Business account requirements in Singapore: documents checklist

Snapshot

To open a business account in Singapore you need a company registered with ACRA and its Unique Entity Number, the company business profile and certificate of incorporation, a board resolution authorising the account, and identification plus proof of address for directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners. Local owners also use SingPass and CorpPass to apply online. As of 23 February 2026.

Company proof: Unique Entity Number, ACRA business profile, certificate of incorporation.
Authority: A board resolution authorising the account and naming who can operate it.
People: Identification and proof of address for directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners.
Local access: SingPass and CorpPass to apply online, with details drawn from MyInfo Business. As of 23 February 2026.

Fees and features as of 23 February 2026Last reviewed 23 February 2026

General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.

Opening a business account in Singapore comes down to proving who the company is, who controls it, and that the people applying are authorised. You need the Unique Entity Number, the ACRA business profile, and the certificate of incorporation to show the company exists, a board resolution to authorise the account, and identification plus proof of address for directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners to pass know your customer checks. Local owners apply online using SingPass and CorpPass, with company details drawn from the government MyInfo Business service. Foreign owned companies are asked for more ownership detail and sometimes source of funds. The exact list varies by provider, so confirm it before you apply. As of 23 February 2026.

The core documents

Most providers in Singapore ask for the same core set, then add to it depending on the ownership and the activity of the business. The aim of the checks is to confirm the company is real, to identify the people who own and control it, and to meet anti money laundering rules. Getting the documents ready before you apply is the simplest way to avoid delay, since a missing beneficial owner detail or an out of date business profile is a common cause of hold ups. As of 23 February 2026.

Proving the company

The Unique Entity Number is the company identifier issued on registration with ACRA. The ACRA business profile is the official extract that shows the registered name, the activity, the directors, and the shareholders, and providers often want a recent copy. The certificate of incorporation confirms the company was formed. Together these show the company exists and who is on the public record. As of 23 February 2026. Confirm which documents the provider wants.

Proving authority and identity

A board resolution authorises opening the account and names who can operate it, which matters when a company has more than one director. Each director, shareholder, and beneficial owner is usually asked for identification and proof of address so the provider can run know your customer checks. Local owners can apply online with SingPass and CorpPass, with details drawn from MyInfo Business, which reduces the paperwork. Foreign owned companies are asked for fuller ownership detail and sometimes source of funds. As of 23 February 2026. Verify the current list with the provider.

A checklist before you apply

Have these ready to speed up the application. The exact list varies. Verify with the provider

The Unique Entity Number, a recent ACRA business profile, and the certificate of incorporation.
A board resolution authorising the account, with identification and proof of address for directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners.
For local owners, SingPass and CorpPass, with company details available through MyInfo Business.

How to prepare the documents

Pull a recent ACRA business profile and confirm the Unique Entity Number and certificate of incorporation are to hand.
Pass a board resolution authorising the account and naming who can operate it.
Gather identification and proof of address for everyone the provider needs, then apply online or in person as required.

Compare business accounts available in Singapore

These providers accept business customers in Singapore. Fees and eligibility shown as of 23 February 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.

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Questions about requirements and documents in Singapore

What documents do I need to open a business account in Singapore?

You need the Unique Entity Number, a recent ACRA business profile, and the certificate of incorporation, a board resolution authorising the account, and identification plus proof of address for directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners. Local owners also use SingPass and CorpPass to apply online. As of 23 February 2026. Confirm the current list with the provider.

What is a Unique Entity Number?

The Unique Entity Number is the standard identifier issued to a company when it registers with ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Providers use it to identify the company and pull its business profile. As of 23 February 2026. Confirm the requirement with the provider.

Do I need a board resolution?

Usually yes for a company with directors. A board resolution authorises opening the account and names who can operate it, which providers ask for to confirm the application is authorised. As of 23 February 2026. Confirm the exact form with the provider.

Are foreign owned companies asked for more?

Yes. Foreign owned companies usually face enhanced due diligence, with fuller ownership detail, beneficial owner identification, and sometimes evidence of the source of funds. As of 23 February 2026. Verify the current requirements with the provider.

Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 23 February 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.

Requirements and documents to open a business account in Singapore