Savings accounts in Germany

✓ Pros

• ✓Promotional rate of 2.5% p.a. for newly deposited money
• ✓No Deutsche Bank checking account required
• ✓Free account management
• ✓Daily availability with no notice period

✕ Cons

• ✕Promotional rate only for new money between EUR 2,500 and EUR 250,000
• ✕Promotion limited to nine months (from 1 Oct 2026)
• ✕Standard rate afterwards only 0.50% p.a. and variable

✓ Pros

• ✓Promotional rate of 2.25% p.a. for newly transferred money up to EUR 1,000,000
• ✓Free account management
• ✓Daily availability with no notice period
• ✓Reference account can also be held at another bank

✕ Cons

• ✕Promotional rate limited to a maximum of 12 months
• ✕Standard rate afterwards only 0.75% p.a.
• ✕Both rates are variable and not fixed

✓ Pros

• ✓No minimum deposit required
• ✓Free account management
• ✓No notice period, available at any time
• ✓Reference account can also be held at another bank

✕ Cons

• ✕No time-limited new-customer rate, comparatively low rate of 0.75% p.a.
• ✕The rate is variable and not guaranteed
• ✕Reference account mandatory

✓ Pros

• ✓No minimum or maximum deposit
• ✓Free account management
• ✓No fixed term, full flexibility
• ✓Quarterly interest crediting with compounding effect

✕ Cons

• ✕No time-limited new-customer rate, moderate rate of 1% p.a.
• ✕DKB checking account mandatory as reference account
• ✕The rate is variable and not guaranteed

✓ Pros

• ✓Promotional rate of 3.75% p.a. when opening a checking account at the same time
• ✓Still 3.20% p.a. for four months without a checking account
• ✓Free account management with no fixed term
• ✓No minimum deposit required

✕ Cons

• ✕Highest rate only with a simultaneous ING checking account opening
• ✕Promotional rate limited to four months and EUR 250,000
• ✕Standard rate afterwards only 0.75% p.a. variable

✓ Pros

• ✓1.75% p.a. plus up to EUR 100 bonus with a checking account combo
• ✓Still 1.5% p.a. without a checking account, up to EUR 5,000,000
• ✓Currently permanently free account management
• ✓No fixed term or notice period

✕ Cons

• ✕Higher rate only with a simultaneous checking account opening
• ✕Promotional rate has no fixed end date but can be revoked at any time
• ✕Standard terms afterwards only 0.75% p.a. with EUR 1.90 monthly fee

✓ Pros

• ✓Higher interest rate possible on new deposits
• ✓No minimum deposit required
• ✓Daily availability of the balance
• ✓No additional checking account needed

✕ Cons

• ✕Conflicting rate information (3.40% per database vs. up to 2.20% per the most recently reviewed, apparently expired offer page)
• ✕Higher rate only up to EUR 1 million
• ✕Rate made up of variable components, not permanently guaranteed

✓ Pros

• ✓Attractive new-customer rate of 2.25% p.a. for a defined period
• ✓Free account management
• ✓Daily availability of funds
• ✓Quarterly interest credit
• ✓Statutory deposit protection

✕ Cons

• ✕Rate is limited until 31 December 2026, dropping to just 0.75% p.a. afterward
• ✕Promotional rate only applies to fresh money from another bank, up to EUR 250,000
• ✕Not a standalone account – a Top-Girokonto at norisbank is mandatory

✓ Pros

• ✓High new-customer rate of 3.20% p.a. for six months
• ✓No minimum deposit
• ✓Free account management
• ✓Daily availability with no notice periods
• ✓No checking account with this bank required

✕ Cons

• ✕Special rate only for six months, then just 0.60% p.a.
• ✕Special rate applies only to deposits up to EUR 250,000
• ✕Interest is credited only once a year, at year-end

✓ Pros

• ✓High promotional rate of 3.25% p.a. for four months
• ✓No minimum deposit and no upper deposit limit
• ✓No checking account with this bank required
• ✓Free account management, cash deposits and withdrawals
• ✓Available from age 14

