In international business, the nominee director service is widely used — it helps maintain confidentiality, meet jurisdictional requirements, and simplify company management.
However, when opening a corporate bank account, banks pay close attention to the company’s structure, and especially to nominee directors.
In this article, we explain how banks actually view nominee directors, what is acceptable, what is not, and how to prepare properly to avoid rejection.
Why Banks Scrutinize Nominee Directors
The main task of any bank is to ensure that:
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the company conducts real economic activity
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there are no tax evasion schemes
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there are no hidden high-risk owners
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the director understands the company’s business
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the structure is transparent
Nominee directors naturally raise questions because they do not manage the business and act solely under contract.
For a bank, this is a signal:
“We must verify who is actually behind the company and who makes the decisions.”
How Banks Treat Nominee Directors in 2025
Their attitude generally falls into three categories.
1. Neutral / Accepting Attitude (when the structure is transparent)
This is the most common scenario.
Banks in many countries (Lithuania, Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, and several EU banks) open accounts for companies with nominee directors if:
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the beneficial owner is fully disclosed
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all documents are provided (Declaration of Trust, agreements)
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the business model is clear
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the nominee understands his formal role
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the company is not high-risk (crypto, gambling, finance, sanctioned exports)
For banks, the service itself is not the issue — transparency is the key factor.
2. Heightened Attention (enhanced compliance checks)
Most international banks classify nominee directors as a higher-risk element.
This means the bank may request:
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an interview with the real beneficial owner
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proof of source of funds
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ownership structure documents
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the contract with the nominee director
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proof of real activity (website, contracts, invoices)
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business plan or operational description
Often the nominee must confirm that he does not handle operational management, so the bank understands who will actually be making decisions.
3. Negative Attitude (possible rejection)
Some banks are not comfortable with nominee structures.
These typically include:
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traditional U.S. banks
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conservative EU banks (Germany, France)
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banks with strict due diligence on ownership
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banks that work exclusively with local directors
Reasons for rejection:
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high compliance workload
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unclear control over the company
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increased AML risks
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high number of fake companies using nominees
In such jurisdictions, banks prefer directors who are:
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local residents
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actively involved in management
Documents Banks Usually Require When a Nominee Director Is Involved
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Beneficial owner’s passport
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Proof of residential address
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Beneficial ownership declaration
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Nominee director agreement
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Proof of source of funds
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Full business activity description
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Existing contracts or invoices (if available)
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Company website, social media, presentation
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Evidence of real future activity
The more transparency you provide — the higher the approval chances.
Red Flags That Trigger Bank Suspicion
Banks closely examine signs of a potentially fake or shell company, such as:
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no website or a poorly made “placeholder” site
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nominee director does not know the company name
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inability to explain business processes
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vague or overly broad activity descriptions
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no staff, no office, no revenue
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heavy use of cash
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offshore registration without clear business logic
If even two of these points apply, the likelihood of rejection increases significantly.
How to Open a Corporate Account With a Nominee Director Successfully
Here is a practical step-by-step strategy:
1. Disclose the beneficial owner immediately
There is no point trying to hide anything — the bank will find it anyway.
2. Prepare all documents in advance
Show the bank that the structure is real and transparent.
3. Build a proper website and company presentation
Compliance teams like clarity and visibility.
4. Choose banks that regularly work with nominee structures
Not all banks operate the same way.
5. Use fintechs as a backup option
Good options for starting: Revolut Business, Wise, Paysera, Intergiro.
6. Demonstrate real activity
Even 1–2 contracts, letters of intent, or a business plan improve approval chances.
Conclusion
Banks are not against nominee directors, but they:
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require transparency
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increase compliance checks
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want to see the real beneficial owner
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evaluate the company’s actual business activity
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may reject accounts if the structure appears suspicious
If you prepare properly and choose the right bank, opening a corporate account with a nominee director is absolutely achievable.
