Source: https://rivet.global/blog/luxembourg-sarl-opening-a-business-account
Published: 2026-09-13 · Updated: 2026-09-13 · By William Sunjo M.

# Opening a business account for a Luxembourg SARL or SARL-S: what you will be asked for

The documents and checks to expect when a Luxembourg SARL or SARL-S opens a business account: RCS extract, RBE filing, statutes, owners and source of funds.

## Key takeaways

- A SARL needs share capital of at least €12,000; a SARL-S can start with as little as €1 but is limited to individual shareholders.
- Every Luxembourg company registers its beneficial owners in the RBE; the owners you declare to a bank must match it.
- Banks and payment institutions ask for the RCS extract, statutes, owner and director identification, and a description of the business and its funds.
- An honest, specific description of where money will come from and go to shortens reviews more than anything else.

Two founders incorporate a SARL-S in Luxembourg City in a week, with €1,000 of capital. Opening the business account takes six. The bank asks for the statutes, the RCS extract, an RBE confirmation, passports and proof of address for both, a business plan, and an explanation of where the first €200,000 of client money will come from.

None of that is unusual in Luxembourg. Knowing it in advance shortens the six weeks.

## SARL or SARL-S

A SARL (société à responsabilité limitée) needs at least €12,000 of share capital. A SARL-S, the simplified form, can start with €1 to €12,000, must be owned by individuals, and is meant for smaller ventures. Both are full legal entities that can hold accounts, sign contracts and invoice abroad.

Low capital is not a problem in itself. It does mean the reviewer will ask how the company funds its first months.

## The documents

Expect to provide:

1. An extract from the Registre de commerce et des sociétés (RCS) and the coordinated statutes.
2. Confirmation of the beneficial owners filed in the Registre des bénéficiaires effectifs (RBE).
3. Identity documents and proof of address for each director and each beneficial owner.
4. A description of the business: what it sells, to whom, in which countries, and expected volumes.
5. Evidence of source of funds: share capital, founder loans, investment agreements or signed client contracts.

## Where reviews stall

Most delays come from inconsistencies. The owners declared to the provider differ from the RBE. An address on the ID differs from the proof of address. The business description says "consulting" while the expected payments come from a crypto exchange.

Before applying, check that the RBE filing is current, that every person's documents agree, and that the business description is specific: "software development services for retail clients in France and Belgium, invoiced monthly in euros, about €30,000 a month in year one" gets through faster than "IT services".

## Paying into Luxembourg: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | SEPA Instant Credit Transfer |
| Run by | European Payments Council scheme, run by each bank |
| Settlement | Under ten seconds, 24/7 |
| Published fee | By the EU Instant Payments Regulation, no more than the bank charges for a standard SEPA transfer |

Source: [European Payments Council: SEPA Instant Credit Transfer](https://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/what-we-do/sepa-instant-credit-transfer). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

A Rivet business account accepts applications from registered companies such as a Luxembourg SARL or SARL-S, with a document list shown up front and a verification decision aimed within three business days. Once approved, the company gets US dollar details on every plan and, from the Growth plan, euro details with an IBAN and sterling details, all in its own name. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds, and they make the final approval.

For the full document list most providers use, see [KYB documents to open a business account](/blog/kyb-documents-to-open-a-business-account) and our explainer on [beneficial owners](/blog/beneficial-owner-explained).

## Questions

### What is the RBE?

The Registre des bénéficiaires effectifs, the register of beneficial owners. Companies must file who ultimately owns or controls them; access is restricted to authorities and obliged professionals such as banks.

### Can a SARL-S open a business account?

Yes. A SARL-S is a full legal entity. Expect the same checks as for a SARL, and possibly more questions about funding if the capital is minimal.

### Why do Luxembourg institutions ask about source of funds?

Anti-money-laundering rules require them to understand where the company's money comes from. For a new company, that usually means founders' capital, client contracts or investment, with documents to show it.

### How long does onboarding take?

It depends on the provider and on how complete the file is. Missing or inconsistent documents are the main reason for delay.