10 Reasons for a bank account in Germany
1. Efficient Banks
Germany is the economic core of Europe. Diligence, efficiency and continuous development characterize the German economy. This applies especially to the financial economy, because the account-maintenance of online bank accounts is often free of charge (see point 2).
2. Free bank account
A German bank account (as we recommend it) is free of charge for the customer! The online branches of German banks are so efficient that no account mainentance fees or bank transfer fees apply. Many other fees that exist in other countries, have already been abolished in Germany.
3. 24/7 Service
You can access a German bank account via internet banking, telephone or post at any time. The top recommendations of this specialized portal are available by phone 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday – free of charge, except for the normal telephone charges of your telephone company. On request, the German bank even calls you back.
Note:
We do not work with call centers in low-wage countries. Comdirect has its switchboard in Quickborn near Hamburg and the DKB in Potsdam nearby Berlin.
4. Interest rates on your balance, yet still available anytime (no notice periods)
You can dispose on deposits of the checking account or savings account (Comdirect: Tagesgeld (Call money); DKB: VISA Sparen (VISA savings)). You can start a return transfer to your bank account or withdraw your money from any ATM, no matter where you are (see points 5 and 6)
5. Free Visa Card
You receive a VISA credit card. It is definitely free of charge. There is neither a issuing charge, nor annual fee.
6. Withdraw cash worldwide for free
With the Visa credit card, you can withdraw money from any ATM worldwide (Comdirect: please use your Girocard within Germany) completely free of charge.
If the ATM should charge a local fee, which occurs regularly in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Thailand, then this fee will be refunded on request by the German bank. Cash withdrawals in countries with a currency other than Euro are not a problem. Moreover, the exchange rates of German banks are world class and fair!
7. Bank transfers in other currencies possible, fair exchange rates
The bank account is kept in Euros. Cash deposits in other currencies are exchanged using very fair rates. International bank transfers are also possible in other currencies, such as U.S. dollars or Swiss francs. Even here, the exchange rates are very fair.
8. Super fast bank transfers
Bank transfers within the SEPA area from one account to another take place on the same day, at the latest the next day. A bank transfer from Berlin to Madrid is just as fast as a bank transfer from Barcelona to Madrid. The German bank does not charge fees for the execution.
9. Thanks to IBAN, the usage as a main bank is possible within the Euro zone
Because of the unified European Payments Area, all citizens within the Euro area can use the German bank account as a main bank account or salary account.
It is usable in the blue-colored countries as a „main bank on the web“!
Since 2014, all SEPA countries work with the IBAN. Depending on the country of origin, you can save more than 200 Euros on bank fees, if you use the German bank account.
10. The account balance is safe in Germany
Money in German banks is absolutely secure. In Germany, a statutory deposit insurance of 100.000 Euros per person and per account applies.
The banks, of which we reported here, have additionally a voluntary deposit insurance that secures amounts in the hundreds of millions range (Comdirect Bank) or even up to an unlimited amount (DKB).
DKB is a 100% subsidiary of the Bayerische Landesbank and forms therefore part of the state of Bavaria. Bavaria is financially the most successful state of Germany and the Bavarian Government supports the bank and its customer deposits.
Anything else?
Can you think of any further reasons for a bank account in Germany? Then please enhance this page with your ideas using the comments box.
You can ask questions about our 10 reasons as well. We thank you for participating!
Click here for our descriptions of bank accounts:
- DKB
Account opening possible from more than 40 countries without a visit in Germany, see DKB legitimacy (in German). - Comdirect
Sorry, there is no official country list of the bank available.
Images: Globus: TUBS/Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0; Support: Orlando Florin Rosu, fotolia.com; Eurozone: Glentamara
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Hi Tanja,
My name is Mario and I would like to ask you if there is a possibility to receive deposits in cash in any kind of account, from France and Portugal and even in England. I read somewhere that is possible to make deposits in ATMs, is it true?
Thank you
As a specialty portal for German banks we are not that well acquainted with accounts and ATMs in other countries. Anyway, in Germany we do not have that option.
Good morning,
I’m unable to open an account at DKB website because of language barrier.
Obviously, this is not the right bank for you. I also know banks with which I cannot open an account because they offer their services in a language I cannot speak/understand.