Compare different German bank accounts now
As an Expat, it is essential to open a German bank account in order to study or work in Germany. International students usually need a blocked account and can also open an additional German bank account from one of the providers below. If you are a working professional, or if you would require any additional bank account, you can choose one of the providers below.
Pro Tip: Vivid is free and gives 25€ signup bonus PLUS 10% cashsback at a lot of places (Lidl, Ikea, Amazon etc)
German banking terms explained
Account maintenance fee
Yearly costs associated with maintaining the bank account
GIRO CARD
Girocard is a debit card service and an inter bank network which connects all German ATMs and Banks virtually
WORLDWIDE USAGE FEE
The commission fee for using the ATM service in any part of the world
IBAN
International Bank Account Number
BLZ
Bank code number
TAN
Transaction Identification Number
Compare and book German bank accounts
German terms to know in banking
Formular - Form
Konto - Account
Geldautomat - ATM
Unterschrift - Signature
Zinsen - Interest
Kredit - Loan
Kasse - Cash counter
Zahlungsart - Payment method
German terms to know in banking
Konto - Account
Geldautomat - ATM
Formular - Form
Unterschrift - Signature
Zinsen - Interest
Kredit - Loan
Kasse - Cash counter
Zahlungsart - Payment method
Start bonus
Account maintenance fee
ATM Card fee
Credit Card fee
Online Banking
Credit Card type
Cash withdrawal
Cash withdrawal from Credit card
Disposable interest
Account access
Credit interest
Overdraft interest
75€
none (0- EUR until the completion of the 27th year of life or with monthly receipt of money without minimum amount, otherwise monthly 3,90 EUR)
none
1st year free when opening a current account, from the 2nd year 0 € from 4,000 € turnover per year or owner younger than 27, otherwise 29.90 € per year
iTAN, Mobile TAN, pushTAN, QR-TAN
–
Cash withdrawals with the Girocard at Sparkassen-Verbund ATMs free of charge.
In Germany: 2.00% of total at least EUR 5.11 In the EEA countries in Euro currency (excluding Germany): free. In the EEA states in foreign currency and outside the EEA: 1.75% of total.
7.17% yearly
Online, Telephone
0.00% yearly The 1822direkt call money account offers a variable interest rate of currently 0.001 % p.a. up to € 20,000. From exceeding a credit amount of 500,000 €, penalty interest is currently 0.5%.
7.17% yearly
25€
none
none
none
App
–
Withdraw cash free of charge – worldwide
free of charge with your girocard at ATMs of Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, HypoVereinsbank and Postbank as well as at Shell petrol stations and trading partners (e.g. Rewe, Penny and Aldi Süd)
6.5% yearly
Online
–
–
none
none
none
none
ChipTAN, PushTAN
V
With credit card you can withdraw worldwide free of charge (you will receive it with your new current account). All customers without a monthly receipt of at least 700 € can withdraw money free of charge at all VISA ATMs throughout Europe, Romania and Sweden.
free of charge worldwide at ATMs with visa sign (in the second year only free of charge with a monthly cash receipt of at least 700 €). Minimum amount per withdrawal is 50 €. Maximum amount per day is 1.000 €.
Disposition interest is incurred if the current account is overdrawn. The DKB current account offers a variable debit interest rate of currently 6.74% p.a.
Online, Telephone
“0.01% yearly The DKB current account offers a variable interest rate of currently 0.01% p.a. (the 0.01% interest p.a. is also available on the corresponding credit card)”
6.74% yearly
Start bonus
Account maintenance fee
ATM Card fee
Credit Card fee
Online Banking
Credit Card type
Cash withdrawal
Cash withdrawal from Credit card
Disposable interest
Account access
Overdraft interest
netbank
none
4.85€/Month
none
Netbank offers Mastercard Debit to the current account for 0€ with income receipt from 400 € and for 10 € p.a. without income receipt
iTAN, Mobile TAN
Mastercard Debit
Cash withdrawals with Mastercard Debit worldwide free of charge (1x per month) at all savings banks and ATMs with MasterCard symbol. For each further withdrawal costs of € 3.00 are incurred.
Cash withdrawals with Mastercard Debit worldwide free of charge (1x per month) at all savings banks and ATMs with MasterCard symbol. For each further withdrawal costs of € 3.00 are incurred.
8% yearly
Online, Telephone
11% yearly
fidor
none
Fidor Smart Current Account costs 5,00 € per month. If you conduct more than 10 transactions per month, your Fidor Smart Current Account will receive our Activity Bonus and end up free of charge.
none
none
App
–
Withdraw cash using Fidor Cash at over 12,000 retail partner
–
8.5% yearly
Online, Mobile
–
insha
none
none
none
none
App
Mastercard
First 3 withdrawals in Germany – 0 € After 3 withdrawal at an ATM in Germany per withdrawal – 2 €
–
–
App
–
Start bonus
Account maintenance fee
ATM Card fee
Credit Card fee
Online Banking
Credit Card type
Cash withdrawal
Cash withdrawal from Credit card
Disposable interest
Account access
Overdraft interest
netbank
none
4.85€/Month
none
Netbank offers Mastercard Debit to the current account for 0€ with income receipt from 400 € and for 10 € p.a. without income receipt
iTAN, Mobile TAN
Mastercard Debit
Cash withdrawals with Mastercard Debit worldwide free of charge (1x per month) at all savings banks and ATMs with MasterCard symbol. For each further withdrawal costs of € 3.00 are incurred.
Cash withdrawals with Mastercard Debit worldwide free of charge (1x per month) at all savings banks and ATMs with MasterCard symbol. For each further withdrawal costs of € 3.00 are incurred.
8% yearly
Online, Telephone
11% yearly
fidor
none
Fidor Smart Current Account costs 5,00 € per month. If you conduct more than 10 transactions per month, your Fidor Smart Current Account will receive our Activity Bonus and end up free of charge.
none
none
App
–
Withdraw cash using Fidor Cash at over 12,000 retail partner
–
8.5% yearly
Online, Mobile
–
insha
none
none
none
none
App
Mastercard
First 3 withdrawals in Germany – 0 € After 3 withdrawal at an ATM in Germany per withdrawal – 2 €
–
–
App
–
Compare and book credit cards
