Picking the right German bank account for your needs
There used to be a time where opening a German bank account was a difficult task for non-German speakers. Choice was scarce, prices were not transparent, and you were often not greeted so well at the counter.
Those days are long-gone: innovative neo-banks have taken the market by storm with slicks apps, cheap plans & English service. In only a few years, the amount of choice quickly became overwhelming to newcomers in Germany. It’s also one of the first decision to take when moving here, which makes it all a bit…paralyzing.
For those reasons, this post looks at the different options available to newcomers in Germany. It has one goal: finding the best bank account in Germany for your needs. This post is based on real-life experience and thorough reviews of the different banks presented here.
Best bank accounts in Germany overview
If you were to squeeze the juice out of this long post, it would take form of this short list. It contains a summary of your best options with access to more details underneath.
All the options listed here offers service in English, with no ATM fees, no monthly fees (unless stated otherwise), free payment cards & a fully digital sign-up process:
- N26 is still the best first account for most newcomers to Germany. It leads the pack in terms of value & ease of use. 2 reasons to pass on it: customer support is sometimes bad & not every citizenship is eligible. More details here.
- Tomorrow is a great eco-conscious option with legitimate credentials. Think of it as the green N26: same basic features, flexibility & low fees, but your money is going towards climate-friendly projects. Reason to pass on it: not as many features as the competition. More details here.
- Deutsche Bank is the best brick-and-mortar option. Yes, it comes with fees (from 6,90€/month) but it’s the only traditional bank that also has service in English and lets you open an account from abroad. More details here.
- Kontist is probably the best option for freelancers. It strikes a great blend of banking & bookkeeping features, saving you tons of time. Tax advisors are available on demand too. Reason to pass on it: the free plan lacks too many features. More details here.
- Cheat option: DKB is probably the best bank account in Germany, period. A lot of features, low fees & the only true free credit card on the market. The only drawbacks? No English support & the app is showing its age. More details here.
The best German bank account for most people
N26 still earns the #1 spot for most newcomers Germany. Even after the initial hype and some hiccups along the way, it manages to deliver a smooth banking experience at a very competitive price. Yes, customer support is sometimes lacking, but the value delivered still holds up.
I’ve been using N26 for several years now and it has always served me well in Germany or abroad. I’ve personally been very satisfied with their services so far. It comes often up on Facebook groups & forums when people ask for recommendations. You can read my experience in this full N26 review here.
The benefits are still known:
- Super low fees:
- Free standard account.
- Free Mastercard.
- Free use of ATMs worldwide.
- Low fees on international transfers thanks to Wise.
- Ease of use
- Open an account within minutes via the app.
- Interface & customer support available in English, French, Italian & Spanish.
- No need to have a registered address in Germany/Anmeldung (in most cases).
- Easy to close the account.
- Receive your cards within 2-3 days
Reasons why N26 might not be for you
- Your passport/ID card is not supported for identity verification. N26 uses a service provider to verify your identity and your passport/ID card. Sometimes they don’t work well with some countries. This may de-facto restrict your chances to open an account with them. For examples, the following countries’s passports are not supported: Ivory Coast, Algeria, Morocco, Monaco, Nigeria, Russia, Uruguay. Full-list here.
- You really need access to a hotline. When something bad happens, one usually needs a fast reaction time. This unfortunately not well done by N26’s chat. And there is no phone chat available, unless you are on a paid plan.
The brick-and-mortar alternative
If you are after physical branches with real people behind the counter, you can look in the direction of the traditional players on the market. You may have seen them before: Sparkasse, Volksbank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank & Postbank.
All in all, those banks more or less offer the same services within a similar price range. They all costs a bit more than the digital players, but you do get some more value & flexibility out of it, once you are in Germany.
Out of this bunch, Deutsche Bank is probably the best fit for newcomers:
- Online banking, documents & customer support available in English
- For students, it provides a blocked account for visa applications
- The bank has agencies everywhere in Germany, even in the smallest cities.
- You can open an account without an Anmeldung/address in Germany.
The eco-conscious alternative
More and more options on the market offer to put your money to work for the planet. These sort of features are young and should perhaps prove their actual impact over time, but it’s an exciting premise. DKB does offer some level of “green banking” but Tomorrow Bank is clearly the “bank-with-a-mission“on that front. It’s a B-Corp company after all.
The banking experience matches the leaders on the market but payment with the card is funding climate-related projects around the world. You can read exactly how they do that in this Tomorrow Bank review.
Benefits:
- Sign-up is quick & painless via the app for most nationalities.
- Each payment with the card funds projects contributing to climate protection.
- Service & customer support available in German or English.
- Free standard account comes with free ATM withdrawals in Germany or in the Eurozone
Reasons you might want to pass on Tomorrow Bank
- Even if the experience matches the competitors, the amount of features still relatively low.
The best bank account in Germany, if German is not an issue
If German is not a problem for you, you should definitely consider DKB. It offers the same advantages as N26 and the same easy process to open the account online and even surpasses it by providing a true free credit card as well. It also puts your money to good use in sustainable projects. However, they do not not support English as a communication language and it can be tricky for newcomers to open an account.
You can read a full-length review of DKB’s Cash account here.
DKB has been rated consistently as one of the top online banks in Germany for many years. If German is not an issue, it is a strong option to open a German bank account online. It could also be your next bank, after you have mastered the language a little bit.
German bank account for freelancers
If you are currently self-employed and you are looking for a separate bank account to manage all your business related expenses and income, you might be surprised by how costly it is to manage and extra bank account for this. Some banks make you pay a premium or will bill you depending on the movements on the said account.
Some banks are also simply refusing to open another account for you because your income is too low, or if your SCHUFA score doesn’t fit.
However know this: as a freelancer in Germany, you are not legally obligated to hold a separate bank account for your business-related transactions. You can use your private one. However, it still might be a good idea to keep your precious savings safe.
Kontist might be the best bank for freelancers in Germany for those reasons:
- Features of the account blend banking & book keeping perfectly, which might save you the costs of another app.
- It also offers tax advisors on demand if you have questions.
- It saves the taxes you owe to the Finanzamt in a separate subaccount.
- Service & customer support is available 100% in English
- Opening an account takes only a few minutes via the app. No SCHUFA required.
Reasons why you might want to pass on Kontist:
- Free plan lacks too many features, 9€/month plan is much better.
- Kontist shows its youth: some banking features are lacking.
Full review of Kontist available here, where I highlight all benefits & drawbacks, as well as real customer reviews.
Options we can’t recommend
- Revolut: It’s a great service in it-self, particularly relevant for frequent travelers & digital nomads. However, we cannot recommend it because it doesn’t provide you with a German IBAN number. This is a problem because you will need that to pay most of your bills or even receive your salary in some cases. Foreign IBAN numbers are often not supported here.
- Sparkasse, Commerzbank & Volksbank: Those brick-and-mortar options don’t support English very well and/or they have a lot of small fees attached.
- Comdirect, ING & 1882direkt: All these options are competitive online services, almost on par with DKB, but they simply cost more.
