ForteBank · Kazakhstan
00:00Astana, local time
Opening an account at ForteBank for international clients
An account and card at a universal Kazakh bank with developed retail
Support in opening an account and a card at ForteBank — a universal Kazakh bank with developed retail. A working alternative to the largest players with the same product set.
BRIDGES GLOBAL service
from €2,500
The fee is fixed before payment. You pay after the preliminary check.
What the packages includeKZT · USD · EUR
Main currencies
For non-residents
Applications considered
Per bank terms
Opening format
OverviewForteBank
Key facts about the account
ForteBank is a top-ten Kazakh bank: KZT, USD and EUR accounts, cards, an app. The country’s general rules apply to non-residents: an IIN, an in-person visit and an in-depth review; a clear account purpose strengthens the application.
- Account type
- Personal account and card
- Client
- Including non-residents — per bank requirements
- Currencies
- KZT · USD · EUR
- Bank card
- Yes, per the selected bank product
- SWIFT
- Yes
- SEPA
- No: EUR payments run via SWIFT
- Opening
- In-person visit; non-residents need a local tax number (IIN)
- Timeline
- From several working days after the IIN is issued; depends on the bank’s review
- Bank fees
- Set by the bank; shown before the work starts
- BRIDGES GLOBAL service
- From €2,500, fixed before payment
ProductsAstana
What you get with the account
- 01Multi-currency accountAn account with KZT, USD, EUR balances and in-bank conversion. The base of the client’s settlement infrastructure in the jurisdiction.
- 02Bank cardAn international payment card linked to the account — physical and digital formats per the bank’s line.
- 03Digital bankingOnline banking and a mobile app: payments, conversion, statements and bank communication remotely.
- 04BRIDGES GLOBAL supportFile preparation, filing coordination and responses to bank requests — before the decision and after opening.
Bank card
Debit card KZT · USD · EUR
Card issuance and maintenance terms are set by the bank. Before the project we confirm the current tariffs of the selected product.
Non-residentsKazakhstan
Opening without Kazakh residency
ForteBank opens accounts to non-residents subject to two conditions: a local tax number (IIN) and in-person identification at a branch. From there, preparation decides: source of funds, account purpose and a correct document set.
- 01The IIN takes several days and is part of the service
- 02A Kazakh residence permit is not required
- 03An in-person visit is the standard identification condition
Check your citizenship
Statuses reflect review practice as of the verification date and are not a promise on the bank’s behalf. The bank makes the final decision on each specific application.
RequirementsWhat the bank looks at
What the applicant needs
The account opens personally to an applicant aged 18+ with a valid passport.
A non-resident needs a Kazakh tax number. We obtain it as part of the service before the bank visit.
ForteBank verifies source of funds and account purpose. We prepare this part of the file in advance.
Identification takes place at a branch. The date and city are coordinated in advance.
PreparationPersonal list - after the check
Documents for the bank
The exact list depends on citizenship, residency and source of funds: after the pre-check we send a personal list with samples.
Source of funds
Pick your main source — we show the documents the bank typically requests.
- Employment contract or employer letter
- Salary account statements
- Tax returns where applicable
PricingPayment — after the pre-check
Support packages
01
Account only€2,500
Account and core support until the bank’s decision
02
Account + bank card€2,800
Adds card issuance and digital banking set-up
03
Account + extended support€3,700
Adds support for bank compliance requests for 6 months after opening
Included
- Preliminary check
- Personal document list
- Application and banking file preparation
- Visit booking and coordination
- Bank communication support
- Responses to additional bank requests
Not included
- The bank’s decision to open the account
- Bank fees and tariffs
- Minimum balance and deposits
- Third-party costs: translations, apostilles, travel
Process8 steps to the bank’s decision
How the account opening works
- 01Pre-check
We assess citizenship, residency, source of funds and account purpose — and say honestly whether the application has a prospect.
- 02Payment and project creation
Once the fit is confirmed we invoice the service. The project gets a number and a personal coordinator.
- 03Document collection
We send a personal list, verify each document and request anything missing in advance.
- 04Banking file
We build the file in the logic of compliance questions: source of funds, account purpose, expected operations.
- 05Filing and visit
We obtain the IIN, coordinate the date and branch in Almaty or Astana, prepare the client for the bank’s questions and support the filing.
- 06Compliance review
The bank reviews the application. We answer additional ForteBank requests and keep the client informed.
- 07Bank decision
The decision belongs to the bank. If declined, we analyse the reason and propose the next step — keeping the prepared file.
- 08Account and card
We help activate the account, the card and digital banking. On the extended package we stay available for bank requests.
Compliance
Compliance and source of funds
The bank assesses not the size of the capital but its clarity: where the funds come from, what the client does, what operations are planned. We prepare the file in this logic before filing, so most compliance questions close in advance rather than in correspondence after filing.
The final decision on opening the account, issuing the card and providing banking products belongs to the bank. BRIDGES GLOBAL provides consulting and support services and does not guarantee a positive bank decision. Payment is made for BRIDGES GLOBAL services in preparing and supporting the project.
PracticeKazakhstan
How such projects run
QuestionsForteBank
Account opening questions
When a second Kazakh bank in another group is needed or queues at the largest banks delay the project. Product-wise Forte covers the same needs: account, card, transfers.
For digital banking Kazakh banks usually require a local SIM card. We help arrange it on the visit day — part of the project coordination.
The IIN is Kazakhstan’s individual identification number. A non-resident needs it to open an account; obtaining it takes several days and is part of our service.
The base scenario is an in-person visit and branch identification. Certain remote scenarios occur, but their availability is checked before the project.
After the IIN is issued and with a complete document set - usually from several working days. The timeline depends on the ForteBank review.
Payment covers BRIDGES GLOBAL’s preparation and support work, not the bank’s decision. We start with a free pre-check and do not take on applications without a realistic prospect. Termination terms are fixed in the agreement before payment.
We file the application when it has a real prospect
First we check citizenship, residency and source of funds. If the bank’s practice leaves little chance, we say so before payment and suggest another bank.
Alternatives