Opening a bank account in Germany is one of the first things you should do after arriving. While you can use a credit card from your home country for many payments, some institutions require a German bank account (or an EC / debit card). You will also need a German bank account to access the monthly payments from your blocked account (if you opened one for visa purposes).
German bank accounts are usually free of charge for students enrolled at a German university.
The requirements for opening a bank account vary by bank, branch, and sometimes nationality.
In most cases, you will need:
Some banks:
Do not require an Anmeldung (especially online banks)
May require a valid residence permit, depending on your status
(see: Residence Permit)
We do not cooperate with any banks. However, many international students report good experiences with Sparkasse and online banks.
In Germany, there are physical banks (with branches) and online banks (app-based).
N26 – https://n26.com
Wise – https://wise.com
bunq – https://www.bunq.com
Revolut – https://www.revolut.com
Requirements may vary depending on your nationality and individual situation.
Sparkasse – https://www.sparkasse.de
Deutsche Bank – https://www.deutsche-bank.de
Commerzbank – https://www.commerzbank.de
ING – https://www.ing.de
Volksbank / Raiffeisenbank – https://www.volksbank.de
Postbank – https://www.postbank.de
<aside> 💡 Check the conditions for withdrawing cash. Withdrawing money from ATMs that do not belong to your bank (or its partner network) may involve additional fees. Make sure there is an ATM from your bank near your home, university, or frequently visited locations.
</aside>
Sparkasse Berlin: https://www.berliner-sparkasse.de
Sparkasse KölnBonn: https://www.sparkasse-koelnbonn.de