Best Bank Account Germany 2026: Expat Fee Comparison

TL;DR: Best all-round for expats: N26 Standard (free, no Schufa, non-EU accepted, full English). Best for high income: DKB or ING (free with €700/mo deposit, better ATM network). Best for international transfers: Wise (multi-currency, cheapest FX rates). Need branches: Commerzbank (800+ locations).

Last updated: May 2026. Fees from each bank's Preis-Leistungsverzeichnis. No affiliate links.

We opened our first German bank account at a Sparkasse branch. Took 45 minutes, required a German-speaking friend to translate, and we got hit with a €5.90/month fee that nobody mentioned upfront. Then we needed three months of Schufa history to get a credit card. Classic expat experience.

Here is the truth: Germany's banking system in 2026 is split between traditional branch banks (slow, German-only, fee-heavy) and online-first neobanks (fast, English-friendly, often free). As an expat, you almost certainly want the second category. But which one depends on your citizenship, income, and how you actually use your account.

We compared every major option on fees, language support, Schufa requirements, and non-EU acceptance. No affiliate links, no sponsored picks.

How German Banking Works for Expats

German banking has a few quirks that trip up newcomers. Understanding these before you pick a bank saves headaches later.

Girokonto vs Sparkonto: A Girokonto is your everyday checking account (what you need). A Sparkonto is savings. Every bank below offers a Girokonto. You need this for salary, rent, insurance payments, and daily spending.

German IBAN requirement: Most German employers, landlords, and institutions require a DE-prefix IBAN. Wise and Revolut give you a Belgian (BE) or Lithuanian (LT) IBAN, which works for SEPA transfers but some German landlords and insurers reject non-DE IBANs. If your employer or landlord insists on a German IBAN, you need N26, DKB, ING, Commerzbank, Comdirect, or C24.

Schufa: Germany's credit scoring system. New expats have no Schufa history, which makes traditional banks nervous. More on this below.

EC-Karte vs Kreditkarte: Most German shops, supermarkets, and restaurants accept Girocard (debit card linked to your Girokonto). Visa/Mastercard debit works almost everywhere now too, but some small shops and bakeries still only accept Girocard or cash. N26 and Revolut do NOT issue Girocard.

Complete Fee Comparison: All Banks, Real 2026 Fees

Here is every major bank option for expats in Germany with their actual fees from each bank's Preis-Leistungsverzeichnis (fee schedule). No marketing fluff.

Source: Individual bank Preis-Leistungsverzeichnis documents, accessed May 2026. "€0 (€700/mo)" means free with minimum monthly income deposit, otherwise monthly fee applies.

Which Banks Accept Non-EU Citizens

This is the first filter most expats need. If you hold a passport from outside the EU/EEA, your options narrow significantly.

Traditional banks (DKB, ING, Commerzbank, Comdirect): These generally require EU/EEA citizenship OR a settled residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis). Some branches may accept other residence permits on a case-by-case basis, but online applications from non-EU citizens are typically rejected automatically.

The workaround: Many non-EU expats open N26 first (immediate, no Schufa), use it for the first 6-12 months while building Schufa history, then switch to DKB or ING once they have established residency and credit history.

Schufa Requirements Explained

Schufa is Germany's credit scoring agency. When you first arrive, you have no Schufa score. This is NOT the same as having a bad score. It means you are "unknown" — and traditional German banks are conservative about unknowns.

Banks that do NOT check Schufa:

• N26 — no credit check at all for Standard account
• Wise — international fintech, no German credit check
• Revolut — international fintech, no German credit check
• C24 Smart — no Schufa for the free plan

Banks that require Schufa:

• DKB — Schufa check during application, may reject newcomers
• ING — Schufa check required, moderate standards
• Commerzbank — Schufa check, but branch staff can be flexible
• Comdirect — Schufa check required

English Service: Which Banks Actually Work in English

This matters more than you think. When your card gets blocked, when you need to dispute a transaction, or when you have a tax question about your account — you want to communicate in English, not struggle through a German phone menu.

Our take: If English is essential, your realistic choices are N26, Wise, Revolut, or ING (app only). DKB is excellent value but you need to be comfortable doing everything in German or with a translation app.

Find Your Best Bank Account

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How to Open a German Bank Account (Step by Step)

The process differs between online banks and branch banks. Here is the fastest path for each:

Online Banks (N26, Wise, Revolut) — 10 minutes

Traditional Banks (DKB, ING, Commerzbank) — 3-7 days

Switching Banks: The Kontowechselservice

Already have a German bank account and want to switch? Since 2016, all German banks must offer a free Kontowechselservice (account switching service) under the Zahlungskontengesetz (ZKG). Your new bank handles everything:

• Transfers all standing orders (Daueraufträge) to the new account
• Redirects all direct debits (Lastschriften) to the new IBAN
• Notifies everyone who sent you money in the last 13 months
• Keeps the old account active for a transition period

The whole process takes about 10 business days. You just authorize the switch in your new bank's app and they do the rest. It is genuinely painless.

Common Mistakes Expats Make with German Bank Accounts

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Sources

• N26 Pricing and Plans (n26.com)
• DKB Preis-Leistungsverzeichnis (dkb.de)
• ING Girokonto Conditions (ing.de)
• Commerzbank Girokonto Plans (commerzbank.de)
• Comdirect Girokonto (comdirect.de)
• C24 Bank Girokonto (c24.de)
• Wise Pricing (wise.com)
• Revolut Pricing Plans (revolut.com)
• Zahlungskontengesetz (ZKG) — Account switching rights
• Schufa — German credit scoring (meineschufa.de)

This article contains no affiliate links. We have no financial relationship with any bank listed above. Recommendations are based purely on fee data and service quality research.