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Banks set their own checks. The official sources we found name only ID, so ask your bank what it wants. This guide does not recommend a bank.
At a glance
- Right to an account
- Lawful EU residents (Basiskonto)
- Decision time
- 10 business days
- If refused
- Free BaFin review or court
- Fees
- No legal cap
Your checklist
First steps
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What a Basiskonto includes
Cash deposits and withdrawals, direct debits, transfers and standing orders, and card payments. If the bank offers online current accounts, the basic account must be available online too.
You can ask for the account to be set up as a Pfändungsschutzkonto when you apply. The bank may charge reasonable fees; the consumer organisations report that in 2023 German basic accounts cost up to €27.83 per month, the highest in the EU, and there is no legal cap.
When a bank may refuse
Banks may refuse only in a few legally defined cases, for example if you already hold a usable payment account in Germany, were convicted of a deliberate offence against the bank in the last three years, previously had a basic account terminated for default or prohibited use, or if opening it would breach anti-money-laundering duties.
An unclear nationality can complicate identity checks under the money-laundering law, which is one reason to bring a valid passport or ID.
Sequencing with the rest of your move
Opening an account does not replace your Anmeldung. For the usual order of first steps, see the Berlin move-order guide, and for the German tax ID that arrives by post, see the tax ID guide.
If you need an Italian or Spanish route instead, see the Italian codice fiscale and bank guide and the Spanish NIE guides.
Common questions
Do I need an Anmeldung to open a German bank account?
The official sources we found do not say so. They name ID as proof of identity. Banks set their own checks, so ask your bank.
Can a bank refuse to open a normal account?
The sources we checked cover refusal grounds for a Basiskonto only, not for a regular Girokonto.
How fast must a bank decide on a Basiskonto?
Within 10 business days of a complete application, according to the consumer advice centre.
What if the bank refuses my Basiskonto?
Ask for the refusal in writing and use BaFin’s free review. You can also take the bank to court.
How much does a Basiskonto cost?
There is no legal cap; banks may charge reasonable fees, and 2023 prices ran up to €27.83 per month.
Official sources
Read this first
- Verbraucherzentrale: Was ist ein Basiskonto?Right to a Basiskonto, functions, decision time, refusal and fees
- Verbraucherzentrale NRW: right to a basic account for new arrivalsIdentity documents and BaFin review for new arrivals
- Verwaltung.bund.de: Basiskonto complaints and BaFin procedureEntitlement, refusal grounds, BaFin complaint and administrative procedure
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.