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German Bank Comparison
Find the right German bank account for your situation as an Indian in Germany
📌 Quick recommendation for new arrivals
Open N26 the day you land (no address needed, fully English). Once you get your Anmeldung (address registration), add a Deutsche Bank or DKB account for wider ATM access and to build a credit history (Schufa).
DB
Deutsche Bank
Traditional bank
€0–€9.90/month
Free if €700+/month incoming or student; otherwise from €5.90/m
Best for: Students or professionals who want a traditional bank with English support
English Support
English
Requirements
✗Open without German address
✗No Schufa required
✓Student account available
Features
✓English app / website
✓Physical branches
✓Cash deposits
ATM Fees
Free at Deutsche Bank ATMs; €2–4 at others
Card Type
Girocard (Maestro) + optional Visa/Mastercard
Pros
- ✓English-speaking staff at major branches — one of few traditional banks that actively supports expats
- ✓Student account free until age 30
- ✓Physical branches for in-person help with documents
- ✓Cash deposits possible at branch/ATM
Cons
- ✗Requires Anmeldung and Schufa
- ✗Some fees apply for standard accounts without salary inflow
PS
A personal recommendation — not an ad
Skip the Schufa hurdle above — free
That "requires Schufa" con? Pranoy, a free DVAG advisor, can set up a Deutsche Bank account for newcomers without a Schufa history — which normally is not possible. Meet Pranoy →
⭐ Best for new arrivals — open before you get your Anmeldung
N26
N26
Online bank
€0 (basic)
Smart: €4.90/m · You: €9.90/m · Metal: €16.90/m
Best for: First days in Germany before you have an Anmeldung
English Support
English
Requirements
✓Open without German address
✓No Schufa required
✗Student account available
Features
✓English app / website
✗Physical branches
✗Cash deposits
ATM Fees
€2/withdrawal on basic; free with paid plans
Card Type
Mastercard (virtual + physical)
Pros
- ✓Open account in minutes via video ID, no German address needed upfront
- ✓Fully English interface and 24/7 in-app support
- ✓Instant push notifications for every transaction
- ✓No Schufa check required for basic account
Cons
- ✗No cash deposits (no branch network)
- ✗€2 ATM fee on free tier
- ✗Customer support can be slow to resolve complex issues
- ✗No student-specific account
DKB
DKB
Online bank (subsidiary of BayernLB)
€0 (if €700+/month incoming)
€4.50/month if account not "active" (< €700 monthly inflow)
Best for: Employed professionals who want free worldwide ATM withdrawals
English Support
English
Requirements
✗Open without German address
✗No Schufa required
✓Student account available
Features
✗English app / website
✗Physical branches
✗Cash deposits
ATM Fees
Free worldwide (Visa card) — unique selling point
Card Type
Visa (free worldwide ATM withdrawals)
Pros
- ✓Free worldwide ATM withdrawals, unbeatable for travel within Europe
- ✓No monthly fee if €700+/month flows in (typical for employed people)
- ✓Strong savings account (Tagesgeld) with decent interest rates
- ✓Reliable, no-frills banking — very popular among long-term expats
Cons
- ✗Requires German address (Anmeldung) to open
- ✗Interface almost entirely in German
- ✗Schufa check required, may not be possible for brand new arrivals
- ✗No cash deposits, no physical branches
CB
Commerzbank
Traditional bank
€0–€12.90/month
Free for students; salary account free if €700+/month; otherwise €12.90/m
Best for: Students who need a free account before getting a part-time job
English Support
English
Requirements
✗Open without German address
✗No Schufa required
✓Student account available
Features
✓English app / website
✓Physical branches
✓Cash deposits
ATM Fees
Free at Commerzbank + Cash Group ATMs (4 major banks)
Card Type
Girocard + Visa/Mastercard
Pros
- ✓Free student account (Kostenlos-Konto) until age 27 — no salary requirement
- ✓Accepts incoming international students before they have a job
- ✓Cash Group ATM network, free withdrawals at many ATMs across Germany
- ✓Physical branches for document-heavy tasks
Cons
- ✗Requires Anmeldung to open
- ✗English support available online/app but branches may be German-only
- ✗Standard account fee of €12.90/month if no salary inflow
- ✗Schufa check required
ING
ING
Online bank
€0 (if €700+/month incoming)
€4.90/month if below €700 inflow
Best for: Professionals who want to pair their current account with a savings pot
English Support
English
Requirements
✗Open without German address
✗No Schufa required
✗Student account available
Features
✓English app / website
✗Physical branches
✗Cash deposits
ATM Fees
Free at Visa ATMs across Germany
Card Type
Visa debit
Pros
- ✓Competitive savings account (Tagesgeld) — good rates for an emergency fund
- ✓Free if salary flows in monthly (typical for full-time employees)
- ✓Clean, modern app with English support
- ✓Good for setting up a linked savings pot alongside your current account
Cons
- ✗Requires Anmeldung and Schufa
- ✗Fee applies if monthly inflow < €700
- ✗No cash deposits or physical branches
- ✗English phone support limited
SK
Sparkasse
Regional savings bank
€0–€15/month (varies by region)
Student/youth accounts often free until 27; standard fees vary by local Sparkasse
Best for: Long-term residents in smaller German towns where N26/DKB cards may be less accepted
English Support
English
Requirements
✗Open without German address
✗No Schufa required
✓Student account available
Features
✗English app / website
✓Physical branches
✓Cash deposits
ATM Fees
Free at any Sparkasse ATM, largest ATM network in Germany
Card Type
Girocard (widely accepted in Germany)
Pros
- ✓Largest ATM network in Germany — Sparkasse ATMs everywhere, always free
- ✓Girocard accepted at almost every German shop (some small shops only take Girocard)
- ✓Student account often free until 27
- ✓Physical branches in every town, including small cities
Cons
- ✗Essentially no English support, website, app, and staff are German-only
- ✗Fees vary between regional Sparkassen — not uniform
- ✗More bureaucratic; account opening slower
- ✗Online/mobile banking can feel outdated
💡 Schufa, Germany's credit score
Schufa is Germany's credit reference agency. As a new arrival you'll have no Schufa history, which can make some banks decline you. Start with N26 (no Schufa) and build history over 6–12 months before applying for traditional banks.
📋 Documents typically needed
- ✓ Passport (for ID verification)
- ✓ Anmeldung / registration certificate (for most banks)
- ✓ Visa / residence permit
- ✓ Employment contract or university admission (for salary/student accounts)
Disclaimer: Fees and features are correct as of 2026 but may change. Always verify current terms on the bank's official website before applying. This tool is for guidance only.