Becoming a Clearstream customer

The Clearstream Group operates the German CSD, Clearstream Banking AG (CBF), and an ICSD, Clearstream Banking S.A. (CBL). Account opening processes follow some acceptance criteria that are detailed below.

Customer acceptance criteria

Categories of customers accepted

Clearstream Banking S.A.

Clearstream Banking AG

Central banks

AML-regulated banks or credit institutions as customers as defined under the Law of 5 April 1993 on the financial sector, as amended, of Luxembourg

AML-regulated banks or credit institutions as customers as defined under the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz) in Germany

Foreign AML-regulated banks and credit institutions having a status equivalent to and being submitted to customer identification and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing

Central Securities Depositories (CSDs)

Categories of customers subject to an exceptional acceptance process when not meeting the above criteria

Clearstream Banking S.A.

Clearstream Banking AG

Professionnels du Secteur Financier (PSF) as defined under the Law of April 1993 or equivalent foreign institutions if they are able to hold and control client assets

 

Brokers and securities dealers

Supranational institutions

Corporates (subject to limitations)

Categories not accepted

Clearstream Banking S.A.

Clearstream Banking AG

Natural persons

Shell banks (a “shell bank” is a bank without substance that maintains no physical presence in any country)

Anonymous accounts and “payable through accounts” (where a principal controls the account but is not known to Clearstream)

Documentation required

Documentation required for both Clearstream Banking AG and Clearstream Banking S.A.

  • Customer Application Form (CBL) (CBF);
  • Account Application Form (CBL) (CBF);
  • A complete and up-to-date list of the applicant company's authorised signatories with specimen signatures;
  • The Articles of Association (or appropriate substitute);
  • The Banking License or Business License (as a professional of the financial sector);
  • The extract of  the Company's Register;
  • Latest Annual Report (for subsidiaries, an annual report of the parent company for the previous financial year has to be provided);
  • FATCA self-certification form, duly filled in and signed.

Additional documentation required for Clearstream Banking S.A.

  • US Patriot Act certification (if applicable);
  • Detailed report on the company by a recognised rating agency (if applicable);
  • VAT number (mandatory only for customers based in the European Union).

Additional documentation required for Clearstream Banking AG

  • The "Invoicing" form;
  • The "Appointment of an agent in Germany" form, duly filled in and signed (only applicable for  customers whose registered office is located outside of Germany).

Know your customer – Anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing

In addition to the documentation detailed above, and to ensure that Clearstream meets its know-your-customer requirements, for both CBL  and CBF, applicants should submit the following documents:

  • Identification documents of significant shareholders (if applicable);
  • Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing questionnaire (if applicable);
  • Comfort letter from the AML-regulated parent (if applicable);
  • Declaration of beneficial ownership of funds (if applicable).

Applications from financial institutions are reviewed by Clearstream’s credit and compliance departments and will be submitted for final approval respectively to the Executive Board for CBL and CBF customers.

Please follow the link below to obtain account opening forms and for copies of our governing documents or contact your Relationship Manager for further information.