Banking options in Germany for non-residents
If you need a banking service WITH a German IBAN before you arrive in Germany, you can turn to banks that don’t require a proof of city registration (Anmeldung/Meldebescheinigung). Those banks are N26, Bunq or Tomorrow. However keep in mind that you do need to be able to verify your identity in-app AND that you need to have a German address to receive your documents cards.
If you are mostly worried about fees and don’t care too much about having a German IBAN, you could simply use Wise’s banking option, which will suit most newcomers in the beginning. It’s a great low-fee multi-currency account.
How to open a bank account in Germany
When you have picked the best option for your needs, this is how it usually happens:
- Provide your ID document (passport or ID card) for identity verification via app or via PostIdent.
- Optionally, provide your residence certificate (Meldebescheinigung) and your residence permit too.
- Close the contract online to effectively open your account.
- Receive documents & cards at home within a few days.
- Activate your cards to start using them. You might also need to transfer funds onto your new account to activate payment functionality.
This process might look a bit different if you are choosing a brick-and-mortar option or if you are opening a bank account from abroad. In this case, you might have to visit a branch or have your identity verified by a notary for example.
How to transfer money to your new account
We all have been there; we sometimes need to pay something big like a deposit on a flat or your simply need to prove you have the means to stay in Germany to obtain your visa. Since there isn’t much money yet on the new German bank account, you might want to transfer some of your savings there to pay for those things. Depending on your bank at home, they might charge you up to 5% of the said amount to make that transfer from another currency. So e.g, on a $3000 transfer, you might pay up to $150 just to move money around!
If that’s true for you, you might want to use services like Wise (formerly Transferwise) which thanks to its unique system, allows you to transfer money in other currencies with a very reduced fee. It has no hidden fees like most of banks have!
For a more information, you can also check this detailed guide on finding the right way to transfer money to Germany.
Banking in Germany – General knowledge
About ATM fees
In Germany
Traditional banks in Germany are not really playing fair between them and won’t let customers from others banks withdraw cash without a fee. This fee can be anywhere between 3€ to 5€. That would not be a problem for all digital banks like N26. Sparkasse is usually considered to have the best network of ATMs that are well distributed through out Germany’s cities.
Deutsche Bank, Postbank & Commerzbank are organized into what is called the “cash group“. Any customer of a cash group bank with a German bank account can withdraw money at any ATM within the group for free.
Opening a bank account a Germany will also let you use smaller “independent” ATMs outside of bank branches. These are placed where banks are not good at placing cash points. Fees can reach 8€ euros however, so beware. Owning a credit card can solve that trouble for you, especially if you go with online banks, which have agreements to waive the fee.
A lesser know cash point solution too: supermarkets. Some supermarkets like Penny or Rewe will also let you withdraw money for free on top of your normal groceries’ bill. N26 also uses this to let its customers withdraw money for free, as many times as they want.
Abroad
German banks are usually reasonable on fees when withdrawing money abroad but they might charge a high conversion rate to compensate. Staying in the E.U zone also limits fees. Banks like DKB or N26 don’t charge anything at all when using credit cards at cash points.
About credit cards
Credit cards are not as ubiquitous as they can be in other countries. Banks don’t provide them by default to their customers. You’d need to request one, as long as your credit record is good enough. Banks charge a yearly fee usually. The vast majority of people in Germany only use debit cards. It’s not really part of everyday life.
You can find out in this guide about credit cards in Germany if you need one, and which providers to consider.
Common banking fees across German banks
Comparing banking fees are a good way to make a decision beyond the simple flagship offer they might display everywhere. Banking fees are usually called “Kontoführungsgebühren” (Account management fee) and look like this for most banks:
- Grundpreis – basic fee: Monthly fee for having a bank account in the first place. Yes, this still exists in a fully automated 21st century bank.
- Dispokredit – Overdraft: that’s when you withdraw more money than you have, up to certain contractual limit. It’s usually costing 7% to 11%.
- Uberziehung – also overdraft but not limited by any conditions.
Here is a quick table to for a quick overview. - Bareinzahlung – cash deposit: that’s when you want to deposit cash into your account.
- Kontoauszüge: German banks are legally required to send you a monthly account statement, giving you an overview of movements on the account. Also it’s mostly free if you decide to receive in a digital format, most banks will bill you the luxury of receiving by post.
Other kinds of bank accounts in Germany & key terms :
Although this post is about the standard Girokonto, which most people need when they first arrive in Germany, there are of course other types of account. Here is a quick overview with other key terms:
- Girokonto: this is the everyday German current bank account.
- Sparbuchkonto : Savings accounts. This is money you lock away for a long time in exchange for interesting rates.
- Sperrkonto : Blocked account for Germany. Typically used to allow foreigners to acquire visas, mostly for students visa. This is to prove they have sufficient means to stay in Germany. Follow the link for a detailed overview and comparison of providers as well.
- Mietkautionskonto – Mietkaution Sparkonto: Deposit for your apartment. In case you can’t give your landlord the full amount, the bank provides deposit money that you repay with an interest. It can be relevant for international students.
- Disposition Kredit (DispoKredit) : The overdraft limit you are allowed. As with any banks, this comes at a cost, generally depending on your monthly earnings.
- Zinsen : Interest rates
- Überweisung : Money transfer
- Bargeld : cash
Opening your German bank account : your choice will make a difference
Sooner or later, you need to pay your rent and put your wage money somewhere (Ka-ching!), so you have to make a choice. What you need is a “Girokonto”, a current/checking account where your expenses and earnings go into. That’s the standard account.
However, opening a bank account in Germany with one of the traditional big banks usually requires to go in an agency and talk to a reluctant employee because they don’t want to/are not allowed to speak English. It is stressful and sometimes, you just don’t have time when you need to figure out accommodation or a job at the same time.
Bank account Germany – FAQ
Yes, most of the banks introduced in this post allow non-residents to open an account with them. However, it might be a little bit harder depending on your current location & citizenship. This is mostly due to how those banks check identity remotely, in order to comply with German law. An extra step or two might be required, but it’s definitely possible.
Yes, a lot of the banks we talked about in this post do not require to see your city registration certificate to open a an account. You will however still need a local German address to receive your cards and/or documents. If you stay somewhere temporarily, make sure to add your name on the mailbox. You can add “C/O” for that: “Your name, c/o your friend’s name, Beispielstraße 12, 53174 Bonn”.
Although the true answer to this would be “it depends”, N26 remains the best option for most people as a first bank account in Germany. It provides the best balance between fees, features & banking experience. You can however use the guide in this post to decide which German bank is best for your needs.
Opening a bank account online in Germany has very much become the norm. For this, you will need to verify your identity via camera (in-app) or via a post office counter (PostIdent). In-app identity verification can be restricted for some documents/citizenships, but you can always use PostIdent as a fall-back option.
Yes, most of the options presented in this post allow you to open a bank account with no monthly fees attached. This is a good way to get started with no strings attached. However, it does sometimes make sense to go for a paid/premium option to get relevant benefits depending on your profile (e.g traveler benefits).
There is no theoretical limit to owning multiple bank accounts in Germany. There is however a practical one. Having multiple accounts can hurt your credit score in Germany (SCHUFA score). You can read more about what your SCHUFA score is in this post.
Yes, most banks listed in this article will accept you as a client, even if you don’t have a SCHUFA record in Germany. There are only a few exceptions.
