Opening a Girokonto (current account) is usually the very first admin task after arriving in Germany: employers want an IBAN for your salary, landlords want it for rent, and health insurers bill you by direct debit. The good news is that expats in 2026 have excellent options — from fully digital accounts you can open before you even register your address, to established branch banks with thousands of ATMs.
Below we compare four of the most popular options among expats — N26, DKB, Commerzbank and Revolut. These aren't ranked "#1, #2, #3"; the right choice depends on whether you need a German IBAN on day one, whether you deal with cash, and whether you want branches. Fees and features change regularly, so always verify on the provider's official site before applying.
Quick comparison: bank accounts for expats in Germany
| Account | Monthly fee | IBAN | Free ATM withdrawals | Branches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N26 (Standard) | €0 | German (DE) | 2–3/month in Germany, then €2 each | No | New arrivals, English speakers |
| DKB (with active status) | €0 with €700+/month incoming (or under 28) | German (DE) | Unlimited worldwide with active status | No | Expats with regular income |
| Commerzbank (digital GiroKonto) | ~€4.90/month for new customers | German (DE) | Free at Cash Group ATMs | Yes | Those who want branches |
| Revolut (Standard) | €0 | Lithuanian (LT) | €200/month free, then 2% | No | Multi-currency complement |
1. N26 — the fastest first account for newcomers
N26 Standard
N26 is a Berlin-based bank with a full German banking licence — it is a real bank, not just an app. Its biggest advantage for expats is speed: you can open an account in roughly 10–20 minutes with just a passport and a smartphone, and crucially you do not need an Anmeldung (city registration) first. That makes it the standard recommendation for people in their first weeks in Germany, since landlords and employers often ask for an IBAN before you've even registered your address.
The free Standard plan genuinely costs nothing per month. The virtual Mastercard debit is free and works instantly; the physical card costs a one-time fee of around €10. You get a real German IBAN, Apple Pay and Google Pay, sub-accounts ("Spaces") for budgeting, and the CASH26 feature that lets you withdraw and deposit cash at over 9,000 partner shops (Rewe, Penny, dm) using a barcode in the app.
The limitations matter too. There is no Girocard — you get a Mastercard debit only, and some bakeries, market stalls, doctor's offices and small landlords still accept Girocard and cash only. Free ATM withdrawals are limited (two to three per month on Standard, then €2 each), and foreign-currency ATM withdrawals carry a 1.7% fee on the free plan. If you live partly in cash, Germany's cash-heavy corners will cost you.
Paid tiers exist mainly for travellers: Smart (€4.90/month), Go (€9.90/month) and Metal (€16.90/month), adding more free withdrawals, insurance and savings rates. Most expats never need more than Standard.
2. DKB — free banking with outstanding travel perks
DKB Girokonto
DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank) is one of Germany's largest direct banks, operating since 1990 with around 5.9 million customers and the backing of the state bank BayernLB. It's a favourite among established expats because of its combination of a genuine current account and exceptional travel banking.
The account is free with "active status", which means at least €700 per month of incoming funds — this doesn't have to be salary and can arrive in several payments, including a standing order from another account. The first account is also free without incoming funds until you turn 28.
The headline perk: with active status, the included Visa Debit supports unlimited free ATM withdrawals worldwide and foreign-currency payments without DKB fees. If you travel frequently, that's a genuinely rare benefit in Germany. The optional physical Girocard costs extra, and the app — while clean and stable — is more focused than a neobank's feature set.
The catch for newcomers: DKB can be stricter about verification and SCHUFA checks, so brand-new arrivals without a German footprint are occasionally rejected. It's often the second account expats open, after settling in with something like N26.
3. Commerzbank — the traditional bank with branches
Commerzbank digital GiroKonto
Commerzbank is one of Germany's major private banks with a nationwide branch network. If you want to talk to a person, deposit cash easily, or simply feel more comfortable with a traditional institution, it's the natural pick among our four.
The account includes a Girocard — the card that Germany's card-only corners actually accept — plus free withdrawals at over 6,000 Cash Group ATMs. The digital GiroKonto costs around €4.90 per month for new customers (the fee is waived only with very large combined assets), so unlike the two options above it is not free. You pay for the branches.
Opening takes longer than with a neobank — expect an in-person appointment or a slower online process — and English support is available at most larger branches but can't be guaranteed everywhere. Still, for expats who value in-person service, mortgages and a full product range under one roof, the monthly fee is a reasonable trade-off.
4. Revolut — the multi-currency complement
Revolut Standard
Revolut is a London-founded fintech whose free Standard plan is a powerful tool for expats — but with an important caveat in Germany: it issues a Lithuanian (LT) IBAN, not a German one. Under SEPA IBAN non-discrimination rules that IBAN must legally be accepted anywhere in the eurozone, but in practice some German employers, landlords and insurers still insist on a DE IBAN. Treat Revolut as a complement to a German account, not a replacement.
What it does brilliantly is money across borders: currency exchange at the interbank rate up to €1,000 per month on the Standard plan (1% fair-usage fee beyond that, plus roughly 1% markup outside FX market hours on weekends), multi-currency balances, instant free transfers between Revolut users, and a wide feature set — crypto, stock trading, travel insurance on paid tiers, e-SIMs. Free ATM withdrawals are capped at €200 per month, then 2% applies.
Many expats use exactly this setup: a German bank for salary and rent, Revolut for cheap currency conversion, travel spending and transfers home. Note that Revolut is not a German-licensed bank; EU accounts run under Revolut Bank UAB (Lithuania), and deposits are protected under the applicable EU scheme.
How to choose: a 3-question shortcut
- Do you need an IBAN this week, before registration? → Open N26 first. No Anmeldung required, video-ID in minutes.
- Do you have German income and travel a lot? → Add DKB for free worldwide ATM access.
- Do you want branches, cash deposit and a Girocard? → Pay ~€4.90/month for Commerzbank.
And almost everyone benefits from keeping Revolut alongside: it's free, and its FX rates beat German banks for sending money abroad — see our money transfer guide for the full picture.
Practical tips for expats opening a German account
- Documents: passport or national ID, and proof of address. Traditional banks usually also want your Anmeldung and tax ID (Steuer-ID) — digital banks are more flexible.
- SCHUFA: opening a Girokonto with overdraft typically creates a SCHUFA record, which quietly helps later rental applications.
- Blocked accounts (Sperrkonto): students and visa applicants often need a separate blocked account — that's a different product from these everyday accounts.
- Fees change: ATM limits, card fees and monthly charges are revised regularly. Check the provider's current price list before you apply.