Guides
How to open a bank account
A current account (Girokonto) is needed for almost everything — salary, rent, benefits. How to open one.
Updated: 26 July 2026
Auto-translated · Original: UK
A bank account (Girokonto) in Germany is needed to receive your salary, pay rent and receive benefits. Every person is entitled to at least a basic account (Basiskonto).
What you usually need:
- a passport;
- registration of residence (Anmeldung);
- sometimes a tax number (Steuer-ID).
How to choose:
- compare banks: traditional ones (Sparkasse, Volksbank) and online ones (for example, N26, DKB);
- pay attention to the monthly fee and the conditions;
- the bank is obliged to open a basic account (Basiskonto) even without a stable income.
Identification often takes place at a branch or online (VideoIdent). Conditions vary from bank to bank — check with the bank you have chosen.
Official sources
This article is a general guide in Ukrainian, not legal or tax advice. Rules may differ from one federal state to another and may change over time; always check the official sources listed below or contact the relevant authority or a qualified professional.