PostIdent is a identification verification service provided by the German post services. A local post branch can verify your identify on behalf of the bank requiring verification. This is done by providing a reference number/code (from your bank) as well as your ID document. This service supports almost all forms of identification. It’s a great alternative if you cannot be verified in-app/via webcam. The service is free for you.
I hope this overview helped you find the best digital bank account in Germany for your needs. Don’t hesitate to leave your questions, comments or suggestions in the comment! 🙂
Bastien
Hi, I’ve been told that in Germany N26 does not provide any credit card but a debit card (Maestro), which does not allow online payments or credit in any way. Is that true? Thank you.
Hey Titiana. This is mentioned here and also in this detailed post about N26. It’s true N26 does not provide a true credit card, only debit cards. However, you can do online payments with their Mastercard without any issue. If you are looking for a bank account that provides a credit card for free as well, you can turn to DKB (full review here). It’s one of the best options around, but the whole experience is in German.
Unlike most German banks, N26 does not provide an EC/Girocard card, a major setback not mentioned here. These cards are commonly accepted in shops where Maestro/Visa cards are not. All German bank account providers are linked up by this system, but N26 is not a part of this.
I have a strange question. Under the circumstances, I am considering moving from USA to Europe. Most of my time may be spent in Ukraine and I am near retirement age and social security will not send my benefits to Ukraine. I would like to benefits to be sent to possibly N26. Under the laws in Germany, is this possible? Would I have any problems accessing my account in Ukraine?
Hey Nadia. You would need to have a German address to be able to use N26 there.
This is the best blog. I’m glad I found this information. Thanks for sharing your experience.
DKB is shit! Just SHIT!!!! Got PIN for credit card and EC with 3 similar digits in a row. You cannot change pin for EC. I ordered a new PIN for credit card, waited 2 weeks each time and they send just the same card without pin. You also pay for it 10 euro each time. Customer service? What is it? I could not get hold of them even a single time. Fuck this idiots, honestly. This is the worst banking system I ever experienced. It is already 4th bank in Germany I dealt with, in general. All are shit!!!
Note for all Israeli passport holders: you CANNOT open N26 bank account without a residence permit. This article fails to mention that a lot of nationalities cannot therefore open N26 bank account and you will just waste your time. Try other options.
Good luck.
Same is for Indians. Also, It is same for DKB bank, Indians cant open online account.
Hello, thanks for this great article, wish I had read it before. I just arrived and opened an acount with Sparkasse. It seems that the monthly cost is rather high, 6.50 E!! I was looking for any comment on Sparkasse in your article but could not fin any, would you like to make any comment/ reviews on their service please? thanks.
Hey Julien. I have never been a client with them so i can’t really share anything about this sorry.
Thank you, I was looking for information on opening a bank account.
Dear Bastien,
Thanks for this detailed article. From my last stay in Germany (13 years ago 🙂 ), I had a Sparkasse AC, and there was always one of their ATMs round the corner, exactly as you point out! I will live again for a few months. So just wanted to check, is Sparkasse still not that English friendly and online transaction friendly?
I also wanted to ask, in case you know how long can someone hold a bank account after leaving Germany.
Hey Sourav. Check for each bank’s conditions for holding a bank account without being a resident. It depends from one provider to another. Regarding Sparkasse, it can happen that people would speak English to you in the branches, but the online services are not in English yet.
Hi Bastian
Another great post and discussion here.
I have one simple question about the closing of account. I’m leaving Germany in the next few weeks and won’t be returning back in near future. So my question, is it possible to keep my Deutsche Bank account open for few more months even though I will be deregistered in the city and won’t have a residential address?
I have some pending payments to receive and some debts to clear as well, hence need the bank account running for few more months.I’m a non EU citizen living in Germany for last 5 years.
Many thanks
Fabio
Hey Fabio. You have to clear this DB directly, see what their terms and conditions plan for this case.
I would also like to share some of my experiences with banks in Germany.
First, I guess it would be beneficial for the reader to understand this is an article promoted by N26 bank.
One form or the other, the author clearly had incentives writing this article. So called subsidized articles.
[very very very long comment edited by SiB Editor for clarity sake. The author of the comment mentions issues he had with N26 to open a bank account. He mentions that it is not possible to open a bank account if you are not in Germany yet. He also complains about the questionable customer service he received as they were not able to accept his passport, because it was emitted too recently. Very frustrating experience, highlighting that there is no phone number to turn to.]
If you have any doubts anything of this is real, please leave a comment here and I will contact you directly and we can have a phone call or I can identify myself.
Happy N26 Service!
Hey F. This article has been online years before N26 even existed and i have updated it so it includes N26 as an option. You are free to turn to other banks, as also highlighted in the post. I still think it’s the best option for most people. I do get commissions (for all 3 of them btw), but that’s all very transparent for everyone to see. Thanks for sharing your experience here. It is true that some people struggle to open an account, although it remains smooth for most people. No phone service sucks that’s true. It’s all very common issues for a very successful bank that has been growing like crazy.
Hi Bastian, thanks for providing all this information. I’m looking into opening an N26 account for my business but can’t figure out if I can open an account in the name of a business rather than my personal name. Do you happen to know anything about this? Unfortunately the chat function on the N26 website doesn’t work and there doesn’t seem to be any other way to contact them.
Hey Susan. Hard to tell on such little information. It would be fine under your name if you were self-employed, but you might need a real business account if you are using it for a registered business.
hi
i just bought a new motorhome from dealership in germany, plan to travel in europe for a year. i have israeli passaport, i have an address in berlin and need a bank account to register the car (+insurance) . tried the post bank and was told i need a visa…. which visa? i am retired, a tourist….
Hi Everyone, and very interesting post but….. i still do not get the basics…:-)
I’m German, always leaved and worked abroad. Now planning to return to Germany ( or better, get to Germany for the first time).
Clearly there will be expenses to be paid of modest entity for which a direct bank account looks good, but can you kindly explain if for major purchases ( buy a car, downpayment for a property, etc etc): can you kindly advise what kind of bank/financial istitution is better to get an account with? And i’m not talking about financing, just simple transaction with available funds.
Thanks in advance.
Hey Daniele. In this case, i would still consider a direct bank account to be the best and normal solution.
Thanks a lot for this very useful page. I am considering to go for N26. However, you mention that there are “5 free withdrawals per month on ATM and then unlimited withdrawals in supermarkets”. As I am not in Germany yet, I am wondering how this works to withdraw money in supermarkets? Can you explain?
Hey Cedric. You simply show up at the cash register and ask the amount you would like.
Hi everybody, just bear in mind that the POSTBANK debit card can only be used in Europe.
Cheers
Hi there,
I love your blog – so much helpful information! I have read some pretty terrifying reviews about N26, people saying their money has gone missing, refused an account and the customer service left much to be desired. Now that you’ve been here a while, what would you say your overall experience with N26 has been?
Hello Ruth. I suppose that there will always be unsatisfied people. Some of these reviews can date back to the moment where N26 closed a lot of accounts because people were using some features outside the fair-use limits for the cash deposits. I have heard that it was all very abrupt indeed, but i think hiccups like this belong to any young company, especially when it’s so popular with it. I have always been happy so far, customer service right from the app, and relatively fast to answer. (Money gone missing though; haven’t seen that anywhere).
