How to open a German bank account for non-residents

To open a bank account in Germany, you need to prepare documents, complete an application, and verify your identity. Most banks will ask for your ID and German address, and some also want your residence permit or proof of income. Once approved, you’ll get an IBAN for your salary, rent, bills and everyday payments.

Below, we cover the main account types, documents and fees, then walk through the process of opening a bank account in Germany step by step.

Bank account types in Germany

In 2026, you can open Girokonto, Basiskonto and Sparkonto – a Girokonto is the main checking account most expats need. 

Account type	What it is for	Best for
Girokonto	Salary, rent, bills, transfers, direct debits and card payments	Most people living in Germany
Basiskonto	Essential banking services such as transfers, direct debits and cash access	Eligible people who can’t get a normal Girokonto
Tagesgeldkonto / Sparkonto	Keeping savings separate from everyday spending	Saving money after your main account is set up

Girokonto

A Girokonto is the standard everyday checking account. You will use it to receive your salary, pay rent and bills, and:

• send money to friends or family

• pay in shops, restaurants and online

• take out cash when you need it

• split a bill with a flatmate

• book flights or hotels with a debit card

• set up a gym membership or streaming subscription

The card itself comes linked to the account. Depending on the bank, it'll be a Girocard, Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit.

For expats: Finding a job in Germany – job portals, CV tips, qualification recognition.

Basiskonto

A Basiskonto is a simpler basic payment account with the same basic payment functions, but stronger legal protection. You can receive money, make transfers, use direct debits and withdraw or deposit cash. What you may not get is:

• an overdraft;

• a credit card;

• other credit or borrowing features;

• extra account packages or premium services that come with some regular Girokonten.

A Basiskonto’s purpose is to make sure you aren’t left without access to basic banking. That’s the reason why all eligible people have a legal right to this basic payment account, unlike a regular Girokonto, for which banks set their own rules. 

“Access to a bank account has become for every European citizen a prerequisite for participating fully in economic and social life.” – Sebastian Valentin Bodu, former Member of the European Parliament.

So, if banks refuse to let you open a Girokonto, try a Basiskonto instead. Banks can’t simply turn you away if you qualify – they are legally required to open the account.

Savings accounts

Savings accounts are for money you don’t need for everyday spending. In Germany, you’ll often see Tagesgeldkonto and Sparkonto as options.

A Tagesgeldkonto is more flexible: you keep savings there, may earn interest, and can move the money back to your current account when you need it. A Sparkonto is the more traditional savings account and may come with stricter withdrawal rules.

Neither replaces your Girokonto. You can't use a savings account for your salary, rent, card payments or monthly bills. That’s why people have more than one account – Girokonto for daily life and Tagesgeldkonto/Sparkonto for money you want to keep aside. There is no rule against it, and some banks let you open both in the same app. 

Documents for opening a bank account

Prepare your ID, proof of address and residence documents first. However, the exact requirements vary by bank, so check their websites before coming to an appointment.

Document	Why you may need it
Passport or accepted national ID	Identity check
Residence permit	Residence status, if applicable
Meldebescheinigung	Proof of German address
Employment contract or payslip	Proof of income for some accounts
Student certificate	Student account conditions
Tax details	Tax-residency information

Banks are picky in different ways – one might be fine with your passport but want an extra income document, while another requests less but takes longer to approve. Collect what you have and check for which bank it would be enough. 

Anmeldung and Meldebescheinigung

Anmeldung is the official registration of where you live in Germany, while the Meldebescheinigung is the document you get after registering. When you move into a home in Germany, you must register the address with your local Bürgeramt or registration office within two weeks of moving in (as of 2026, deadlines may change, verify with your Bürgeramt).

Once you have the Meldebescheinigung, you can use it as official proof of address when a bank asks for one during the application.

If you don’t have a Meldebescheinigung yet, you may still be able to open an account, but fewer banks will accept you. If you are in temporary accommodation (like a hotel or Airbnb), ask the bank what you can do to prove the address.

SCHUFA and your first account

SCHUFA is Germany’s main credit-history system, but having no SCHUFA record when you first arrive is completely fine.

Banks use credit information mainly when they are deciding whether to lend you money or give you credit features. However, for your first bank account, SCHUFA isn’t a thing to worry about. 

Banks to choose

Online banks – like N26 – are great if you want English support and mobile banking; while traditional banks – such as Deutsche Bank – are better if you want a branch and face-to-face help.

