What Is the Best Family Bank Account in Germany? (2026)
The verdict
You are settled in Germany with salaries, standing orders and school-age children: the account is the household hub, and its price usually turns on the monthly incoming. Sparkassen Girokonto (regional pattern) leads this ranking. The Sparkassen and the Volksbanken lead here on branch reach and free youth accounts, not on price: the Sparkassen pattern is never unconditionally free for a standard adult and the cooperative models rarely are. Both are regional patterns, so check the Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis of your own institution before you assume a number.
Jump to section
Which bank account is best for resident families?
Sorted by monthly fee, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below.
Sorted by opening time, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below.
Sparkasse
Sparkassen Girokonto (regional pattern)
Local branches, junior accounts, cash services for all ages
Open a Sparkasse account- Monthly fee
- n/a
- IBAN
IBAN
A German IBAN starts DE. Some German employers and utilities still refuse foreign IBANs, which is unlawful under EU rules and reportable to BaFin.
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Sparkassen-Card (Girocard debit) often 12-15 EUR/year; premium models include it
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 1 day
More details
- Fee waiver
- Typically free for pupils/apprentices/students (age cap 25-30 varies); some regions waive with 700-1,200 EUR monthly incoming; never unconditionally free for standard adults
- Free ATM network
- Sparkassen network (~20,000 ATMs)
- Outside that network
- 4-7 EUR at third-party ATMs typical
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, eID, PostIdent, branch
- Branches
- ~5,500+ branches across 337 institutions (2026; shrinking)
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Densest branch and ATM network in Germany
- Named local advisor; decisions locally
Cons
- Metered booking fees can double the headline price
Best for Resident families who want the strongest overall fit.
Volksbank Raiffeisenbank
Volksbank/Raiffeisenbank Girokonto (regional pattern)
Local branches, youth products, cash services
Open a Volksbank Raiffeisenbank account- Monthly fee
- n/a
- IBAN
IBAN
A German IBAN starts DE. Some German employers and utilities still refuse foreign IBANs, which is unlawful under EU rules and reportable to BaFin.
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- BankCard (Girocard) usually included or small yearly fee
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 2 days
More details
- Fee waiver
- Typically free youth/student accounts; some waive with monthly incoming; standard adult models rarely free
- Free ATM network
- BankCard ServiceNetz (~18,500 ATMs incl. Sparda and GLS)
- Outside that network
- 4-6 EUR typical at third-party ATMs
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent, branch
- Branches
- ~6,000 branches across network (shrinking)
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Second-largest branch network
- BSN ATM network ~18,500 machines
Cons
- Per-region pricing varies widely
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
- Monthly fee
- EUR 9.90
- IBAN
IBAN
A German IBAN starts DE. Some German employers and utilities still refuse foreign IBANs, which is unlawful under EU rules and reportable to BaFin.
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Two Girocards included; credit card optional (fee possible)
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 1 day
More details
- Fee waiver
- None published
- Free ATM network
- Cash Group
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent, branch
- Branches
- ~400
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Two Girocards for joint use
- Branch advisory included
Cons
- 9.90 EUR monthly fee
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
Deutsche Bank
Giro pur
Postal counters useful for cash-heavy households
Open a Deutsche Bank account- Monthly fee
- Free
- IBAN
IBAN
A German IBAN starts DE. Some German employers and utilities still refuse foreign IBANs, which is unlawful under EU rules and reportable to BaFin.
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Postbank Card (Girocard debit) included
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 1 day
More details
- Fee waiver
- Free with EUR 900 monthly incoming and digital usage; free for students and apprentices; otherwise EUR 5.90 (Aug 2026 comparison source)
- Free ATM network
- Cash Group (~4,500 Postbank access points + Cash Group)
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent
- Branches
- ~320 Postbank branches (down from 550; 200 with postal services)
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Free from 900 EUR monthly incoming
- Free for students and apprentices
Cons
- Trustpilot 1.6/5 after IT migrations
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
- Monthly fee
- EUR 9.90
- IBAN
IBAN
A German IBAN starts DE. Some German employers and utilities still refuse foreign IBANs, which is unlawful under EU rules and reportable to BaFin.
