Personal accounts in Germany

✓ Pros

• ✓Free account management with 700 euros in monthly income or under age 31
• ✓Free debit card and free basic credit card
• ✓Worldwide free withdrawals with the Credit Card Gold Light
• ✓Automatic round-up saving in the app

✕ Cons

• ✕4 euro account fee without sufficient incoming payments
• ✕2.10% fee on foreign-currency or non-EEA withdrawals
• ✕Current switching bonus not listed on the account page

✓ Pros

• ✓Permanently free account management with no minimum incoming payment
• ✓250 euro summer bonus for new customers (time-limited)
• ✓Up to 6 free cash withdrawals worldwide per month with the Visa debit card
• ✓Free girocard with fee-free CashPool withdrawals

✕ Cons

• ✕Bonus valid only until August 31, 2026
• ✕Interest on balance only for accounts opened after June 2, 2026
• ✕Credit card only available subject to a credit check

✓ Pros

• ✓EUR 250 bonus for customers who fully switch their account
• ✓Free account management with no minimum incoming payment, per the offer page
• ✓0.20% interest on balance in the first year for new customers
• ✓Fee-free Visa debit card and Girocard

✕ Cons

• ✕Bonus requires an active account switch with at least four payment partners
• ✕Only six free withdrawals abroad per month
• ✕Optional credit card normally carries a EUR 24 annual fee
• ✕Promotional window for opening ends 31 August 2026

✓ Pros

• ✓Branch bank with ties to the international UniCredit network
• ✓Access to an established German banking institution

✕ Cons

• ✕No reliable information available on the amount of the account maintenance fee
• ✕No data available on bonus, card fees or ATM terms
• ✕Terms must be confirmed directly with the bank before making a decision

✓ Pros

• ✓Free from as little as EUR 600 in monthly salary payments
• ✓Fee-free cash withdrawals worldwide via the Gratis-Cash network
• ✓Fee-free cashback at store checkouts up to EUR 200
• ✓Digital household book with automatic categorisation in the app
• ✓Full access via branch, phone, online and app

✕ Cons

• ✕EUR 3.95 monthly account fee without EUR 600 in salary payments
• ✕No new-customer bonus listed on the current offer page
• ✕High interest rate on unarranged overdrafts (16.73% per year)
• ✕Charges may apply at other banks' domestic ATMs depending on card type

✓ Pros

• ✓Credit card (Mastercard or Visa Standard) free in the first year
• ✓Free cash withdrawals at around 20,000 Sparkasse ATMs
• ✓App with a financial planner for automatic expense categorisation
• ✓Contactless payment via Apple Pay

✕ Cons

• ✕EUR 2.90 monthly account fee with no waiver option
• ✕Credit card fee of EUR 36 or EUR 84 a year from the second year onward
• ✕EUR 0.45 fee at other domestic ATMs
• ✕No information available on ATM fees abroad

✓ Pros

• ✓Affordable account fee from EUR 4.90/month with digital use
• ✓Primary girocard included in the account price
• ✓Free cash withdrawals at the bank's own ATMs
• ✓Personal branch advice available despite the digital focus

✕ Cons

• ✕Extra charges for paper statements, cheques, and counter withdrawals
• ✕Secondary card costs an additional EUR 9/year
• ✕No information available on fees abroad
• ✕Data uncertain — confirm exact tariff before signing up

✓ Pros

• ✓App-based account with fully digital account management
• ✓Deposit protection up to EUR 100,000 via the Dutch guarantee scheme
• ✓Broad target group — from students to the self-employed
• ✓Credit card available as an optional add-on

✕ Cons

• ✕Comparatively high annual fee of EUR 227.88
• ✕No data available on transaction or foreign fees
• ✕No account-switching service
• ✕No new-customer bonus available

✓ Pros

• ✓Free Visa debit card plus virtual card included
• ✓Unlimited free domestic cash withdrawals
• ✓Statutory German deposit protection up to EUR 100,000
• ✓Account-switching service available
• ✓Enhanced travel and leisure insurance plus unlimited sub-accounts on the Plus tier

✕ Cons

• ✕At EUR 17.90/month, one of the pricier accounts in the comparison
• ✕2% foreign-currency fee for payments outside the eurozone
• ✕Not explicitly aimed at freelancers/self-employed
• ✕9.75% debit interest rate on the authorised overdraft

✓ Pros

• ✓Cheaper alternative to bunq Elite at around EUR 10/month
• ✓App-based account with fully digital account management
• ✓Deposit protection up to EUR 100,000 via the Dutch guarantee scheme
• ✓Broad target group — from students to the self-employed

✕ Cons

• ✕Still a paid account, no free tier
• ✕No data available on transaction or foreign fees
• ✕No account-switching service
• ✕No new-customer bonus available