✕ Cons

• ✕Promotional rate only lasts four months, then just 0.60% p.a.
• ✕The high rate only applies to the first account and balances up to EUR 1 million
• ✕Significantly lower variable rate after the promotion

✓ Pros

• ✓Promotional rate of 2.75% p.a. for the first four months
• ✓No minimum deposit, no limit on the deposit amount
• ✓Free account management via online banking and app
• ✓Daily availability of funds
• ✓No checking account with Santander required

✕ Cons

• ✕Promotional rate lasts only four months, then just 0.30% p.a.
• ✕Promotion only for new customers without a Santander savings account in the last 12 months
• ✕Regular rate of 0.30% p.a. is low by market standards

✓ Pros

• ✓No minimum or maximum deposit, any amount possible
• ✓Free account management via online banking
• ✓Daily availability with no notice period
• ✓Reference account does not have to be held at Frankfurter Sparkasse itself

✕ Cons

• ✕Rate of 0.50% p.a. is low by market standards
• ✕Variable rate can be lowered at any time
• ✕No new-customer bonus or promotional rate

✓ Pros

• ✓1.55% p.a. on the portion of the balance between EUR 5,000 and EUR 20,000
• ✓No checking account with this bank required
• ✓Convenient online account opening and management
• ✓Permanent tiered rate rather than a time-limited promotion

✕ Cons

• ✕Balances under EUR 5,000 earn no interest at all
• ✕Balances over EUR 20,000 earn only 0.20% p.a.
• ✕No attractive rate for very small or very large balances

✓ Pros

• ✓Very high top rate of 3.91% p.a.
• ✓Rate applies to balances up to €100,000
• ✓Daily availability with no fixed term

✕ Cons

• ✕Duration of the top rate not clearly confirmed
• ✕No information on fees or reference-account requirement
• ✕Only limited verified product information available

✓ Pros

• ✓3.50% p.a. guaranteed for 6 months up to €250,000
• ✓Free account keeping with no hidden fees
• ✓Daily availability with no notice period
• ✓Usable from as little as €1 in deposits

✕ Cons

• ✕Rate drops to the 2.05% p.a. base rate after 6 months
• ✕Reference account at a German bank is mandatory
• ✕First deposit must be made within 15 days

✓ Pros

• ✓Attractive introductory rate of 3.50% p.a. for 6 months
• ✓Rate applies to balances up to €200,000
• ✓Combines a current account and credit interest in one product

✕ Cons

• ✕Rate drops to 0% p.a. after 6 months
• ✕No verified information on fees or account conditions
• ✕Bank's product page was inaccessible at the time of the check

✓ Pros

• ✓3.61% p.a. guaranteed for 4 months up to €150,000
• ✓No account-keeping fees
• ✓No need for a current account at the bank, only a SEPA reference account
• ✓Extended deposit protection via the Association of German Banks

✕ Cons

• ✕Rate drops to the variable standard rate of 1.5% p.a. after 4 months
• ✕Offer limited to genuine new customers with no prior account in the last 12 months
• ✕Withdrawals possible only to the registered reference account

✓ Pros

• ✓3.30% p.a. for 3 months up to €150,000
• ✓Account opening, keeping and transfers completely free
• ✓Very high overall account limit of up to €10 million
• ✓Daily interest calculation with monthly crediting

✕ Cons

• ✕Rate drops to the variable regular rate of 1.95% p.a. after 3 months
• ✕Reference account at a German bank is mandatory
• ✕Withdrawals capped at €50,000 per 7 days

✓ Pros

• ✓3.10% p.a. promotional rate up to €50,000
• ✓Monthly interest payout
• ✓Deposit protection up to €100,000
• ✓Sustainability-focused neobank

✕ Cons

• ✕Only usable with a Tomorrow current account
• ✕Promotional rate applies for the first 3 months only
• ✕Base rate afterwards is just 0.75% per the data
• ✕Promotional account-opening window is time-limited

✓ Pros

• ✓3.01% p.a. rate up to €100,000
• ✓Fully app-based account management
• ✓No fixed term, unlike a fixed-term deposit

✕ Cons

• ✕Inconsistent rate figures in the source data
• ✕No confirmed information on fees/prerequisites
• ✕Verify the current rate in the app before signing up