Does anyone know if with N26 i can open a saving account with another currency than euro ?
I didnt find an answer online and i need to be a customer to contact the customer service :/
Hey Chamo. Looking at the option in the app: it doesn’t give me any choice in the currencies. Only euros by default.
Thanks for your answer Bastien, i finally had contact with N26. It’s not possible for the moment with N26, it will be in the future probably. Have a great day
Hey! Do you happen to have a list of banks that support payments with Apple Pay in Germany? Would be great to be finally able to use it here!
Hey Ben; ApplePay is supported by N26 among others like Deutsche Bank and Santander.
Hey there! Do you happen to know which banks support Apple Pay?
Hey Greg. N26 does. Among other like Deutsche Bank or Santander.
Hi Bastien,
If I am a Yemeni national with a Yemeni passport – but now living in Berlin and working for a German organisation.. Can I open a bank account? There seems to be restrictions on some middle-east nationals that I don’t fully understand.. This is odd, since I came from UK (where I was a student) and I had no problems there at all.
If you know about middle-eastern nationalities – can you tell us / clarify? That would be most useful and very gratefully received…
Many thanks,
H
Hey Henry. I do not know of such restrictions. Do you have specific sources on this particular issue that would lead you to think that?
Hi
Is there any difference between N26 debit card and debit card provided by other banks. I came across a post.
The writer faced the problem with N26 debit card at LABO office. A per the writer, N26 card is not a true EC-card and payment machines at LABO office don’t accept N26 card.
I am imagining this will only happen to a guy at a government office, for rest of the payments (shopping, medical bills, rent payment and other routine stuff) N26 card would be fine. Correct me if I were wrong.
N26 provides a Mastercard, and a Maestro card on request too. Governement/City services usually only accept EC-Karte. IF you don’t have one, they will either force you to bring the exact sum in cash, or use a sort of internal payement system with a terminal they have.
Hi there,
thanks for your post. I am struggling with finding whether is possible or not renting a car with N26 card(s). Assuming I got more euro than it’s required as a deposit from the car rental, I was wondering if the N26 cards are broadly accepted by car rentals around the world. Any experiences guys?
Hi Danilo. Yes, it’s a Mastercard so np. there, i recently did it myself.
Ah cool. A couple of questions: 1) I read that in Italy N26 charges around 35 euro per year if your account has more than 5000 euro, on average, per month in a year. I couldn’t find how it is in Germany. 2) You write that “You can withdraw money for free everywhere in the world with the free Mastercard they offer. Not all banks give credit cards for free.” How do Sparkasse & co. work with this? Do they charge you? Many thanks.
Yes, they usually charge you a monthly/yearly fee for it.
Hello Danilo, did you find out if Sparkasse charges for withdrawals om ATMs frabroad? How has been your expereince with this bank, I am asking since I just opened an ac there. Thanks.
Dear Sir/Mam,
I am looking to open a bank account without anmeldung since i am staying at my friends place and looking out for job in berlin. Once i get the job will search for the house and do registration. Please suggest which bank can open an account with anmeldung since i need to transfer my money from my home country to berlin.
Hey Kumar, N26 works for that.
are you sure? you can open a n26 account without the anmeldung?
because i´ve just tried and i couldnt…I need the schufa
Mmm… Well you don’t need to show any Meldebescheinigung, that’s for sure. Can you elaborate on your case?
Thank you so much for this useful information.
Does N26 require the verified Anmeldebescheinigung for the address that you sign up with (the address that your card will be sent to)?
I’m sorry if this is a foolish question.
Hi Michael. No, but you will need to verify your address at some point.
Hi Bastien!!
I have followed your blog since before arriving to Germany and it had helped me a lot. I would like if you make a Post or an extension to some of our existing post addressing or at least mentioning that German “Hell” known as POSTIDENT ;-). It may affect certain groups of new arrivals in Germany (such as myself) when trying to open certain Bank accounts or even trying to activate certain pre-paid SIM-Cards after purchasing them.
I will try to describe it as well as sharing my experience: if you are trying to open an account ONLINE in Banks like Comdirect, ING Diba, DKB (or other “Direct Banks” as they are know) or even any major Bank that offers online account opening, you will receive a Coupon (per traditional Mail or per E-Mail) which you need to bring to the nearest Post office, along with the opening contract that you need to sign and your ID-documents (Passport for most foreigners) in order to be identified according to German Laws. The Post employee will register the Coupon and then scan your document to verify your identity, and finally will send the contract and related papers to the Bank per mail, mostly free of charge. This whole process is called POSTIDENT. The problem begins when you show your foreign passport to the employee. He/She will scan it and immediatly say that your passport was not recognized by their software-system. Depending on the employee´s friendliness and the ammount of people waiting after you in the post office, he/she might try to explain you the problem with foreign passports, as the system is optimized to work with the German ID-Card and the German Passport. Please be aware that many employees in the Post office speak only German and can be “rude” with you if you try to speak with them in English, depending of the city/town you are currently living in. No other foreign documents than the Passport will be accepted for POSTIDENT, even the German Residence Permit (Aufenthaltstitel) will be rejected. Your country of origin and your passport can be your bleesing… or your curse. The same story begins when you buy a SIM-Card in a supermarket, open the Card package at home and see a POSTIDENT-Coupon needed to verify you and activate the card…
With further investigation, I have found that this situation is not the same in all German states. The German post service (Deutsche Post) is theoretically working “hard” in order to integrate in their systems the features of all foreign passports. Until when? nobody knows, not even them. Fellow foreigners that live in really big cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg or Munich might have a better chance that their passports will be accepted by POSTIDENT, but if you landed in the “German Wildlands” (like me, who lives since last year in a town in northern Bavaria), then POSTIDENT is really a no-go zone unless you want to see it by yourself: really, my passport was rejected in all Post offices in all towns and even the capital city of my entire region 🙁 and sadly I have neither the time nor the money to further test it in a big, more cosmopolitan city.
The same Banks and mobile providers might offer a similar video-based identification procedure, called ironically VIDEOIDENT. For this you need a reasonable Internet connection. For this one, you are in luck if your country is listed here (although it is a list for pre-paid cards, it applies to Banks as well):
https://www.vodafone.de/hilfe/prepaid/online-ident.html#welche-dokumente-brauche-ich-fuer-online-ident-bei-callya
The employees of WebID, the German company that provides VIDEOIDENT, usually speak English (and several other foreign languages).
BUT If your country is not among the chosen ones (the list contains almost 60 countries whose passports are accepted for video-identification), then just like POSTIDENT: forget it! Don´t waste your time with VIDEOIDENT.
You may found extra info in English if you google something like “postident foreigners” or also hard complains googling “postident ausländer” or even “videoident ausländer” in German. The info may be a little old, but sadly the problems still persist well in 2018. I have experienced them in my own flesh and they almost gave me anxiety problems during my first months in Germany. I just don´t want that other foreigners in Germany experience the same bad situation, specially when it is their first time here. Before 2014 or earlier the employees of the Post office could make the identity verification with any passport manually just like in any other EU country, but today is not the same at least in Germany.
