the private limited company (BV), both registered with the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce. The law does not require the director to live on the island, but banks and the tax authority look at real presence: for a company with no office or people in Curaçao an account is usually opened only through a local licensed managing provider.
Taxes and currency
- Profit tax - 15% on the first 500,000 guilders of profit, about $279,400, and 22% above that.
- Accounts are held in Caribbean guilders and US dollars, and in euros on request.
- The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten supervises foreign exchange transactions, so we determine the company's foreign exchange status - resident or non-resident - before applying.
Gaming companies
Since 24 December 2024 gaming in Curaçao has been governed by the new National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) and the independent Curaçao Gaming Authority. A licence requires local presence and key persons. At the same time many island banks do not open accounts for gaming companies, so for these clients we select a bank or payment provider that works with them in advance and prepare a file with the licence, player due diligence rules and the payment structure.
Documents and timeline
| Stage | What is needed | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Corporate documents | articles, Chamber of Commerce extract, directors and shareholders, ownership chart | 1-2 weeks |
| 2. Owners' documents | passports, proof of address, a bank reference letter, CVs | 1-2 weeks |
| 3. Business and funds | business description, contracts, client countries, source of capital | 1-2 weeks |
| 4. Bank review | file review, questions, sometimes a meeting with the director | 4-10 weeks |
Documents in other languages are translated into English or Dutch, and foreign ones apostilled.
What the bank wants in the business description
- Who the clients and suppliers are, in which countries, with sample contracts or invoices.
- The money flow: where funds come from and go to, in which currencies.
- Expected monthly turnover for the first year and the average payment size.
- The website, licences and permits if the activity requires them.
- Who is responsible for the company on the island and how to reach them.
The more specific the description, the fewer follow-up requests: the bank compares the first real payments with what you declared at opening.
Why Curaçao banks refuse
- No real activity or local manager on the island.
- Gaming, crypto or payment activity without a suitable bank.
- The owners' source of capital is not evidenced.
- Owners or clients are from sanctioned or higher-risk countries.
- A complex structure with no explained purpose.
How we help
We assess whether your company suits Curaçao banks, determine its foreign exchange and tax status, bring in a local managing provider if needed, prepare the document file and follow the review until a decision. For gaming companies we select a bank or payment provider that works with licensees from the start.
What we do
- Corporate account - opening assistance
See also
Personal account · Investment property · All country programs
We will calculate online the cost of opening an account for your company and maintaining it for a year.
FAQ
Can a company open an account in Curaçao?
Is a local director or office needed?
Do banks open accounts for gaming companies?
How long does opening take?
What is the profit tax rate in Curaçao?
What currency are accounts in?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we assess your company's chances with specific banks, prepare the compliance file and give you honest timelines. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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