Certainly not true for ABN AMRO, see "Unable to open an account using the app?". Sounds like someone will come by your house to check your ID.

https://www.abnamro.nl/en/personal/payments/open-an-account/...

Incidentally I was happy to see that while they're phasing out their previous cryptographic identification device (that you put your bank card in) they will still support some kind of cryptographic usb dongle (in addition to smartphones).

Not quite true. All banks really want you to use their app, and the neobanks actually demand it (and get away with it because they are not as important as the so-called system banks).

But look at the pages more carefully, and you'll note that there is a way to open an account using just a web browser too (e.g., look at abnamro.nl). The links are deemphasised by using dark UI patterns of course.

ING is being really dirty about this. It should be possible to open an account, and get the OTP hardware device that reads the chip on the debit card, but they don't document how you can open an account without the app. It's probably possible, as existing customers can bank without the app, but you will probably have to call them.

Banks would love to get rid of all those nasty people without approved smartphones, but that would cause political pushback.

Thats simply not true. If I want to open an account I can go to a Rabobank office and open an account. There are still plenty of Rabobank offices around. I can also access all features (even pay with Wero / iDeal) via my Rabobank scanner on my desktop via their website.

> All other banks only allow you to open an account via their app.

TIL all Dutch banks (except ASN) closed all their branches and you can't register new account in the branch, what a progressive society it must be...