As a personal advice to my fellow foreigners, it is better to buy and activate a pre-paid SIM-Card directly in the stores of the providers, namely Vodafone, Telekom, O2 or all the others mentioned here in Bastien´s blog. The identification is carried on in the same stores and there is no need of POSTIDENT, as all passports should be accepted. For Banks you can try for example the PostBank (I think it offers one of the cheapest Bank accounts in Germany) if you cannot open an online (and completely free) account at N26 or other online Banks that requiere POST- or VIDEOIDENT. If you are an employee, you may ask your employeer to help you with the Bank account and thus save you a lot of headaches. Of course later you may want to change to a Bank that offers better conditions. I hope that in the near future the situation with POST- and VIDEOIDENT changes for good.
Anyway most of the info in your blog was really helpful for me, Bastien (specially the posts about the SCHUFA and the Tax Returns). Thanks!!!!
You sir/madam are being crowned with the title of “most thorough and longest comment on this blog to date”. Thanks a lot for taking the time to share the experience. 🙂
Hi GAIJIN,
Thanks for your post about POSTIDENT/VIDEOIDENT. I purchased Aldi Talk pre-paid card and based on your post, it seems that I will need to open a bank account in order to receive the Coupon, that I will present in the post office (along with my passport and bank contract). Is that correct? Is there any solution for the situation that you described, regarding not recognizing the passport in post office?
Thanks in advance!
Oh hi there,
please forgive me for the delayed Answer. I was busy moving from the tiny town to a bigger town in order to be near to my workplace and reduce some transportation costs. Finding a new home wasn’t easy at all, as explained by Bastien.
Well, Vladimir, you may already figured out on your own, but for Prepaid Cards a bank account is not needed, unless you want to charge your SIM-card with the Online services of your Bank and you are planning to stay longer than 3 Months (that was also stated here by Bastien). With Aldi Talk you can try POSTIDENT or VIDEOIDENT if you have an EU-Passport or a Passport from most First-World Countries (although I have heard that even Greek or Swiss Passports sometimes have problems with POSTIDENT). Anyway if your Aldi Talk-Card was successfully activated with either POSTIDENT or VIDEOIDENT without big problems then Congratulations!!! If not, you can try a Prepaid Card from Telekom or O2 or Vodafone (it seems that Vodafone is the indirect provider for Aldi Talk and many other Prepaid Cards that you can find in supermarkets). Lycamobile, also mentioned by Bastien, will also work if you plan to stay for a short time in Germany or while you wait for your Bank account. It is easy to setup and also relative cheap. Identification is carried on the store itself, no need of messy Forms.
Thanks again Bastien for all your amazing info!!! Soon I will celebrate my first year in Germany and I still haven’t visited Berlin 🙁
If you have the time, Bastien, you could make a Post about the new European Data Protection Laws (GDPR or DSGVO auf Deutsch) and how this may affect us foreigners.
Mmm, GPDR do affect all of us as internet users, foreigner or not foreigner, regardless of where we are in the world. What was the idea behind this suggestion? I’m interested…
Well, you could begin explaining our rights and obligations as Internet users in Germany, in terms as simple as possible. You may emphatize, for example, how freelancers or enterpreneurs from abroad should comply specially if they are making business with German or EU customers. Something like that. Right now I am also trying to better understand how it works, but hey, even in my mother tonge this law is somehow hard to digest. Like all laws, it has hidden meanings and interpretations.
No pressure in doing that post, ok?? Maybe my suggestion is just crap and you (or another blog readers) have a better idea XD.
Cheers and Bis bald!!!
Hi,
I just started my job and living in hotel. can i start account in N26 and mention my Office address(which i can change after registration)?
Regards,
Hi Imran. I think it’s possible. As long as you can receive the documents that they will send you by post.
Hi,
I planning to do some business in Germany and need some customer company insurance. Which would guarantee that I get paid for my invoice. Which Bank can help me with this?
Br,
/Jan
Hi Jan. Sorry, i can’t help you about corporate accounts.
Hi! Your blog is super detailed and easy to read. Thank you for your effort 🙂
I am moving to Berlin in 2 months and I am shopping around for the best bank account. N26 looks very attractive but my only concern is that they charge for direct deposit (my salary) after the first month. Is this true or am I reading their fee price wrong?
Thanks!
Hi Freda. This seems to be wrong. Where did you read this?
I am dual citizen of Germany and the United States. My wife (who is a US citizen) and I are moving to Germany for a few years for grad school. At this point we do not know which city or school we are going to, or if we are accepted. That’s no worry. That will be an adventure. Here is the trouble: We want to rent an apartment ( I know it’s difficult), but to do that we need a bank account for the SCHUFA. To get this bank account we need a German address. To get this German address, we need a bank account. We can’t get this bank account without an address. ETC… How do I get a bank account to start the SCHUFA from the states, or when I get there without an address, so when we land we are ready to apply for apartments? We have an Airbnb in Berlin, but we will not sign for our Anmeldung since he just did that for a friend.
Hi Thomas. Please read this post.
Hi! Great article!.
I’m from Ecuador, and I’ve just moved to Berlin. I tried to open an account in N26, and I couldn’t complete the process because they can’t verify my passport.
They told me that they are looking for the technology, but they don’t know when they will have it. So… Which bank would you recommend me… I speak NO German 🙁
Hello
Thanks for your great advice!
I recently moved to Hamburg and took your advice to open an account at N26, and it works fine. Only thing is that I can only have 1 account there – the one where I receive my salary. Do you have any recommendations when I want to also have a “budget account” and a “savings account”? It shouldn’t be special types of account; just something for me to keep a structure on my financials.
best,
Anne
Hi Anne. There is savings or invest service in the app i believe.
Hi again – yes, there is, but I don’t wish to invest at this point; just to have my own money structured on more accounts. I guess it is possible in the more traditional banks? Do you have any knowledge on that?
All the best
Anne
I don’t understand what you need then. For me a savings account is helping you to make that money grow while you don’t use it…
Hey! I’m from Pakistan. I opened my close account in Germany in a dustche bank with a closing amount of 8400 euros. I want to withdraw that money as i dont proceed my visa case.
Can u please guide me that how it is possible for me to take my money out from german bank.
If u will help me it will b an honour for me.
Hi Muhammad. Simply make a transfer to your domestic bank account i suppose.
hi,
I just moved in Frankfurt yesterday and I need to solve this bank account issue as soon as possible. N26 sounds great but when I read the pricing list, I see that a free is charged (1.5%) on deposits after the first 100 eur/month. So I need to pay a fee to put money that is exceeding 100 eur into the account?
Hi Derya. I believe it’s for cash deposits that they charge fees after 100€ per month.
Hi, thanks for the great information. I’ve been with DB for some years now (started with the Sperrkonto for the visa). Now I have a research job with the university and would like to seitch banks – perhaps to Ing-DiBa or DKB, but since I have an income now (from the job + some freelance copy-editing job), I am wondering if I should get a Tagesgeldkonto to earn a little interest or continue to have a Girokonto. Do you have advice for this? And which bank would you recommend for the Tagesgeldkonto? Thanks very much in advance!
Hi Kai. No particular advice on the Tagesgeld konto; only it’s terrible interest rates.
