DB
Traditional bank
Deutsche Bank
Personal and business banking, digital tools and branch services. Its English-language information pages can be a useful starting point.
Choose a bank with confidence, understand German payments, plan your monthly budget, and learn the phrases that make everyday banking easier.
Independent educational guide · Official provider links · Practical tools for newcomers
Choose a route and jump straight to the most relevant part of the guide.
Browse traditional, regional and online banking providers through their official websites.
Open directory →Understand the documents a bank may ask for and what to check before applying.
View checklist →Estimate expenses, see what remains and test a monthly savings target.
Use budget planner →A starting shortlist of established providers. Use the official website to verify current account terms, eligibility, fees, language support and identification options. This is not a ranking or endorsement.
Showing 10 providers
Personal and business banking, digital tools and branch services. Its English-language information pages can be a useful starting point.
Offers personal and business services, current accounts and a banking app. Compare account conditions and any requirements tied to incoming payments.
Current-account options and digital services with cash access through specified networks. Review its current fees, account conditions and service availability.
A network of local savings banks. Products, fees, branch services and account opening conditions can differ by city and individual Sparkasse.
Independent regional cooperative banks offering personal and business services. The specific local institution determines its products and terms.
Digital-first banking with personal account and savings products. Check account eligibility, account-fee conditions, card terms and identity-verification options.
Online current-account services and app-based account management. Verify current pricing, any conditions for fee-free use, and application eligibility.
Online account and card services. Review current account pricing, eligibility requirements and which services are included in the selected account.
App-based current-account experience. Before applying, check supported country of residence, accepted identity documents, verification steps and account limits.
Part of UniCredit, with personal and business banking services and physical locations in its service areas. Check local availability and the current fee schedule.
BaFin, Germany’s financial supervisor, provides an official account-comparison portal. Use it to compare relevant features and charges rather than relying on advertising headlines alone.
Banks set their own application processes. Prepare the basics, then confirm the exact list with your chosen provider.
0 of 6 preparation items checked
Usually used for salary payments, rent, bills, card payments and everyday transfers.
A legal framework can give eligible consumers a right to a basic payment account under conditions. It is not an automatic guarantee that every applicant or every application will be accepted.
For savings rather than replacing the everyday functions of a current account. Check withdrawal rules and interest conditions.
For business activity; eligibility and documentation may differ from personal banking.
Enter your estimated monthly amounts in euros. The tool calculates your listed expenses, remaining money and progress towards a savings target. This is a planning estimate, not financial advice.
Your entries stay in this page session; this widget does not transmit them to Fortgang Institut.
You have room in this example for your planned savings target.
Not included automatically: one-off deposits, moving costs, debt repayments, annual bills or unexpected expenses. Add these to “Other regular expenses” or make a separate plan.
Know which payment method you are authorising and keep records of important payments.
A bank transfer you initiate, for example to pay rent or send money to another account. Check the recipient and IBAN before confirming.
You initiate itA standing order that sends a set amount on a regular schedule. Useful for fixed recurring payments when the amount and timing are predictable.
Recurring fixed amountA direct debit: you authorise a payee to collect money from your account. Monitor your statements and use the appropriate bank or consumer-advice process if a debit is wrong or unauthorised.
Payee collectsA job offer usually states gross salary. Your net pay is the amount remaining after applicable taxes and contributions. The difference depends on your circumstances, so a single fixed percentage is not reliable for everyone.
Gross salary before deductions. Check whether a contract quotes a monthly or annual amount and whether any special payments are included.
Possible deductions include wage tax and social-insurance contributions. The exact calculation depends on factors such as income and personal circumstances.
Net salary paid to you. Use an up-to-date gross-net calculator for an estimate, then compare it with your actual payslip.
Move quickly, but avoid clicking links in suspicious messages or calling numbers supplied in them.
Use your bank’s official app or website, or a trusted official card-blocking route. In Germany, the central card-blocking service is commonly reached at 116 116; check current access and availability for your card and situation.
Do not click its link or share a PIN, password, one-time code or TAN. Open your bank’s official app or type its known website address yourself.
Contact your bank promptly using independently verified contact details, secure the account and keep screenshots or statements as evidence.
Use a separate trusted device to contact the bank, change affected credentials and follow the bank’s incident instructions.
Copy a phrase to prepare for a branch visit, appointment or message. The phrases are general examples; adjust them to your situation.
Choose “Copy phrase” to copy a sentence.
Learn the terms that appear on account pages, bank statements and payment screens.
current account
account maintenance fee
bank transfer
direct debit
standing order
bank statement
international bank account number
account balance
debit / amount taken from an account
deposit
withdrawal / payout
personal identification number / transaction authentication number
It depends on the provider, your country of residence, identity documents and its onboarding rules. Check the official application requirements directly; inclusion in this directory does not mean an application from abroad will be accepted.
Not necessarily. Check monthly fees, card fees, cash withdrawals, foreign-currency costs, overdraft interest and conditions attached to fee-free use. Compare the account you will actually use.
An IBAN is an account identifier used for payments. Always copy it carefully from a trusted source and verify the recipient and amount before authorising a transfer.
Ask for the decision and information about the reasons and review route. Eligibility for a Basiskonto depends on legal conditions and exclusions. Use official consumer advice or BaFin information for the current process.
Compare how you handle cash, whether you need in-person support, language and accessibility needs, account costs, card features and identity verification. There is no single best choice for every newcomer.
Explore related practical guides and build the German language skills that help you manage daily life with more confidence.