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Bank accounts for newcomers to Germany: compared in English

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Links marked * are partner links: if you sign up, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The order follows our published criteria below — never commission. How we make money

In shortIf you need an account in your first weeks, a mobile bank you open with your passport and a video or app check is usually the fastest route. Before you sign up, check three things: whether you get a German (DE) IBAN, whether your money is covered by a statutory deposit guarantee, and whether the free plan covers what you need. Once you are registered, a local branch bank is worth considering too, and banks that offer current accounts must give you a basic account (Basiskonto) if you live in the EU legally.

New to this? Read the guide first: Bank account

Options for newcomers

1.

N26

Good if you want a German bank with a DE IBAN

N26 is a BaFin-licensed Berlin bank with German deposit protection and an English app. Its opening page asks for an ID, a phone and residence in an N26 country, not a Meldebescheinigung.

Good for

  • Opening an account from your phone in your first days
  • A free Standard account with no opening or maintenance fee
  • German statutory deposit protection up to €100,000
  • English website and app

Watch out

  • You must live in a country where N26 operates. Its opening page does not list a Meldebescheinigung, but check the current requirements in the app before you rely on that
  • Mobile-only: there are no branches for cash deposits or face-to-face help
Visit N26 (opens in a new tab)English app & supportNot a partner link
2.

bunq

Good if you have no Steuer-ID yet and want English support

bunq's German site advertises opening in minutes with no Steuer-ID and full English support. Deposits are covered by a statutory deposit guarantee up to €100,000.

Good for

  • Newcomers without a Steuer-ID yet
  • People who want English-language support
  • Organising money in several sub-accounts (Pockets), each with its own IBAN
  • A free plan, plus paid plans with more features

Watch out

  • ID check uses original plastic documents only (no scans), via a video selfie in the app
  • Check that the IBAN shown in the app starts with DE if a German IBAN matters to you
Visit bunq (advertising: partner link) (opens in a new tab)English app & support* Partner link (Anzeige) — we may earn a commission
3.

Revolut

Good if you also spend in several currencies

Revolut says Germany-resident customers get a German IBAN. It is strong for multi-currency spending, though the Lithuanian deposit guarantee applies rather than the German one.

Good for

  • Spending and holding several currencies
  • A German IBAN for salary and direct debits (for residents of Germany)
  • Travel and card payments abroad

Watch out

  • Revolut Bank UAB is licensed in Lithuania, so the Lithuanian deposit guarantee applies, not the German one
  • Paid plans bundle extras you may not need. Compare what the free plan covers first
Visit Revolut (opens in a new tab)English app & supportNot a partner link
4.

Vivid Money

Good if you want many sub-account IBANs

Its free Standard plan includes Pockets with separate IBANs. Vivid is not a bank, so only the part of your money held at its partner bank is covered by a deposit guarantee.

Good for

  • Splitting money into Pockets with separate IBANs
  • Combining a spending account with investing features
  • A free Standard plan

Watch out

  • Vivid is not a German bank. Only money held in its client-money account at Natixis is covered by the French deposit guarantee, not necessarily your whole balance
  • Its German site mixes personal and business offers, so read which plan you are signing up for
Visit Vivid Money (opens in a new tab)Some EnglishNot a partner link
5.

Wise

Good as a second account for international money

Wise is excellent for holding and converting currencies. As a payment institution rather than a bank, it works better next to a Girokonto than instead of one.

Good for

  • Sending money abroad with the fee shown upfront
  • Receiving money in several currencies with local account details
  • Support available in many languages

Watch out

  • Not a bank: balances are safeguarded, not covered by a deposit guarantee
  • Not a full replacement for a German Girokonto for everything (check before using it for rent or salary)
Visit Wise (opens in a new tab)English app & supportNot a partner link

Other options

How we compared

CriterionWeightWhy it matters
Can open without AnmeldungMost importantWhether the provider lists a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) as an opening requirement. Most mobile banks ask for an ID and an address but not the certificate. Always confirm in the app.
German IBANImportantA DE IBAN avoids friction with some employers and landlords. Under EU rules, a payer may not refuse your account because it is in another EU country (IBAN discrimination), but a DE IBAN is still smoother.
English app and supportMost importantWhether you can open, use and get help with the account in English.
Monthly costImportantWhether a free plan exists and what it covers. We do not list prices because they change often; check the provider's price list.
Deposit protectionMost importantBank deposits in the EEA are protected up to €100,000 per customer per bank. Payment and e-money institutions (like Wise or Vivid) safeguard your money instead. That is not the same as a deposit guarantee.
SCHUFA-buildingNice to haveWhether the account helps you build a German credit history. We could not verify this provider by provider, so ask the bank directly if it matters for a future flat or contract.
  • Requirements change often. Confirm what ID and address details the app asks for before you rely on opening without Anmeldung.
  • We verified each provider's German IBAN claims on its own site where possible. For bunq, check that the IBAN shown in the app starts with DE.

Conditions change. Check the current terms on the provider's website before you sign up. See our editorial policy.

Sources

Rules can change. These are the pages we checked — they have the final word. How we check facts