Common understanding between sex workers and banks will build trust, making it possible for financial institutions to include sex workers as business clients and for sex workers to be recognized as legitimate entrepreneurs. 

Sex workers deserve equality in treatment from all of society. That includes access to a bank account.

Access to financial services, especially for your source of income, is a fundamental right and forms the basis of a well-functioning society. However, certain groups of people encounter difficulties in exercising that right. Sex work is a licensed profession with a taxable income in The Netherlands. However, sex workers encounter difficulties in accessing financial services such as business bank accounts, partly because financial institutions are bound by strict rules and regulations This only adds to the stigma and vulnerability this group is already facing.

Access to financial services, while improving ways to adhere to rules and regulations will have immense impact for sex workers, financial institutions and society. It will improve the transparency and security in the sector and reduce the vulnerability of sex workers. It will make banking services inclusive and accessible to all and enable financial institutions to improve their gatekeeper role.

Access to a business bank account is a foundation to building a healthy financial management, professionally and personally, for all entrepreneurs, including sex workers. In addition to providing safe custody of money, a business bank account allows sex workers to carry out safe and legitimate transactions which allows banks to continue operating in a regulated manner while giving them financial security in return.

Most of us don’t think about the lack of banking services because most of us never have to worry about that, but sex workers do. Our solution will take that worry away from them.