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Girocard + Mastercard + Visa Debit all included
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 1 day
More details
- Fee waiver
- Free up to 5 years via valyou loyalty programme Gold status (first 2 years even without minimum incoming)
- Free ATM network
- Cash Group
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent, branch
- Branches
- ~300
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Three cards included
- Effectively free via valyou Gold
Cons
- 9.90 EUR if valyou conditions lapse
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
- Monthly fee
- Free
- IBAN
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Visa Debit included; Girocard 0.99 EUR/month optional
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 1 day
More details
- Fee waiver
- Free with EUR 1,000 monthly incoming (raised from 700 EUR), or for under-28s; otherwise 4.90 EUR
- Free ATM network
- Free at ~97% of German ATMs with Visa (min. withdrawal 50 EUR rule applies at some)
- Outside that network
- Third-party operator surcharges possible
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Free with 1,000 EUR incoming or under 28
- Free cash at nearly all German ATMs
Cons
- 1,000 EUR threshold raised from 700 EUR in 2026
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
- Monthly fee
- Free
- IBAN
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Visa Debit included; Girocard 0.99 EUR/month; optional Visa credit card 2.49 EUR/month
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 2 days
More details
- Fee waiver
- Free with Aktivkunde status: EUR 700 monthly incoming OR under 28 years old; otherwise 4.50 EUR
- Free ATM network
- Worldwide free ATM withdrawals for Aktivkunden (Visa)
- Outside that network
- 2.20% without Aktiv status (min. withdrawal 50 EUR)
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Spending abroad
- 0% for Aktivkunden; 2.20% without active status
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Free with 700 EUR incoming or under 28
- Worldwide free ATM withdrawals when active
Cons
- 4.50 EUR without active status
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
Consorsbank
Consorsbank! Girokonto
Free joint account with 700 EUR incoming
Open a Consorsbank account- Monthly fee
- Free
- IBAN
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Visa Debit free; Visa Gold Light credit card free; Girocard free on request; Visa Gold 9 EUR/month upgrade
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- Yes, registered German address
- Opening time
- 2 days
More details
- Fee waiver
- Free with EUR 700 monthly incoming (salary, pension, BAföG) OR under 31; otherwise 4.00 EUR
- Free ATM network
- Free EEA withdrawals at Visa ATMs from 50 EUR; worldwide per reisetopia test
- Outside that network
- 1.95 EUR under 50 EUR withdrawals
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, PostIdent
- Tax ID needed
- Steuer-Identifikationsnummer required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Spending abroad
- 2.1% on debit card in foreign currency; 0% with the free Visa Gold Light credit card
- Contracts
- German only
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Free with 700 EUR or under 31
- Free real credit card with 0% FX
Cons
- 4.00 EUR below threshold from age 31
Best for Resident families who need a different bank or setup.
Also a strong fit
Compare two accounts
Already down to two? Each comparison declares a winner on every criterion that decides the purchase.
How we ranked this for resident families5 criteria, weights published
A reader we describe as resident families is not the average reader, so this page does not use the average weights. Cost abroad carries 15% here against 25% on the general ranking, and Rewards carries 30% here against 20% on the general ranking. The weights were fixed on 17 August 2026, before the prices were collected.
Criteria weighting
Fixed 17 August 2026, before pricing was collectedWhich Other Accounts Did We Compare?
The three above are picked from 70 current accounts in the catalogue. The full set lives on the bank and fintech overviews.
See the best bank accounts comparedFees, IBAN, English support and opening time side by sideFrequently Asked Questions
What makes a family account free in Germany?
A monthly incoming, an age, or assets held at the bank. ING waives its fee at EUR 1,000 a month or under 28, DKB at EUR 700 a month or under 28, comdirect at EUR 700 a month, three mobile payments, one trade or under 28, and Commerzbank only at EUR 50,000 in deposits or securities since it abolished the income-based waiver in May 2025.
Can children have their own account?
Yes, through the youth tiers. Deutsche Bank's Das Junge Konto is free up to 30 with proof of school, training or study, Commerzbank's StartKonto up to 27, HypoVereinsbank's HVB StartKonto up to 26, and Postbank's Giro start direkt up to 21 or for school pupils. The Sparkassen and Volksbanken run the same pattern with regional age caps between 25 and 30.
Is a Sparkasse account worth its price?
It buys branch access and the roughly 20,000 Sparkassen ATMs, not a low price. Berliner Sparkasse's Giro Individual is EUR 2.95 a month plus EUR 0.30 per booking, Stadtsparkasse Muenchen's Muenchen-Giro is EUR 2.95 a month with EUR 0.49 per booking and the Sparkassen-Card charged separately, and Hamburger Sparkasse raised its Joker-Konto from EUR 7.90 to EUR 9.95 in 2025/26.
Community Q&A