Hey there, great article! I live in Berlin with my husband and I’m paid bi-monthly VIA direct deposit from my company in the USA–do German banks charge fees for international direct deposit of wages?
In general, there are no fees if the transfer comes from the EU. Outside the EU, you will need to check bank by bank as they have different policies.
I want to open a bank account, I have a German passport and I want to transfer over 2 milion dollar from my account in NYC.
Do I need to frovide declaration for the origin of the money?
Hi Guillermo, in this case, you will probably need to declare this extraordinary transfer either when opening the account or during your Steuererklärung the year after. Maybe it’d be wise to ask an asset manager how to do that best.
Hello Bastien, I have a question about N26 account! If I open a bank account with them, can I put some money through an ATM to my account in order to pay my radio, TV taxes online? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kyriakos, it’s possible to deposit cash money into your account via the app by going through one of their partners (a lot of supermarkets and other local branches).
Hi, amazing article, very helpful! I just moved to Berlin and I want to open a bank account – I have my rent in cash and I have to send it via bank transfer, I read that at N26 you cant make cash deposits. Is that correct? Thank you in advance 🙂
No that is not correct. You can make cash desposit via the app and a barcode system at Supermarkets like Rewe, Real or Penny or any Mobilcom Debitel branch.
Hello,
I am moving to Berlin in october and I need a german bank account for work, housing …
So I started to read a little bit about N26 and it’s a little bit confusing with the cards. If you open an acount you will get Maestro card (debit card). How is this card different to EC card (e.g. from DKB) ? Is there a problem with acceptance of Maestro? I am EU citizen and I always had Visa credit card and Maestro debit card and never had a problem to pay anywhere in Europe (always at least on of them was accepted). Am I missing something?
Hi David. Just like Maestro is a pretty standard debit card in the UK, EC Karte is pretty standard here too. In terms of acceptance, pretty much anywhere will accept both.
I am a US resident/citizen, although I own an apartment in Germany. Would I need a German resident card to open an N26 account, or could I just use my apartment’s address in Germany and my US passport?
Hi Thomas, i think you need to be resident in Germany (with a Meldebescheinigung) to be able to open a bank account with them.
Do you really the german address/anmeldung for the N26 account? Because in article is stated: “Interface and customer support available in English and you don’t need to be a German resident.”
Hi David. You can also sign-up for an account there if you are resident in a bunch of other EU countries. They have a list there.
Hello,
i just arrived at here 10 days ago.
I wondering if i only have sublease contract, can i open bank account ?
i have a working – holidays VISA.
I heard about that only way what can open bank account is to register address.(Anmeldung).
I need bank account for start working.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Hi Jeehoon. Yes in your case, since you are on a visa here, you would need to register before opening a bank account. This might be quite hard as your visa is probably valid only for a very limited time, which most banks don’t like.
Hi there,
I am trying to understand how to start building a Schufa record asap, in order to find a flat, and I was considering opening an online account with N26 to start paying phone bills etc. But looking on the web, I read this: “Since Number26 account does not make a record on the credit history, it does not affect your score”. Does that mean that opening an account with N26 does not affect the Schufa record? Then, would it be better to open a bank accound with DKB or Deutsche Bank (I need English support) ? Thank you again so much!!!
To be clear, you will be able to create a SCHUFA record with an account with N26. The website you linked to just specifies that opening an account won’t impact your score negatively.
N26 does not apply to Britian I just tried and they said they will NOT open an account from Britian. I would need a Germany address.
Hello Gav, you need to have an address in a country with the Euro to be able to sign up for an N26 account!
Cheers from N26
Hello! I needed some advice. I recently moved to Berlin after my wedding (my husband is a German). I have now got my Residence permit for 3 years (which allows me to work as well) and the job hunt is on. I am looking to open a bank account now (DKB seems a good option from what I read above) after which I would need to transfer some money from my Indian savings account to the German account. So, my query is, one – can I do this kind of transaction with the German banks here? Second, I was wondering if I need to pay taxes in Germany if I do this kind of money transfer from my Indian savings account to the German account. Any help?
Hi Sudeshna. You can use Transferwise as mentioned in the article, to transfer your saving from India once you have your German bank account. It works from all countries to all countries. Regarding taxes: I’d recommend you to do research if there is a bilateral agreement between India and Germany on this matter. It’S different for each country.
DKB is the most racist bank I have ever seen. I got this when I applied>
As already stated in our previous correspondence we are not
in a position to process your query as all of our communication
is held in German.
However, submitting your query in German will enable us to deal
with it as quickly as possible.
What’s racist about expecting that people speak German if they want to do business in Germany?
Hi,
Thanks for having this blog.
There is no bank that accepts opening a bank account for a person without a German address? I will start work on the 3rd of April, in Berlin, but I do not have yet a permanent place to stay. I’ve booked a temporary one, on the internet, until I find a flat. If I can not find a flat in time and therefore not be able to open a bank account, then the company can not pay me? Or companies here can transfer money to an international bank account within the EU? Thank you very much and have a nice week,
Hi! I’m filling in paper for a job. One of the things I have to fill in is IBAN and BIC. I haven’t opened a German bank account yet but I’m wondering if it could work with my foreign one? Could I just write the IBAN and BIC for my foreign one?
Hi Johanna. Yes for now. It will do. You can change details as soon as you have a bank account.
Hello, fantastic website!
I have just moved to Berlin, done the Anmeldung but no job yet. Living on my savings from Australia.
I tried to open an account with DKB but been rejected.Probably because I specified I was without a job and no earning?
Can I estimate my earning as a freelance – I’m a finance professional? Would they check it?
Thanks!
Hi Brigitte. Yes, you should give an estimate for your future income. Only time will let them check how much it will be in reality.
Hallo,
I am from India and and I have been in Berlin since a week and I am here on a language course visa for 5 months. I have a Mietvertrag from my landlord but I am yet to register my address at Bürgeramt. I have to open a bank account to transfer my money from India for my expenses here. I cannot use my credit card of my bank in India since it is not international. I will register at Bürgeramt soon. After that will I be able to open a bank account? I heard that Sparkasse bank will not open my account because my visa is only for 5 months. But I want to stay here only for five months. Will any other bank open an account for me? What about DKB ?
Hey Madhu. Visa-related issues have often case-by-case answers so it’s quite hard for me to tell you what will happen for sure. DKB is asking to see your visa for sure but i don’t know if the amount of time matters. Good luck anyway.
Hallo Bastien,
Although it’s pretty late, i just wanted to leave an update since it might help someone later. Sparkasse did not open an account for me stating that they require a 1 year visa validity. I finally opened an account with Deutsche Bank. Did not have any issues at all. I did submit copies of my passport and address registaration document. Everything went smooth !
Hello,
With regards to opening an account with DKB, do you know if I need a visa or residence permit in order to open the account?
The problem is that in order to get my residence permit I need to show a bank statement, which I don’t have because I was forced to close my previous bank account when I left my previous job (Lebanon is a little complicated). So now all my money is in cash and I can’t open a bank account without a residence permit and can’t get a residence permit without a bank account.
