Moving to Germany can be a bureaucratic process. Opening a current bank account is usually something you have to do as soon as you get to the country, as you need it to pay your daily expenses and you also depend on it to receive your Blocked Account funds.
At Expatrio, we help you find the best current account for your needs and profile. Below are some providers:
- N26 Standard
- Monese Classic
- Commerzbank Startkonto
- ING Girokonto Student
- Sparkasse Girokonto für Studis & Azubis
N26 Standard
N26 is one of the best established digital banks in Europe. Their free current bank account, N26 Standard, comes with other free benefits, such as credit card, withdrawals worldwide, and international money transfer.
To open the bank account, you have to be a resident in Germany, be at least 18 years old, and hold a supported ID. The latter means that N26 does not accept a few nationalities.
Monese Classic
The virtual bank accepts customers from every nationality who wish to have a bank account in one of the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). That means that you don't need a local proof of address and proof of credit history. Plus, you don't need to go anywhere in person to open your current account, as Monese’s service is 100% digital.
With Expatrio you get a free upgrade to Monese Classic plan instead of Monese Simple. Monese Classic comes with more benefits. Make sure to use the code "XPSTUD19" when applying, which only works with our dedicated Monese Expatrio upgrade page.
Commerzbank Startkonto
Commerzbank is a leading international commercial bank. Commerzbank Startkonto is a great fit for those aged under 30 who want to open a current bank account in a traditional bank.
Their Startkonto has no account fees and you are able to get both a Visa credit card and a Girocard, which you can use in several stores within Germany.
ING Girokonto Student
ING Girokonto Student is one of the largest banks in Germany, with the third-largest amount of customers in the country, totaling more than 9.5 million people.
This current account is only free if you are under 28 years old or if you received a monthly payment of at least €700. That means that as a Blocked Account holder, you are covered, even if you are aged over 28.
Sparkasse Girokonto für Studis & Azubis
Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is Germany's largest credit institution with 385 bank agencies throughout Germany.
You won't be able to open your current account online or have customer service in English, but you can go to a bank's branch to solve your problems solved there. The bank account is free for all university students aged up to 27.