Can I open an N26 Business account in Canada?

German-based digital bank, N26, offers personal and business bank accounts designed with the jet-set lifestyle in mind. Customers get a generous suite of complimentary travel, mobility and lifestyle insurance plus free foreign currency ATM withdrawals.

N26 also provides special discounts for customers through its partner companies, which include Hotels.com (for European account holders) and Udemy, Fiverr and Skill Yoga (for US account holders). What’s more, Business account holders can earn cash back on many of their everyday purchases.

But can business owners take advantage of these benefits if they live in Canada? Are there any good alternative services in Canada?

Can I open an N26 for Business account in Canada?

Unfortunately, no. To open a business account with N26, you have to live in one of the following countries:

Personal N26 accounts can also be opened in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United States.

Account holders must provide personal details (including a shipping address) and ID, which could include a passport, national ID card or residency permit. N26 staff may use video calls to verify that customers identities match the photo ID they provided to open an account.

The type of ID that’s acceptable depends on where you’re from. For example, if you’re Canadian but living in a country where you can open an N26 account, you can use either a passport or residence permit to do so. But, if you’re living in the UK, only a passport is acceptable.

So, if you’re Canadian, you could potentially have an N26 account if you live outside Canada. But if you live in Canada, you’re out of luck.

Are there any alternatives to N26 for Business in Canada?

Yes. There are a number of digital banking services in Canada that offer low fees, financial support tools and strong, user-friendly digital platforms. Read our reviews of the companies below to learn more about convenient ways to handle your money online and on your smartphone.

Digital Banking in Canada

Fintech business bank accounts available in Canada

About N26

N26 is a digital bank founded in 2013 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany. N26 has millions of customers throughout most of Europe as well as the United States.N26 currently offers both personal and business bank accounts. Business account holders can earn cashback rewards on their everyday purchases. Other perks include discounts with partner companies, a wide suite of complimentary insurance coverage, and well-rated, user-friendly apps for Android, iOS and the web.

Pros and cons of N26 Business accounts

Pros

Cons

How do I find the right digital banking company for my needs?

With a growing number of financial service providers popping up online, narrowing down your options may seem overwhelming. Consider the following points when comparing different online banking services:

• Which companies offer the most suitable range of accounts and products?

Some digital banks like Tangerine offer a wide range of accounts and products and are designed to be customers’ primary banking platform. Other companies may be new to the market or intentionally focusing on offering a few products to service a specific need.

If you have limited and specific financial needs (i.e. transferring money overseas or handling everyday expenses), then you may want to take advantage of a service with limited, yet highly-competitive, offerings. But for more general banking needs, you may want to look for a digital banking service with a variety of products and financial solutions.

• Which companies will keep my costs as low as possible?

Besides saving money by not having fully-staffed, brick-and-mortar branches, digital banking services may also cut down on costs by designing unique pricing tiers for their products. Some examples include monthly or yearly account maintenance fees, foreign transaction fees, money transfer fees or tiered interest rates on credit products. Look for companies that offer low fees and/or interest rates on the products you’ll use the most, and read the fine print to make sure you know what costs to expect.

• Are there flexible options for managing my money?

The most popular digital banking companies tend to have easy, flexible ways of transferring to and from your accounts – including accounts held at other financial institutions. It’s not uncommon to find companies that offer free Interac e-Transfers, email money transfers and bill payments, while some charge a small fee per transaction. Check out customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot to find out which companies handle customers’ money safely and reliably.

• What customer support options are available?

Perhaps the biggest trade-off of banking with a digital company is that you don’t have the familiarity and accessibility of interacting face-to-face with real customer service representatives. Look for companies that offers many ways to connect with support staff including live chat, phone, email and online contact forms. 24/7 availability is a huge plus. At the very least, it can helpful to have access to a robust online database of how-to articles and FAQs for when you can’t get in touch with representatives.

Compare other digital banking products in Canada