Hi Brian. You are in a difficult situation indeed. With any bank you need to show a Meldebescheinigung. With the DKB, it seems they will ask you for your visa yes (Aufenthaltstitel). Maybe try Comdirect or go in an office to explain your situation (Sparkasse for example).
I’ve decided to go with Comdirect and have recently done the PostIdent procedure. I just wanted to know if there was a way to track my progress? For example if there’s something wrong with my application do you know if I would be contacted or if my application would be thrown out altogether?
Thanks again (:
Hi Brian. You will be let known of the outcome of the process, negative or positive.
DKB process is not so easy. I applied online, went through the webcam verification and then received this:
“wir freuen uns, dass Sie sich für das DKB-Cash entschieden haben.
Um Ihre Anfrage schnell bearbeiten und entscheiden zu können, benötigen wir von Ihnen noch weitere Informationen und Dokumente:
eine Kopie des aktuellen Aufenthaltstitels von Herrn Ronald Rodgers,
eine Kopie Ihrer Strom-, Gas- oder Wasserrechnung, einen Kontoauszug Ihrer Bank oder eine Meldebescheinigung (maximal 12 Monate alt), aus der/dem die aktuelle Anschrift/Meldeanschrift von Herrn Ronald Rodgers hervorgeht”
I did my Anmeldung already. But my lease is WARM so all utilities are included. My current banks are foreign so they do not have my German address and I am not sure what is meant by Meldebescheinigung. Do they simply want a copy of my lease showing it as all inclusive? A copy of my foreign bank account with my foreign address or should I go online and switch it to my German, print it out and then switch it back? What is the Meldebescheinigung though?
I wrote to DKB at first in English and received this reply, ironically in English:
“Dear Mr Rodgers,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Communication with our organisation is limited to the German language.
It would be appreciated if you could send us your request or enquiries in
German to allow us to process it as efficiently as possible.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank
you for your assistance.
Kind regards
Ihre DKB”
While it is a GERMAN bank, I thought I left this narrow-mindedness behind in Spain where even ING Direct refuses to serve you in any other language but Spanish since it is a “Spanish” bank (even though its parent is Dutch!) So I simply used Translator and sent them the new German version along with the original English.
Hi Ron. If you did the Anmeldung already, it will be easy. Just send them a copy of the document you obtained then. This is the Meldebescheinigung they need. They also need a copy of your visa or residence permit. You did everything right so far, they just need those 2 documents and you will be good to go. 🙂
Hi everyone
I just got rejected by DKB and they weren’t even able to tell me why. I provided a copy of my Meldbescheinigung, a copy of my signed work contract which included my gross salary, and a copy of my previous salary slip (as I’ve only just started my new job, and haven’t got a pay slip with a net salary amount yet.
As experienced by Ron in the above comment, no one except the ID guy spoke any English, and at no stage was any corrective advice given. I was just told to seek another bank.
Not sure who to go with now, as pretty much everyone in Germany recommended I go with DKB.
Hi Arun, sometimes this can happen yes. Have you considered comdirect? It has the same conditions as DKB. Maybe give it a shot there?
Hi Bastien
I got an account with ING Diba in the end. I actually found the process a lot easier and was approved straightaway. They even opened a savings account for free on top. The only drawback was that the web application couldn’t accept my UK address when it asked for previous addresses. However they were able to provide a paper application form via post, and it was alright in the end.
I would definitely recommend ING-Diba
“However, opening a bank account in Germany with one of those big banks usually requires to go in an agency and talk to a reluctant employee because they don’t want to / not allowed to speak German.” – You mean English, right?
Hi Rolando. Yes of course; typo fixed thanks. 🙂
Hi,
Can you tell what is the next step after the Webcam identification? I just had one and they did not say anything about what to do next, I mean if the decision is positive and if so how to proceed.
I would appreciate your reply.
And your blog is so helpful, thank you for sharing your experience 🙂
Hello Natalia, i’m glad it could help. After the Video Ident Step, you should receive a confirmation from DKB the next day that everything went well. After another two or three business days, you should receive your documents at home. Good luck.
hi, did you get any update from DKB. I have also done the same and waiting for their update. 🙂
Hi there! Love your site and have been following it to a T since I moved to Berlin! 🙂
I applied to DKB, went through the process over webcam, and received a letter in the mail very vaguely stating that based on the data they had, they could not open an account for me. There really aren’t specifics, and I am wondering if they may have raised the standards of acceptance?
DKB is surely the best bank option, and I’d definitely be inclined to apply again. I’m a freelance web designer and just moved from the US – estimated income at 2000 euros per month. Just confused as to what the hold up may have been, for instance if it may have been in regards to “Bitte ergänzen Sie eine Voranschrift in den letzten 3 Jahren.” — my previous US address, my stated ‘Nationality’, my TIN (which I originally input as my US Social Security number), estimating too low of a monthly income, or exactly what would have disqualified me…
Many thanks for any insight you have on this!
Hi Bryce. I’m glad the blog is helping. It’s hard to tell the reason why they refuse people. If if the absence of SCHUFA record is not the issue, it often has to do with the figure you put in as your monthly income. I always recommend to put a high enough number like 2500€ for example.
Awesome, will give another go. Thanks much 🙂
Sorry if this is double posting (don’t think it sent properly when I last replied). I realized and wanted to follow up because I realized I don’t currently have a SCHUFA yet. I think I might have just mixed up my order of operations here. Would you advise that I go get my phone plan set up so that that SCHUFA is automatically created, and then go to re-apply here with DKB?
Yes, this could be a viable strategy.It depends on if the provider accepts foreign bank accounts though.
Hello!
pretty good article, it is really helpful! I am went to DKB page and I saw that one of the benefits is the follow “DKB-VISA-Card und Girokarte, jeweils plus Partnerkarte” that means that for each card they give to you an extension? I am asking that due to my wife and I recently moved to Germany and I want to do a extension for her.
Tahnks!
Hi there. You are signing up for a joint account, which means that both of you will get their own set of cards.
Hi, amazing website! I’ve just arrived in Berlin, it’s the first time I will be living in Germany and I’m from Belgium.
I did my Anmeldung and I am wondering if I can get a SCHUFA with my Belgian bank account or if I first need to open a German bank account?
Best wishes
Hi there Sarah. That case never came up. Maybe ask them yourself and come back to let us know what the answer was?
Hi, so unfortunately it turns out I will need a German bank account after all!
Cool. Thanks for letting us know.
Hey! I just moved from Belgium too. Started a new job here, but trying to work out the banking / accommodation! What did you choose in the end Sarah?
Hello,
Quick question about filling in the form for DKB. They ask for the net income which I am not sure how much it issince I recently started to work as a freelancer. Can an estimate work for them?
Thanks!
Maria
Hi Maria. Yes that’d be enough for them.
Hi,i try to identify my self online by DKB but identification centre is told me that my country is not allowed to be identify by online, so i send my passport copy and registration and the EU visa by post to DKB, i am not sure if i will get an bank account,,, and how long in takes,,,can anyone suggest me is need to wait for reply or open in another bank an account.
If you want through the Post-Ident process, it should work out without a problem. You should have your bank account within a few days now.
