Consorsbank! Girokonto + Visa Card Debit

A free account with two cards included

The Consorsbank current account combined with the Visa Card Debit is a fee-free account from Consorsbank, part of the French BNP Paribas group. The target group is unusually broad: employees, pupils, students, apprentices, retirees, freelancers, self-employed people, and the unemployed are all explicitly listed.

Fees and cards

According to the product data, the account comes with both a credit card and a separate debit/current-account card - both are included as standard, not optional, which matches the product name "Visa Card Debit." No additional transaction fees are listed in the product data.

Overdraft rates

The arranged overdraft is charged at 9.65% (listed on a quarterly basis in the product data), and the tolerated overdraft also at 9.65% per year.

Deposit protection

Since Consorsbank belongs to the French BNP Paribas group, this account falls under French deposit protection rather than the German scheme: deposits are protected 100% up to €100,000 - the same EU-wide minimum standard as a German bank, just administered through a different national system.

Access channels and account switching

The account can be managed online and via app; no telephone customer service channel is listed for this product. An automated account-switching service is available.

Who is it for?

Thanks to its very broad target-group definition - including freelancers and the self-employed - the account is potentially suitable for almost anyone looking for a free account with two cards included and who is comfortable with online and app banking with no phone channel.

Pros and cons

• 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

• 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

Verdict

The Consorsbank Girokonto + Visa Card Debit is a free account with two cards included as standard and a very broad target audience. With no new-customer bonus and no phone support, it's best suited to digitally comfortable customers who value the combination of a credit and a debit card.