Money
Opening a bank account in Germany
N26, DKB, Sparkasse, or something else. What you need, what each one actually does, and the trap of debit-first culture.
N26, Revolut, and Wise open accounts with just your passport, no Anmeldung needed. Traditional banks (Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse) require Anmeldung. Start with a digital bank as a bridge, add a traditional bank later if needed.
You need a German bank account for salary, rent, Nebenkosten, direct debits, and every recurring payment in your life here. Choose correctly once and you save hours of friction every month.
Online-first banks (fast, English)
N26: Berlin-based. Fully online sign-up in 10 minutes with just your passport. Works before Anmeldung. German IBAN (starts with DE). English app and web. Good for new arrivals who need something working in their first week.
- Free tier: covers basic needs
- Paid tiers (€4.90 to €16.90/month) add travel insurance, metal card, better ATM withdrawals
- Weak on cash deposits (possible but limited and sometimes fees)
Revolut: UK-based, offers German IBAN for German customers. Fast sign-up, multi-currency accounts, great for travel. Treated as a full bank account now, salary direct deposits work fine.
bunq: Dutch challenger bank. Similar to N26, has travel features.
ING: German direct bank, longer history than N26. Free Girokonto (checking account) with free Visa debit card. Web interface in German and English. Often accepted by landlords when N26 is not.
DKB: German direct bank. Free Girokonto with conditions (€700/month salary deposit for full free tier), excellent Visa debit card with free worldwide ATM withdrawals. Branch-less but reliable. German-only interface; basic English support.
Traditional banks (branch access)
Sparkasse: the local municipal savings bank. There is a Sparkasse in almost every German town. Personal service, debit card, German banker you can visit in person. Landlords and older institutions sometimes prefer Sparkasse IBANs. Expect a €5 to €10 monthly fee. German-only service; some branches have one English-speaker.
Volksbank / Raiffeisenbank: cooperative banks, similar to Sparkasse. Strong regional presence, especially outside Berlin/Munich.
Commerzbank: national bank, moderate fees, English-speaking branches in major cities.
Deutsche Bank: premium pricing, global presence, useful if you need to move money between India and Germany frequently.
What you need to open an account
Online banks (N26, Revolut, ING, DKB):
- Passport with valid visa
- German address (some will let you open with an Indian address and update later)
- Smartphone with camera for video identification (PostIdent or VideoIdent)
Traditional banks (Sparkasse, Volksbank, Commerzbank):
- Passport with valid visa
- Anmeldung (required)
- Residence permit or visa
- Sometimes employment contract or proof of income
The debit-first trap
Germany is a debit card country, not a credit card country. Most purchases are paid via Girocard (formerly EC-Karte) or Visa Debit linked to your checking account.
- Many restaurants, bakeries, and small shops still only accept cash or Girocard. Not Visa credit, not Mastercard, not Amex.
- Credit cards are seen as a borrowing product. Getting one usually requires an established banking relationship (6+ months) or a minimum balance.
Implication: carry some cash (€20 to €50 in your wallet at all times) and make sure your primary card is a debit or Girocard.
Getting a credit card
Easy path: N26 offers a Mastercard debit immediately; a real credit card later if you hit their criteria.
DKB Visa: Visa credit card with fee-free worldwide spending and ATM withdrawals. One of the best for travel.
Amazon Visa, Payback Visa, Miles & More (Lufthansa): co-branded cards that are easier to qualify for than big-bank credit cards.
TF Bank: genuinely easy to get, limited credit line initially.
Expect a 3 to 6 month wait before any bank offers you a "real" credit card (Kreditkarte mit Verfügungsrahmen) with proper credit line and monthly billing.
Moving money between India and Germany
Wise (formerly TransferWise): fastest, cheapest for amounts under €10,000. Transparent fees. Supports INR and EUR.
Revolut: integrated into the app if you use Revolut as your account.
Remitly, Western Union: higher fees but established options.
SWIFT via your bank: slowest and most expensive. Avoid unless you need to send >€25,000 at once.
For sending money to India, Wise or Revolut are almost always cheaper than any Indian bank's remittance service.
Girokonto, Tagesgeldkonto, Festgeldkonto
- Girokonto: checking/current account. Salary in, rent out. No or very low interest.
- Tagesgeldkonto: instant-access savings. Interest rates currently 2 to 3% at online banks.
- Festgeldkonto: fixed-term deposit. Higher interest but locked in. Useful if you have a lump sum and no short-term need.
Check weltsparen.de and zinspilot.de to find Tagesgeldkonto offers from across European banks at better rates than your main bank will offer.
Setting up recurring payments
SEPA-Lastschrift (direct debit) is how rent, electricity, phone, internet, and insurance get paid. You give the creditor a mandate once, they debit automatically. If an unexpected debit appears, you can recall it within 8 weeks without reason.
Überweisung (bank transfer) is the primary way to pay individuals: landlords, friends, freelancers. SEPA transfers within Germany are free and usually instant now.
What to do in your first week
- Open an N26 account the day you arrive. Takes 10 minutes.
- After Anmeldung, open a DKB, ING, or Sparkasse account as your main/backup.
- Move your salary deposit to DKB/ING/Sparkasse once the account is set up.
- Keep N26 as your travel and everyday card.
- After 3 to 6 months, apply for a proper credit card at DKB or via Amazon Visa.
Related guides on this site
Frequently asked
Can I open a German bank account before moving to Germany?
Yes. N26, Wise, and Revolut let you open a German IBAN account online from India with just your passport. Traditional banks usually require Anmeldung and in-person appointments. Digital banks are the common pre-arrival choice.
Which German bank is best for Indian expats?
N26 for simplicity and full English support. Deutsche Bank or Sparkasse if you want a physical branch. Commerzbank for regular international transfers. ING for free current accounts with higher deposit limits. Start digital, add traditional later if needed.
Found something wrong or missing?
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