We relocated, and now our personal accounts are the problem.

Personal onboarding runs the same screening as corporate onboarding, and often a stricter version of it. The bank identifies source of wealth as well as source of funds, screens for adverse media, checks politically exposed person status, and applies its own view of the industry the applicant's money comes from. A founder whose wealth derives from gambling, adult, or crypto activity is assessed under enhanced due diligence regardless of how ordinary the account request is.

New residence adds its own frictions. Many banks require a local address history, a tax identification number, and a residence permit already issued; some will not onboard a customer whose income arises entirely outside the country. Where the applicant is a director and beneficial owner of a high-risk company, the personal and corporate files are read together, so a weakness in one affects the other.

The practical damage is timing. A residence permit may require a local account, while the account requires the permit, and salary, rent, or school payments stall in between. Applying repeatedly to retail branches during this period produces a record of declines that makes the eventual placement harder.