Lunar Bank Review 2026: Best Expat Bank in Denmark?

Lunar Bank is a fully licensed Danish challenger bank that most expats can open in 10–15 minutes with just a CPR number, an active MitID, and a Danish phone number. It runs entirely in English, supports MobilePay and NemKonto, and offers a free Zero plan — making it the fastest, most expat-friendly first bank account in Denmark. Its main gaps are international SWIFT transfers outside the EU and English-only in-app support.

If you ask any expat Facebook group or Reddit thread for Denmark which bank to use, Lunar comes up more than any other. That consensus exists for good reason: Lunar was the first Danish bank to build a genuinely English-friendly onboarding experience, and it opens faster and with fewer requirements than any traditional Danish bank.

This review covers what Lunar actually offers, where it falls short, and whether it is the right choice for your situation.

What Is Lunar?

Lunar is a Danish challenger bank (a digital-first bank with no physical branches) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Aarhus. It holds a full Danish banking license from the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet), which means deposits up to DKK 750,000 are covered by the Danish Deposit Guarantee Scheme (Garantiformuen) — the same protection you get with Nordea or Danske Bank.

Lunar is not a fintech workaround or a foreign e-money institution. It is a real Danish bank with a Danish account number, Danish sort code, and full NemKonto eligibility. That matters because many alternatives (Wise, Revolut, N26) cannot be designated as your NemKonto, which is required for receiving government payments and tax refunds. If you are still weighing options, our guide to the best bank account in Denmark for expats compares Lunar against the traditional Danish banks.

Why Expats Choose Lunar

The English-language experience

The Lunar app is fully translated into English. Notifications, statements, account settings, spending categories — all in English. This sounds basic, but most Danish banks have partial or non-existent English translations. Trying to navigate Arbejdernes Landsbank or Jyske Bank in Danish when you have just arrived is genuinely painful.

Lunar's customer support also operates in English via in-app chat, though response times can vary (more on this below).

No minimum income requirement

Traditional Danish banks often require proof of income above a minimum threshold, an employment contract, or an existing Danish banking relationship. Lunar requires none of this. You need a CPR number, an active MitID, and a Danish phone number. That is the entire list.

This makes Lunar accessible to students, freelancers, recent graduates, and anyone else who does not yet have a formal Danish employment contract. If your CPR number has not arrived yet, see our walkthrough on opening a Danish bank account without a CPR number.

Fast account opening

Opening a Lunar account takes 10–15 minutes. You do everything in the app: provide personal details, complete MitID verification, upload a photo of your passport, and wait for approval. Most accounts are approved the same day or within a few hours.

MobilePay support

MobilePay is Denmark's dominant peer-to-peer payment system — used for splitting restaurant bills, paying at farmers markets, and sending money to friends. Without a Danish bank account that supports MobilePay, you are effectively excluded from how most Danes handle small payments. Lunar fully supports MobilePay. Wise and Revolut do not.

Account Features

DKK account

Lunar's main account is a standard DKK current account with a full Danish account number (regnr + kontonr format). You can designate it as your NemKonto on borger.dk.

Visa debit card

Lunar issues a Visa debit card (which also functions as a Dankort where applicable). It is contactless, works with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and is accepted everywhere in Denmark. You receive the physical card by post within 5–7 business days of approval.

Savings pockets

You can create separate savings "pockets" within Lunar and name them (e.g., "Emergency Fund," "Summer Travel"). Interest rates on savings pockets are variable and updated monthly — check the app for the current rate, as it changes with the Danish National Bank's policy rate.

Spending insights

The app categorises your transactions automatically (groceries, transport, dining, etc.) and shows monthly spending summaries. Useful for understanding where your money goes when you first arrive and are adjusting to Danish price levels.

Investment features

Lunar offers basic stock and ETF investing within the app (via a Danish investment account). However, the product selection is limited compared to dedicated investment platforms like Nordnet or Saxo Bank. If investing is a priority, use Lunar for banking and a separate platform for investments.

Pricing

For most expats, the Zero plan is sufficient. The DKK 49 Standard plan adds some perks but the travel insurance included is basic — check the terms carefully before relying on it for significant travel.

ATM withdrawals: Free up to 4 withdrawals or DKK 2,000/month on the Zero plan. After that, a fee applies. If you use cash regularly, consider the Standard plan or simply plan your withdrawals.

International card transactions: Lunar charges a small foreign exchange fee on purchases in currencies other than DKK. It is not the best card to use when travelling outside Denmark — a Wise card is better for that.

Limitations

International transfers (SWIFT/wire)

Lunar's support for sending money internationally via SWIFT is limited. You can send money to EU countries via SEPA, but for transfers outside the EU — to India, the Philippines, the US, or elsewhere — Lunar is not the right tool. Use Wise for international transfers and keep Lunar for your Danish DKK life; our guide on sending money home from Denmark covers the cheapest options.

Customer service response times

Lunar's in-app chat is the only support channel. For simple questions, responses arrive in a few hours. For more complex issues (disputed transactions, account access problems), response times can stretch to 24–48 hours. There is no phone line and no branch you can visit. If you need immediate help with a blocked card while abroad, this is a meaningful gap.

For non-urgent support, the English-language capability more than compensates for the wait.

No mortgage or overdraft products

Lunar does not offer mortgages, overdraft facilities, or personal loans. If you need to buy a property in Denmark, you will need a relationship with a traditional bank. Lunar works as a day-to-day account, not as a full-service banking relationship.

Limited business banking

If you are self-employed or run a company in Denmark, Lunar's business offering (Lunar Business) exists but has limited features compared to traditional business banks. Worth evaluating, but do not assume it covers complex business needs.

How to Open a Lunar Account: Step by Step

1. Download the Lunar app — available on iOS and Android. Search "Lunar Bank" in the App Store or Google Play.
2. Create an account — enter your email address and choose a password.
3. Enter your CPR number — Lunar will verify this against the Danish civil registry.
4. Verify with MitID — you will be redirected to the MitID app. Confirm the verification on your phone. If you have not activated MitID yet, you need to do that first (requires CPR + Danish phone number).
5. Take photos of your passport — both the photo page and the signature page.
6. Wait for approval — usually within a few hours, sometimes immediately.
7. Order your card — once approved, navigate to the card section and confirm your delivery address. The card arrives in 5–7 business days.
8. Designate as NemKonto — log into borger.dk with MitID, go to "NemKonto," and update it to your Lunar account number.

Verdict

Lunar is the right first Danish bank account for the vast majority of expats. It is the fastest to open, the most English-friendly, and covers all the essential functions: DKK account, MobilePay, NemKonto, salary receipt, and everyday spending.

Its weaknesses — no SWIFT international transfers, slow support, no lending products — are real but predictable. For those needs, use Wise alongside Lunar (for international transfers) and talk to a traditional bank if you eventually need a mortgage.

Do not treat Lunar as your only financial tool forever. Treat it as the essential first step that unlocks Danish financial life, which you then build on.

Key Takeaways

• Lunar is a fully licensed Danish bank — not a fintech workaround. Deposits are government-insured.
• You can open an account in 15 minutes with just CPR + MitID + a Danish phone number. No income requirement.
• The Zero plan (DKK 0/month) is adequate for most expats: full DKK account, Visa debit card, MobilePay, NemKonto eligibility.
• International transfers (outside EU) are not well supported — use Wise for those.
• Customer support is English-only via in-app chat — no phone line, no branch.
• Open Lunar the same day you activate MitID. Designate it as your NemKonto immediately.