Personal accounts in Germany

✓ Pros

• ✓Free debit card with Mastercard functionality
• ✓Fee-free cash withdrawals worldwide at partner banks in over 30 countries
• ✓Dense fee-free domestic ATM network (Cash Group plus retail chains)
• ✓EUR 200 welcome bonus for new customers (time-limited, achievable conditions)
• ✓Full access via branch, phone, online and app

✕ Cons

• ✕EUR 6.90 monthly account fee, no waiver option listed
• ✕Bonus requires EUR 600 in incoming payments and a 12-month account commitment
• ✕Mastercard Gold costs an extra EUR 82 a year
• ✕High interest rate on unarranged overdrafts (14.05% per year)

✓ Pros

• ✓Nationwide branch network with personal advice
• ✓Up to 200 euros new-customer bonus available
• ✓Free Girocard with Visa functionality
• ✓Free cash withdrawals at many supermarkets too
• ✓Modern app with multibanking and biometric login

✕ Cons

• ✕4.90 euro account fee unless you hold 50,000 euros in assets with the bank
• ✕Welcome bonus requires several months of account activity
• ✕3.90 euros per paper-based transfer or cheque
• ✕No information on foreign ATM fees

✓ Pros

• ✓Free with at least 900 euros in monthly incoming payments
• ✓Permanently free for pupils, students, and apprentices
• ✓150 euro new-customer bonus
• ✓Around 7,000 free Cash Group ATMs
• ✓Three free sub-accounts (Pockets) with their own IBAN

✕ Cons

• ✕5.90 euro fee if incoming payments fall below 900 euros
• ✕6 euro fee for cash withdrawals at the counter
• ✕Bonus tied to a limited-time offer and minimum incoming payment
• ✕Postbank Mastercard costs 29 euros per year

✓ 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

• ✓Permanently free with at least EUR 700 in monthly incoming payments
• ✓Up to EUR 200 new-customer bonus possible
• ✓Low, flat overdraft rate of 8.51% per year
• ✓Free Visa debit card included
• ✓Very broad target group, suitable for minors and retirees too

✕ Cons

• ✕Full EUR 200 bonus only reachable with an additional Tagesgeld account and several deadlines
• ✕EUR 4.50 monthly account fee without EUR 700 in incoming payments or being under 28
• ✕No branch or phone banking, online/app only
• ✕Visa credit card costs an extra EUR 2.49 a month

✓ Pros

• ✓Free with 1,000 euros in incoming payments or for anyone under 28
• ✓200 euro new-customer bonus, combinable with a deposit promotion
• ✓Free VISA debit card included
• ✓Free withdrawals at 97% of German ATMs
• ✓An additional 50 euros per successful referral

✕ Cons

• ✕A fee applies without a minimum incoming payment or age exemption (Future variant: 1 euro/month)
• ✕Girocard only available as an optional 1.49 euro/month add-on
• ✕No information on foreign ATM fees
• ✕Bonus requires an app login and consent to marketing tips

✓ Pros

• ✓Free for 12 months under the current opening promotion
• ✓150 euro new-customer bonus
• ✓Visa credit card included in the account
• ✓Instant-access savings account with 1.75% interest included
• ✓5 free worldwide cash withdrawals per month

✕ Cons

• ✕2.90 euro monthly fee once the promotional period ends
• ✕No travel insurance package (only included in Girokonto Plus)
• ✕Girocard only available as an optional 1 euro/month add-on
• ✕Exact bonus conditions not detailed on the product page

✓ 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

• ✓Free account management under 30 or with 500 euros in income
• ✓120 euro switching bonus for new customers
• ✓Free debit and credit card
• ✓Free cash withdrawals abroad from 50 euros at Mastercard-logo ATMs

✕ Cons

• ✕3.90 euro fee without sufficient incoming payments
• ✕Bonus tied to tight deadlines and at least 3 payment partners to switch
• ✕Foreign ATM operators may still charge their own fees

✓ Pros

• ✓170 euro bonus for opening the account with credit card use
• ✓Free account management from 700 euros in income or under age 30
• ✓Free withdrawals at Sparkasse ATMs in Germany
• ✓3.20% p.a. interest on the automatically opened savings account

✕ Cons

• ✕4.90 euro fee without sufficient incoming payments
• ✕Credit cards become chargeable from the second year (3-6 euros/month)
• ✕Bonus requires active use of a Visa credit card

✓ 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

• ✓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

• ✓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

• ✓€200 sign-up bonus for new customers (subject to conditions)
• ✓Free cash withdrawals at roughly 7,000 Cash Group ATMs
• ✓Fee-free withdrawals abroad at Deutsche Bank Group ATMs
• ✓Full access via online, phone, branch and app banking
• ✓Mobile payments via Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet

✕ Cons

• ✕€6.90/month with no visible way to get free account maintenance
• ✕Bonus requires a 12-month account commitment
• ✕Optional Mastercard Gold costs an extra €82/year
• ✕Comparatively high rate on tolerated overdraft (14.05% p.a.)