Private bankers Thai Vo and Rob Regtuijt have assisted numerous international clients relocating to the Netherlands. Specializing in expat banking services, they understand the unique challenges that may come with moving abroad.
Moving to a new country can be an exciting chapter in life, but it also brings uncertainties. What will the customs and culture be like? How do I open a bank account there? How do I find housing? By providing personalized care and with an international scope, Thai and Rob aim to assist foreign professionals settling in as soon as possible.
Financial affairs are a matter you do not want to worry about when relocating. ‘A service that we offer is opening a bank account from abroad, without the need for a social security number. This means clients are able to already do so while preparing their journey to the Netherlands’, Rob explains, ‘saving them a lot of time and energy when they arrive.’
For many expats, moving to the Netherlands involves buying a house. Rob: ‘Often renting at first, many clients wish to acquire property soon after arriving, and securing a mortgage typically is a crucial step’. Sometimes the assumption is that expats cannot secure a mortgage, however, at ABN AMRO MeesPierson they can and receive specialized help to do it
Thai: ‘The application process can proceed swiftly, as we have all the necessary documentation in place in English’.
Technology is a core driver of the service we provide. Thai explains: “With a strong back office and our client service team, we ensure excellent accessibility. This means clients can have personal meetings at our office, or opt for video meetings. As a result, customers experience our service as a high valued banking experience.”
While Thai and Rob deal mainly with their client’s financial affairs, sometimes their work takes an unexpected turn. ‘Expat clients have asked me what kind of bicycle is most suited for them to buy, or they wonder about the school they could send their kids to here in Amsterdam’, says Rob. Thai continues: We’re happy to support our clients also with these more personal challenges, in order to really help them create their new home-away-from-home here.
Thai and Rob start their specialized banking service when their clients relocate to the Netherlands. This does not mean however their work ends once their clients move away again. Thai: ‘We aim to be there for our clients during key life events, no matter where they live. It is part of our service, in which we like to look towards not just the present, but towards the future as well’. Rob elaborates: ‘For our clients, this means our service extends across borders. They can benefit not only from the security and stability offered by the largest Private Bank in the Netherlands, but reap the same benefits abroad, as we are an esteemed International Private Bank’.
