DKB or ING: Which Is Better in Germany? (2026)
The short answer
DKB clears its free-account bar at EUR 700 monthly incoming where ING asks for EUR 1,000, and charges EUR 4.50 instead of EUR 4.90 if you miss it. ING opens a day sooner and offers at least limited English, where DKB is recorded as German only.
Row by row
Fees verified August 2026 against each provider's published data
| Criterion | DKB | ING |
|---|---|---|
| Fee waiver thresholdHow much has to land monthly before the account is free | EUR 700 monthly incoming or under 28Wins | EUR 1,000 monthly incoming or under 28 |
| Fee if the threshold is missedThe price in a month where you do not qualify | EUR 4.50 a monthWins | EUR 4.90 a month |
| Free ATM withdrawalsHow much cash you can take out before it costs | Worldwide free for Aktivkunden with VisaTie | free at about 97% of German ATMs with VisaTie |
| Withdrawal fee without the statusThe price if you never hit the activity bar | 2.20% without Aktivkunde status | third-party operator surcharges possibleWins |
| Girocard costThe German-only debit card some shops still require | EUR 0.99 a monthTie | EUR 0.99 a monthTie |
| Card FX feeThe margin added to every non-euro card payment | 0%Tie | 0%Tie |
| English supportApp, contract and helpline language | German only | limited English support with a German appWins |
| Opening timeHow fast the account is usable | 2 days | 1 dayWins |
So which one
Pick DKB if
- Your monthly incoming sits between EUR 700 and EUR 1,000, where DKB stays free and ING does not.
Pick ING if
- You want some English and the faster opening: limited English and 1 day against German only and 2 days.
Other comparisons
6 more pairsHow we compared these two
The criteria are fixed
Every comparison on this site uses the same 8 rows in the same order, so two pages can be read against each other. We do not add a row because one side happens to win it.
A win is a stated threshold
A row is won on the published number or capability, not on judgement. Ties are declared rather than broken. Figures come from provider price lists and official sources.
How we get paid
Both links earn a commission at the same rate, so the winner of a row is never the higher-paying one. Fees come from each provider's own published price list, not a comparison feed.
Sources: provider price lists and official data, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, DKB or ING?
DKB clears its free-account bar at EUR 700 monthly incoming where ING asks for EUR 1,000, and charges EUR 4.50 instead of EUR 4.90 if you miss it. ING opens a day sooner and offers at least limited English, where DKB is recorded as German only.
When should I pick DKB?
Your monthly incoming sits between EUR 700 and EUR 1,000, where DKB stays free and ING does not.
When should I pick ING?
You want some English and the faster opening: limited English and 1 day against German only and 2 days.
Community Q&A