✓ Pros

• ✓Credit card and bank card included in the account package
• ✓EUR 50 welcome credit for new customers per the affiliate page
• ✓Cash withdrawals possible at many ATMs across Germany per provider information

✕ Cons

• ✕Deposit protection via a private banking-association scheme rather than the statutory EUR 100,000 limit
• ✕No separate app banking listed
• ✕Both cards are mandatory, no choice available
• ✕Exact bonus conditions not publicly available

✓ Pros

• ✓Fee-free card payments worldwide
• ✓Up to 5 free cash withdrawals per month
• ✓Up to 6 flexible sub-accounts with their own IBAN
• ✓Shared accounts available
• ✓Full statutory deposit protection up to €100,000

✕ Cons

• ✕App-only bank with no phone or branch service
• ✕€8.90/month with no visible way to waive the fee
• ✕No sign-up bonus
• ✕No listed rate for tolerated (unarranged) overdraft

✓ Pros

• ✓Cheaper account maintenance with €1,000+ monthly incoming payments (€5.90/month)
• ✓Free cash withdrawals at Cash Group ATMs
• ✓Postbank Mastercard free in the first year
• ✓Three free "Pockets" sub-accounts with their own IBAN
• ✓Full access via online, phone, branch and app banking

✕ Cons

• ✕Fee rises to €6.90/month without sufficient incoming payments
• ✕No standing sign-up bonus visible for opening the account itself
• ✕Mastercard becomes chargeable from year two (€29/€59 a year)
• ✕ATM fees abroad are not documented

✓ Pros

• ✓Very low, uniform overdraft rate of 7.39% p.a.
• ✓Effectively uncapped deposit protection via BVR institutional protection
• ✓Full access via online, phone, branch and app banking
• ✓Broad target audience including students, apprentices and retirees
• ✓Switching service available

✕ Cons

• ✕Fixed account maintenance fee of €4.15/month with no visible waiver
• ✕No sign-up bonus listed
• ✕No information available on card and ATM fees
• ✕No details documented on app features

✓ Pros

• ✓0% interest on unauthorised overdraft
• ✓Credit card included in the account package
• ✓Deposit protection up to €100,000
• ✓Open to almost every customer group, including students and retirees

✕ Cons

• ✕Fixed annual fee of €47.88 with no apparent waiver option
• ✕No new-customer bonus
• ✕Deposit protection runs through a Dutch, not German, scheme
• ✕No branch or phone advice, online/app only

✓ Pros

• ✓Free account maintenance with regular salary or pension income
• ✓0% interest on a tolerated overdraft
• ✓Free cash withdrawals at around 2,800 CashPool and Sparda ATMs
• ✓Comprehensive deposit protection via BVR Institutssicherung with no cap

✕ Cons

• ✕€5 per month without regular salary or pension income
• ✕No new-customer bonus
• ✕13.99% p.a. on an arranged overdraft
• ✕Physical girocard (€15/year) and credit card (€30/year) optional and chargeable

✓ Pros

• ✓Account management free with no apparent minimum conditions
• ✓Very broad target group, explicitly including freelancers and the self-employed
• ✓0% interest on the tolerated overdraft
• ✓Automated account-switching service included

✕ Cons

• ✕No new-customer bonus available
• ✕No telephone customer service listed
• ✕Deposit protection runs through the Dutch rather than German scheme
• ✕No information on arranged-overdraft terms

✓ Pros

• ✓Free account management under achievable conditions (under 21 or ≥€500 monthly incoming payments)
• ✓Free Visa debit card plus free virtual card
• ✓Currently 3.1% starter interest for 90 days on the savings sub-account
• ✓Two sub-accounts and real-time notifications in the app

✕ Cons

• ✕No online banking or phone support, app only
• ✕2% foreign-currency fee outside the eurozone
• ✕Only one free cash withdrawal per month
• ✕Worldwide fee-free payments only included in tiers above Now

✓ Pros

• ✓Free account management
• ✓Credit card and debit card both included as standard
• ✓Very broad target group, including freelancers and the self-employed
• ✓Automated account-switching service included

✕ Cons

• ✕No telephone customer service listed
• ✕Deposit protection runs through the French rather than German scheme
• ✕No new-customer bonus available
• ✕Tolerated overdraft at 9.65% p.a. is not cheap

✓ Pros

• ✓Free account management with salary inflow from €600/month
• ✓Visa debit card included free of charge, credit card optional
• ✓Free worldwide cash withdrawals with Gratis-Cash
• ✓Branch, phone, online banking, and app combined
• ✓Account-switching service available

✕ Cons

• ✕€3.95/month fee without sufficient inflow
• ✕No account-opening bonus
• ✕Domestic third-party ATMs may charge a fee