• N26: good for managing everything from your phone. The Standard account has no monthly fee, comes with a German IBAN, and the app and support are available in English.

• DKB and ING: their accounts can be free or cheaper when you meet the monthly income rules or are under 28 years old.

• Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank: better if you want a branch nearby and the option to speak to someone in person.

Step-by-step guide on opening a bank account in Germany

The process comes down to choosing an account, preparing your documents, applying and verifying your identity.

• Step 1: Complete Anmeldung if needed 

If your bank asks for a Meldebescheinigung, register your address first.

• Step 2: Choose the account 

Start with a Girokonto unless you specifically need another type. Compare fees, cards, ATM access, cash deposits, online banking and customer support. If a normal Girokonto is difficult to get, check whether a Basiskonto fits your situation.

• Step 3: Check the requirements

Make sure the bank accepts your address, residence status and ID document before filling in the application.

• Step 4: Apply

Start the application on the bank’s website, in its app, or at a branch. Choose the account you want, click Open account / Konto eröffnen, and follow the application form. 

• Step 5: Verify your identity

Verification may happen in a video call, with an electronic ID, through POSTIDENT at a post office, or at a bank branch. If the online system doesn’t accept your documents, try another method or apply in person instead.

• Step 6: Wait for approval

Some Girokonto applications are processed quickly, while others need manual checks. For Basiskonto, banks have 10 business days to open it (as of 2026, regulations may change, verify with your bank).

• Step 7: Get your card

Once the account is approved, the bank will issue your card. Online banks send physical cards by post to your registered address. Traditional banks can either mail the card or hand it over to you in person. 

The whole process often ends up being less stressful than you expect. A typical scenario: you register your address, get your Meldebescheinigung, pick an online bank and apply the same week. If everything is in order, you can have an IBAN within a day or two – well before your first salary is due.

Practical banking tips for expats

There are 1,249 credit institutions in Germany – you have plenty of options, so don’t choose one on price alone. Check first that it accepts your documents, has free ATMs where you live, and gives you the level of English support you need.

If one bank says no, try another

One bank may not support your passport for video identification, another may want a Meldebescheinigung, and a third may accept the same documents without a problem.

If you are rejected, first find out why. Then either fix the missing document, try another bank, or apply at a branch if the issue was identity verification. If regular Girokonto applications keep failing, check whether you qualify for a basic payment account (Basiskonto).

Check English support

Make sure the bank can support you in English when something goes wrong. An English app is already a good sign, but it may not be enough. Look at:

• customer support languages;

• help pages;

• account documents;

• letters and notifications;

• branch support, if available.

Some banks have an English website but still send contracts or important correspondence in German. If your German is still basic, this can cause some inconveniences.

Use Profee for transfers home

If part of your budget goes to family abroad, you can keep those transfers separate from your everyday German banking. Your Girokonto can handle salary, rent and bills, while Profee can help send money to 90+ destinations.

You can transfer funds from Germany using a card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Profee wallet, SEPA, Klarna or a bank app. The recipient can get the money to a:

• bank account, 

• card,

• mobile wallet. 

Recipients don’t need to create a Profee profile or go to a bank branch. You can check the current rates and terms on profee.com or in the Profee app. 

Keep a little cash on you

Germany is much more card-friendly than it used to be, but some places keep accepting only cash. In the 2026 Bundesbank study, around one in four people said they had wanted to pay cashlessly at least once in the previous month but could not. 

Imagine you stop for coffee at a small neighbourhood café in Berlin and see a handwritten sign saying “Nur Barzahlung” – cash only. Keeping 20–30 EUR in your wallet can save you from having to find an ATM for a coffee, lunch or small purchase.

“The trend towards cashless payments is continuing. Nevertheless, cash remained the most frequently used means of payment,” – Burkhard Balz, Bundesbank Executive Board member, June 2026.

Keep your existing EU account if you have one

If you already have a bank account in another EU country, keep it when you settle in Germany. You can often use your existing account for your salary and other SEPA payments, while you deal with Anmeldung, housing and the rest of the move.

A non-German EU IBAN should be accepted for SEPA payments. If an employer or company refuses it only because the IBAN comes from another EU country, that is called IBAN discrimination.

Later, once you have sorted out your address, bills and other paperwork, you can decide whether opening a German account would make things easier.

FAQ: How to open a German bank account