I come to berlin for studying so i need to open an german bank account and I found your informations great but when i tried to open an account through DBK , they asked me if i “steuerlich ansässig” and then asked for tax residence and it’s number !! I tried to search for it but i couldn’t find anything
They are asking you where you’re tax residence is at the moment. You can enter your information from back home as well. Does that work for you?
Hello!
How many days it takes to have a bank account number if I apply to DKB today?
I need to send a bank account number to my company ASAP, but with all this proceedings it seems to me that it can take longer than other banks, which can give me the number in a few minutes.
Thanks 🙂
It takes only a few days when using the option of proving your identity with the Webcam.
I’m wondering this as well! I have an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde in Stuttgart in 5 days time and only verified my ID via webcam today (Fri). Also have to wait for the SWIFT transfer of AUD to the DKB account. How else can I prove my finances for the Student Aufenthaltserlaubnis if it doesn’t work in time?
I suppose you can always bring a confirmation that you made the transfer to you german account from you Australian one if you are tight on time. As with anything regarding visa situations, i guess it will depend on the agent in front to you if they want to be a bit more lenient for you. Otherwise, you might have to make another appointment.
Thanks for the reply – hope it comes through I time. I just went to Postbank to ask if I could open account there (the one I’m waiting on is DKB) but they said I can’t open a postbank account until I have a >6 month visa.
Hello,
Thanks for the super useful information. I need an EC Kart, should I ask precisely for one or is something automatic? (I have an account with Number 26 and they don’t have an EC Kart and I need one).
Thank You!
The standard card that you get in Germany when opening an account is an EC Karte, which is a debit card. The credit card is sometimes added on top, either only after sometime or with an additional fee. Free credit cards are actually not that common in Germany and that’s how Number26 tries to sets itself apart from the competition. DKB does provide both.
Hello,
I am an international student (from the US) and I tried to open a DKB account online. I was rejected. Do you think it was because I do not have an address in Germany yet?
This is definitely a possibility, yes. Try again when you have gone through the Anmeldung process explained here .
hello
My visa has been issued for 6 months and I have to pay for health insurance. It is necessary to open a bank account or it can be pay in cash every month?
I dont think it is possible to pay cash but it’s possible to transfer the money from your home account. I guess it’s preferable to open a german bank account to pay those sort of things and others but there aren’t any fees with your domestic bank, it might not be necessary. You can also call and ask your krankenkasse for confirmation.
Hello,
How does it work the dkb with the atm?, how much is the fee per withdrawl?, does it belong to a cash group with other banks?
Thanks
It doesn’t belong to the cash group but there are no fees withdrawing from ATMs in banks from the cash group or Sparkasse, or most other banks abroad. There might be fees when withdrawing from those non-affiliated ATMs in Spätis or train stations though.
One of my clients wants to do business in London and berlin .
He needs a bank account at both the places / or a single bank with presence at both the places .
His status and available documents is as under….
[1] Indian citizenship – Indian passport
[2] Personal bank account statement -Indian banks
[3] Tax payer registration and returns filed with the income tax department of India.
[4] UK based private limited company – incorporated recently – single director / shareholder.
[5] Source of Funds available in bank accounts / tax papers – clearences also
Requirement
[1] bank account in a bank having branches at London and berlin
[2] wants to open online if possible
[3] if mandatory—may come to London / berlin and visit bank
[4] wants to complete all documentary compliance in advance , before he comes there so that he is not required to stay long for opening bank account .
[5] may be able to do transactions online / via debit / credit card once a/c is opened
Well i guess big international banks like HSBC would do.
Hello,
I am moving to Berlin in two weeks and this site has been my bible. Thank you for putting together such a useful tool! I have made an appointment for my Anmeldung a few days after I arrive, however I am keen to open an account right away. Are there any banks that will let me do this without my Anmeldung? Is it enough to take proof of an appointment? I was under the impression that Sparkasse would allow me to this?
Thanks!
Will
In my knowledge, this has proven to be difficult because a passport alone is not enough. However, you can always try and let us know if that worked. 🙂
I managed to do it with Commerzbank as a Canadian resident. They needed a couple of papers for proof, but it worked out alright.
Hi,
I’ve just tried to open a DKB account online but it wont let me complete the process, saying it can only open accounts for people in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Has anyone else come across this problem and can anyone suggest a solution? Is it because I’m entering a UK address? Do I have to wait until I have a German address and then apply from there?
Thanks
Yes, you have to enter a German address to open a bank account with DKB. Wait a little bit until you have one.
Hi!
Is it necessary to have a job already to open a GiroKonto in DKB bank? Or can i open one before i found a job?
I opened an account in sparkasse today, and they made it a hard time for me in the beginning because i don’t have a job yet, but in the end they agreed. The thing is that i need to pay 6.95 euro a month for the account. So maybe i should switch to DKB?
Cheers!
Yes, many banks in Germany charge you when you don’t have a certain income per month going into the account. It’s called “Kontoführung Gebühren”. The DKB doesn’t have that. It’s really non-sense that this is still happening these days, when everything is going through computers.
Have you heard of NUMBER26? What are your thoughts on them?
I have heard good things about them so far but i want to wait a little while more before recommending it here, to make sure that the experience is as good as i have heard.
That’s okay then, I’m thinking on going with them except the give a credit card which is not accepted everywhere. Is DKB the same? Can they provide debit cards or credit cards only?
DKB provides a VISA card for free that you can use worldwide without any fees when withdrawing money or when paying with it. It also provides the standard EC Karte (debit card) for Germany.
Thanks for the help!!
Hollo, as an international company located in Israel, can we open bank account in Berlin or do we need a companey registrated in Germany for that?
I must say i don’t know i haven’t never opened an account while not being in Germany. The DKB seems to allow to open from outside the country but you need an extra ID check via a local partner branch in your home country or something. You can have a look on their website.
Do you know what the best way is to open a Sperrkonto? I went to the branch in Deutch Bank, but they told me I had to register online, and activate it at the branch in person. I tried finding the application form online, but I can’t find it anywhere
A sparkonto ? Are you sure you need a savings account ? Correct me if i’m wrong but you need maybe more a GiroKonto ? Let me know if that’s the case. You can find application form for such a bank account therethere for Postbank, there for Commerzbank, and there for Consorsbank.
A Sperrkonto is not the same as a Sparkonto. It is a type of account from which only a limited amount can be withdrawn per month. The owner is “blocked” from withdrawing more, so to speak. Such an account is often needed by foreign students to demonstrate proof of sufficient means.
Yeah i also need to open an account so which bank is best
DKB is highly recommendable, free Girokonto, no fees paying or withdrawing money, even abroad. <
Thanks for the very useful tips and options! I’m really grateful that you wrote this article to help newcomers along. German bureaucracy can be so intimidating. Keep up the great work!
I only have my UK passport, and a birth cert, if i cant find someone speeking english in the bank i wont get far.
have euros in cash luckily as im having visa issues after a purchace on a new zealand bank account.
I Need an account here in Berlin and a visa to make it work .
Any help or advice would be appreciated
I’m not sure i get everything of your situation but i try other banks to find help in English, or alternatively, online banks that can serve you in English. Also ; if you have a UK passport, you shouldn’t need a visa right ? Are you not considered EU citizen then ?
interested in opening bank account with bank of berlin germany
deutsche bank
need urgent information