Opening a bank account in Germany as a newcomer

Who needs it

Almost everyone who lives in Germany. A German Girokonto (current account) or another euro account in the EU is usually required in practice:

• your employer pays your salary into it;
• rent, health insurance, the broadcasting fee and phone contracts are paid by Lastschrift (direct debit) or Überweisung (bank transfer);
• many landlords and contracts ask for your IBAN before anything else.

There is no law that forces you to have an account. But without one, daily life gets very hard.

When

Open an account as early as you can, ideally before your first salary. Some online banks let you open an account before you have registered your address. Many traditional banks ask for your Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) from the Anmeldung, so for them you have to wait until after registration.

What you need

• Valid passport or national ID card. Non-EU citizens may also be asked for their residence permit or visa.
• An address. Banks must record your home address under the anti-money-laundering law (Geldwäschegesetz). If you have no fixed address, a postal address where you can be reached is enough.
• Your tax ID (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer). Banks ask for it for tax reporting. You can usually add it later. See tax ID.
• A smartphone and email address for online banks.
• Sometimes: your Meldebescheinigung, proof of income or a German phone number.

How to do it

1. Choose the type of bank

Savings banks (Sparkasse) and cooperative banks (Volksbank, Raiffeisenbank) are traditional banks with many branches. Direct banks are German-licensed banks that work without branches. Some app-based accounts are run from other EU countries and give you a non-German IBAN.

2. Verify your identity

Banks must check your identity before opening an account. The common ways are:

• VideoIdent: a video call where you show your passport to the camera.
• PostIdent: you take your passport and a coupon to a post office branch.
• In person at a branch.
• Online ID function (eID) of a German ID card or residence permit.

3. Activate the account

You receive your IBAN, then your card and login details, often by post. Give your IBAN to your employer, landlord and insurer.

Your right to a basic account (Basiskonto)

Under the Zahlungskontengesetz (Payment Accounts Act), every bank that offers accounts to consumers must open a Basiskonto (basic payment account) for anyone who is lawfully resident in the EU. This explicitly includes:

• people without a fixed address;
• asylum seekers;
• people without a residence title who cannot be deported (Duldung).

The bank must decide without delay and at the latest within 10 business days. It can refuse only for narrow reasons, for example if you already have a usable account in Germany. A Basiskonto includes deposits, withdrawals, transfers, direct debits and card payments, but no overdraft. Fees must be "reasonable".

German IBAN or another EU IBAN?

An IBAN starting with DE is German. Accounts from app-based banks in other EU countries start with other country codes (for example LT, NL or BE).

Under the EU SEPA Regulation (Art. 9 of Regulation 260/2012), anyone paying or collecting euro by SEPA transfer or direct debit must accept accounts from any SEPA country, as long as they accept domestic accounts. Refusing a non-German IBAN is known as IBAN discrimination and is not allowed. BaFin enforces this rule in Germany.

In practice, some employers, landlords or offices still ask for a German IBAN. Politely point to the SEPA Regulation. If that does not help, you can complain to BaFin. If you want to avoid the discussion, a DE IBAN is the simplest option.

What happens afterwards

• Your bank may report the account to SCHUFA, Germany's main credit bureau. A German account with a clean history helps with renting and contracts later. See SCHUFA.
• Your deposits are protected up to €100,000 per bank under the statutory deposit guarantee. Banks licensed in other EU countries are covered by their home country's scheme, with the same EU minimum.

Common problems

Can I open a bank account in Germany without Anmeldung?

Often yes, with some online banks, which accept your passport and a video check. Most traditional banks want your registration certificate first. The law requires an address, not an Anmeldung, but each bank sets its own process.

Can I open an account before I arrive in Germany?

Some online banks allow this if you already have a German or other EU address. Check the bank's conditions for your country of residence.

My employer says they only pay into a German IBAN. Is that allowed?

No. Under the SEPA Regulation, an employer paying in euro must accept any SEPA account. Show them the rule and, if needed, complain to BaFin.

The bank rejected me because I have no SCHUFA history.

Banks may decline normal accounts. The Basiskonto is the exception: it cannot be refused for lack of a credit history.

Do I need a separate account for my freelance work?

It is not legally required for most freelancers, but many keep one to separate business and private money. See freelancing.

Costs

Many online accounts have no monthly fee for the basic account. Traditional banks often charge a monthly fee, sometimes waived if you receive a regular salary. Check fees for cash withdrawals, a physical card, foreign currency payments and replacement cards before you sign.