A bank for a company in Romania: how to prepare documents and explain your activity
A bank for a company in Romania is not just a place where the company's money sits.
For an SRL, the bank account becomes part of the whole business structure: registration, CAEN codes, contracts, clients, income, expenses, accounting, taxes, a residence permit and the explanation of the activity.
Many Ukrainian entrepreneurs think:
"I'll open the SRL first, and then the bank will open an account on its own."
But the bank looks at more than the fact that the company is registered.
The bank wants to understand who the owner is, what the company does, where the money will come from, who the clients are, which countries are involved in the payments and why the business was set up in Romania specifically.
If these answers are not prepared in advance, opening an account can become a problem.
Why the bank asks questions
The bank is required to understand its client and the client's activity.
For an SRL owner, this means that showing a registration certificate is not enough.
You need to explain the economic purpose of the company.
The bank may ask about:
who the beneficial owner is; what the company's activity is; which CAEN codes were chosen; who the clients are; which countries payments will come from; what amounts are expected; what contracts exist; why the company operates through Romania; whether there will be cash turnover; whether there is a connection with real estate; whether there is a connection with a residence permit; who keeps the books.
If the entrepreneur cannot answer, the company looks weak.
Banks do not like chaos.
They want a clear model that can be explained with documents.
What to prepare before going to the bank
Preparing for the bank starts before the branch visit or the online application.
You need to gather and think through in advance:
the SRL registration documents; the administrator's details; the beneficial owner's details; the articles of association; CAEN codes; the company address; a description of the activity; sample contracts; a description of the clients; the expected turnover; the sources of funds; the countries of payments; the accountant; the tax logic; the connection with a residence permit, if there is one.
If all of this is ready, the conversation with the bank becomes manageable.
If not, the entrepreneur starts explaining the business on the fly, often inconsistently and unconvincingly.
The beneficial owner and the owner
The bank needs to understand who actually controls the company.
That is why the beneficial owner question cannot be treated as a formality.
You need to prepare:
who owns the company; who makes decisions; where the owner's funds come from; what experience the owner has; why they are opening a business in Romania; how the owner is connected with the SRL's activity.
If the company has one owner, the logic is simpler.
If there are several shareholders, you need clarity: who is responsible for what, who manages, who finances, who signs the contracts.
The bank and the business model
The most important document for the bank is not always a formal document.
Sometimes a clear description of the business matters more.
For example:
the company provides consulting services to Ukrainians in Europe; the company works with real estate in Romania; the company provides marketing services; the company manages rental properties; the company sells services to European clients; the company structures an existing business through Romania.
But it is not enough just to say this.
You need to show the connection between:
CAEN codes; contracts; clients; payments; invoices; expenses; accounting; taxes.
Then the bank sees not a random company but a working business structure.
The bank and CAEN codes
The CAEN codes you choose must match what the entrepreneur tells the bank.
If the documents list one set of activities and the explanation describes another, that creates a risk.
For example, the company is registered for consulting, but the entrepreneur talks about selling goods. Or the company talks about real estate, but the CAEN codes do not reflect that logic. Or too many unrelated activities are listed, and the bank cannot tell which one is the main one.
That is why CAEN codes, the bank and the business model have to be prepared together.
The bank and contracts
Contracts help the bank understand what the company is being paid for.
An SRL needs a sound contractual logic.
You need to understand in advance:
what services the company sells; who the client is; what the result of the service is; how the price is set; when the invoice is issued; how payment arrives; which documents go to the accountant.
If payments come in without a contract, without an invoice and without an explanation, this can raise questions.
A good contract helps the bank and the accountant see a legal and understandable activity.
The bank and accounting
Accounting is not only for taxes.
It helps the bank see order.
If the books are kept properly, the company can show:
income; expenses; contracts; invoices; taxes; payments; financial discipline.
If the accounting is chaotic, the bank may not understand what is going on in the company.
This is especially important for international payments and for work with Ukrainian, European or other foreign clients.
The bank and a residence permit
If the SRL is opened as part of a residence permit route, the bank becomes even more important.
The business route has to look real.
You need:
an account; movement of funds; contracts; clients; income; accounting; a connection between the business and your stay in Romania.
An empty company with no account and no activity does not strengthen your position.
The company must be a working tool, not a decoration.
The bank and real estate
If the SRL is connected with real estate, the bank may ask additional questions.
For example:
whether the company is buying a property; whether it rents the property out; who the tenants are; where the money for the purchase comes from; what the expenses will be; who manages the property; how income is documented; whether there are contracts.
Real estate is not just an asset.
For the bank, it raises questions about the source of funds, the economic purpose and future payments.
That is why real estate held through an SRL has to be prepared especially carefully.
The main mistakes Ukrainians make
Mistake #1. Thinking the bank will automatically open an account after the SRL is registered.
Mistake #2. Not preparing a description of the activity.
Mistake #3. Not understanding who the clients are and where the money comes from.
Mistake #4. Choosing CAEN codes with no connection to the business.
Mistake #5. Not preparing contracts.
Mistake #6. Not explaining the beneficial owner.
Mistake #7. Not linking the bank with accounting.
Mistake #8. Opening an SRL for a residence permit without real activity.
Mistake #9. Using the company for real estate without a clear model.
Mistake #10. Going to the bank without strategic preparation.
How Alliance / Armonie helps
Alliance / Armonie helps Ukrainians prepare their SRL for the bank strategically, not as a formality.
During the assessment we review:
the registration documents; the beneficial owner; the administrator; CAEN codes; the business model; clients; the countries of payments; contracts; the expected turnover; the sources of funds; accounting; taxes; real estate; the residence permit; banking risks; a plan for 1–3 years.
After the assessment it becomes clear which documents to prepare, how to explain the activity, which bank to choose and how to connect the account with the company's normal operations.
What to send for an initial assessment
For an initial analysis, send us:
whether you already have an SRL; who the owner is; who the administrator is; which CAEN codes were chosen; what the company does; who the clients are; which countries payments will come from; what turnover is expected; whether there are contracts; whether you need a residence permit; whether there is real estate; who keeps the books; what your main question about the bank is.
That is enough to start the review.
Conclusion
A bank for a company in Romania has to be prepared in advance.
It is not the last step after registering an SRL, but part of the whole structure.
If there is a clear business model, the right CAEN codes, a beneficial owner, contracts, accounting, clients and an explanation of the payments, opening an account becomes more manageable.
If none of this is in place, the bank may become the first serious obstacle.
First the assessment. Then the business model. Then the documents. Then the bank. Then accounting and the company's operations.
This is how an SRL in Romania becomes a proper European company rather than a random registration with no account and no strategy.
FAQ
Can you open an account for an SRL in Romania right after registration?
You can start the procedure, but the bank will look not only at the registration but at the activity, the beneficial owner, the clients and the payments.
What documents does the bank need?
Usually the company documents, the owner's and administrator's details, a description of the activity, CAEN codes, the address, contracts and an explanation of the sources of funds.
Why may the bank ask many questions?
Because it has to understand the client, the economic purpose of the business, the source of funds and future transactions.
Do you need an accountant before opening an account?
It is advisable to bring in accounting early so that the bank, contracts, invoices and the tax logic are connected.
Where should preparation for the bank start?
With a strategic assessment of the company, the beneficial owner, the business model, CAEN codes and payments.