Comparison: Comdirect better than DKB?
This comparison is different: Normally, some editors declare – by arbitrary established criteria – one account as the test winner.
However, does this really help you? Actually, it depends on which account fits you better! Editors cannot specify this.
You decide … and you can use this comparison as a base for your decision, if you wish.
 DKB |
 Comdirect |
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| The most requested properties | ||
| Account management |
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| Withdrawing cash (Germany) |
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| Withdrawing cash (abroad) |
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| Bank cards |  1 or 2 Visa cards free of charge  1 Girocard (V Pay), free of charge |
 1 Visa Card free of charge  1 Girocard (V Pay), free of charge |
| The most significant differences | ||
| Account type | Current account with overdraft and credit line that means up to Euros 15,000 loan on account and credit card is possible at a corresponding creditworthiness and income /small> |
Current account possible with and without overdraft At a low creditworthiness, the account can be set up as a credit account with Prepaid-Visa card |
| Maximum card charging | unlimited (Visa card) | Euros 5,000 (Visa card) |
| Orders by phone (e.g. transfers, securities account order) |
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| Emergency card |
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| Further differences between DKB and Comdirect | ||
| Cash withdrawals using credit card | Euros 1,000 per day and credit card (2 cards = Euros 2,000) | Euros 600 per day |
| Cash deposits | free of charge using the few deposit machines (article in German) |
free of charge at any branch office of the Commerzbank |
| Settlement of card transactions | Visa credit card collects without interest until the automatic monthly settlement with the current account | Visa credit card collects without interest until the automatic weekly settlement with the current account |
| Interest | Credit interest: current account and Visa-Savings Loan interest: if current account is in the red |
Credit interest: Call money account (Tagesgeld) Loan interest: if current account is in the red |
| International transfers | Worldwide from Euros 12.50 | Worldwide from Euros 7.90 |
| Similarities (DKB and Comdirect are alike in many services) | ||
| What both offer |
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| Foreign transaction fee |
At cash withdrawals from ATMs, no foreign transaction fee is charged. |
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| Alternatives without foreign transaction fee can be found in this overview. | ||
| Availability | By phone around the clock (24/7) or by e-mail / post | |
| Refund of foreign charges | At cash withdrawals, both banks refund the foreign charges; instructions: DKB, Comdirect (article in German). interesting for travellers in USA, Thailand, Mexico |
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| Blocking of the credit card | Around the clock calling the phone customer service | |
| Joint account | Yes, with two or more persons | |
| Language | German | |
| Complementing products | Savings accounts, Securities account, Junior-account, Loans | Savings account, Securities account, Junior-account, Junior-Depot, Loans |
| Account opening (important to know!) | ||
| Creditworthiness check | yes about 65 % pass this check; find tips here |
yes about 65 % pass this check |
| Application on account opening | online | online |
| Legitimating (Identity check) | from Germany | |
| • via video chat (WebID) or • PostIdent-procedure |
• via video chat or • PostIdent-procedure |
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| from abroad | ||
| • via video chat (ID-cards in German) • Legitimating of bank, notary or lawyer |
• via video chat ID-cards in German) • Legitimating of notaries |
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| Application on account opening is accepted from: | ||
| • Germany, Austria, Switzerland (all nationalities) • worldwide for German citizens |
• Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein (all nationalities) • worldwide for German citizens and for people, who have a “valid” reason for an account in Germany |
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| Start the account opening |  (read further information) |
(read further information) |
My personal conclusion
Compared to the comparison of Number26 vs. DKB, the differences between Comdirect and DKB are minimal.
Often, I recommend each other’s account, if the account opening did not work at the other bank. Strangely, I get more feedback that the opening of the DKB account was rejected. The overall picture is probably distorted, because there are more DKB customers or prospectives among our fans (German site) than of the Comdirect.
DKB has the better brand; Comdirect the better phone service
… this is my overall conclusion.
DKB invests more in advertising, Comdirect more in customer satisfaction?
DKB is known to many sports enthusiasts (besides soccer) as a sponsor and is also committed socially. Additionally, it makes a lot of advertising for its free Internet account with Visa credit card- especially the free withdrawing of cash worldwide.
I do not perceive the Comdirect in advertising as strong. I especially like the customer service by phone. Although, you have to enter the access number and the PIN at the beginning of the call, but then you will be forwarded immediately (my waiting times are usually less than 5 seconds) to a competent banker, who welcomes you with your name.
I like that.
And I thank both banks for continuously providing such an excellent price-performance-service-offering since years!
The biggest difference in the everyday use
… is, for me, the cash withdrawing in Germany. At the DKB, I can go to any ATM and withdraw cash free of charge. In my region, there is namely no beastly 😉 Sparkasse and VR-banks that limited their ATMs to direct-bank customers.
Perhaps this is the reason, why I constantly carry my DKB Visa credit card in my wallet.
My bank cards of the Comdirect are optionally there too. Depending on what I intend to do. The free deposits and withdrawals using the counters of the Commerzbank are, of course, outstanding. Everything works flawlessly!
Recommendation for action
If you did not read the article, “Why you absolutely need a second free current account!“ yet, then please do it. Its facts and ideas have changed the opinion on a second account positively of so many readers …
For me, the DKB and Comdirect are the ideal banks for the permanent set up of a main current account. You will decide for yourself, which will become your main account and which your secondary. Both versions are good.
Likewise, you can pair the DKB or Comdirect account with another bank, which provides you with further significant advantages, such as Number26 – especially if you often have card payments in foreign currencies.
Unfortunately, the DKB as well as the Comdirect are subject to the international service fee of currently 1.75%, of which the Number26 MasterCard is exempt.
However, you “should“ have at least one account at one of the both banks from this comparison 😉 … in order to experience by yourself, how great the best German direct banks are nowadays!
Video summary of this comparison
Maybe you want to help that this comparison will be read by more people. For this purpose, I have specially produced this video … multimedia content can be shared even easier, right? This video is in German language – but with English subtitle:
Subscribe for the channel? www.DeutschesKonto.TV
Link to the providers ⇒ DKB: www.dkb.de | Comdirect: www.comdirect.de
The most important pages about both banks
DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
Comdirect Bank
- 7 secrets for optimal use Comdirect Visa card
- Immediate overdraft facility for the free current account
- The only way to get the starting balance!
Is the DKB or Comdirect the better one for you?
I am thrilled to know of your opinions or your experiences. Please use the comments box to enhance this comparison for the benefit of all readers. Many thanks!
Does the DKB offers online banking for the current account?
Yes, only online banking.
Hi, first of all – thanks a lot for the site and the knowledge!
Now question – I almost started the DKB application, but was told by a friend that now DKB requires minimum 700 EUR deposit every month… Which would totally be a deal breaker in my case – just moved to Germany, dealing with the papers and not yet getting any regular income at the moment..
Could you confirm that they now have changed the policy, and if so – is the Comdirect is still free from the minimum required cashflow? Maybe another option, if the DKB is out of the window?
Thanks a lot!
A very good question! I had already been worried that some English speaking people might misunderstand the 700 Euro.
The solution is simple: The 700 Euro are only an option in order to obtain even better free of charge services from the bank. The account and Visa Card are always free of charge – regardless of whether there is a monthly incoming amount of 700 Euro or not.
With this incoming amount one gets better interest rates and saves the international service fee when traveling within the Euro zone.
New customers get the premium conditions to test during the first 12 months – the bank calls them “Aktiv-Kunde”/active customers. If you then have the monthly incoming amount of 700 Euro, you retain the premium conditions. If that is not the case, the account remains, and it does not cost a fee, either.
This lets us heave a sigh of relief, right?