What Is the Best Bank Account for New Arrivals in Germany? (2026)
The verdict
You have just arrived: no Anmeldung yet, no Steuer-Identifikationsnummer on day one, and you need an account that says yes now and a German IBAN soon. N26 Standard leads this ranking at no monthly fee. Open the account that does not wait for your Meldebescheinigung first, then decide whether you also want a branch bank once the Anmeldung and the Steuer-Identifikationsnummer are done. SEPA Article 9 forbids refusing an EU IBAN, but German payroll and direct-debit forms still reject foreign ones in practice.
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Which bank account is best for new arrivals?
N26
N26 Standard
The default pre-arrival account: no Anmeldung, English, DE IBAN
Open a N26 account
- Monthly fee
- Free
- IBAN
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Virtual Mastercard debit free; first physical card 10 EUR one-off
- English support
- App and support
- Anmeldung needed
- No
- Opening time
- 0 days
More details
- Fee waiver
- Unconditionally free
- Free ATM network
- 2 free EUR withdrawals/month; Cash26 retail cash-in/out
- Outside that network
- 2 EUR per additional withdrawal; 1.7% non-EUR ATM
- How to identify yourself
- VideoIdent, photo ID in-app
- Tax ID needed
- Not required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- Contracts
- Available in English
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- German IBAN without Anmeldung requirement
- Opens in ~10 minutes from abroad
Cons
- Only 2 free ATM withdrawals monthly
Best for New arrivals who want the strongest overall fit.
- Monthly fee
- Free
- IBAN
- German (DE)
- Cards included
- Virtual card; physical card paid/limited on Free
- English support
- App and support
- Anmeldung needed
- No
- Opening time
- 0 days
More details
- Fee waiver
- Unconditionally free entry tier
- Free ATM network
- Limited free withdrawals on Free tier
- Outside that network
- Per-withdrawal fee beyond quota (per bunq pricing sheet; exact 2026 figure UNVERIFIED)
- How to identify yourself
- in-app photo/video ID
- Tax ID needed
- Not required
- Deposit protection
- EUR 100,000 per depositor
- IBAN note
- Dutch bank, but German-resident customers can receive a GERMAN (DE) IBAN (bunq help centre, quoted Aug 2026); NL IBANs also offered
- Contracts
- Available in English
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Opens pre-arrival without Anmeldung
- German IBAN available despite Dutch licence
Cons
- Free tier feature-light
Best for New arrivals who need a different bank or setup.
Deutsche Bank
Basiskonto
Statutory right regardless of credit or housing status
Open a Deutsche Bank account- Monthly fee
- EUR 6.90
- 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
- Debit card
- English support
- German only
- Anmeldung needed
- No
- Opening time
- 10 days
More details
- Fee waiver
- None; statutory product under ZKG (Payment Accounts Act), must be offered to any legal EU resident incl. homeless persons and asylum seekers
- Free ATM network
- Cash Group
- How to identify yourself
- branch, PostIdent
- Branches
- ~380
- 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
- Statutory right: cannot be refused (ZKG)
- Open to homeless and asylum seekers
Cons
- Pricier than free direct-bank accounts
Best for New arrivals who need a different bank or setup.
Compare two accounts
Already down to two? Each comparison declares a winner on every criterion that decides the purchase.
How we ranked this for new arrivals5 criteria, weights published
A reader we describe as new arrivals is not the average reader, so this page does not use the average weights. Eligibility carries 50% here against 15% on the general ranking, and Annual fee carries 15% here against 30% 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
Can I open a German bank account before the Anmeldung?
Yes. Several accounts in the catalogue open with a passport alone and no address registration, and the statutory Basiskonto under the Zahlungskontengesetz must be offered to any legal EU resident. The branch banks and Sparkassen ask for the Meldebescheinigung first. The address-registration row on each card states which applies.
Do I need a German IBAN?
SEPA Article 9 forbids refusing an EU IBAN, but German payroll and direct-debit forms still reject one in practice. Revolut issues a Lithuanian IBAN and Wise a Belgian one; the IBAN row on each card states the country its account is issued in.
How fast is opening?
The opening-time row on each card states it, from same-day app openings to the ten days a statutory Basiskonto takes. Identity is checked by VideoIdent, eID, or PostIdent at a Deutsche Post branch.
Community Q&A