A German bank account (Girokonto) is needed for almost everything: your salary, rent, phone and internet contracts, and the monthly electricity payment. Many newcomers hear that they need a registered address (Anmeldung) first, and then that they need a bank account to rent a flat. This guide explains the legal minimum you are entitled to and the practical options.

You have a right to a basic account

German law gives consumers a right to a basic account (Basiskonto). It applies if you are lawfully staying in the EU and do not yet have a payment account in Germany. It explicitly includes people without a fixed residence, asylum seekers and people with a Duldung.

Every bank that offers payment accounts to consumers must also offer a basic account. With a basic account you can deposit and withdraw cash, make transfers, set up direct debits and pay by card; if the bank offers online banking, it must offer it for basic accounts too. The bank does not have to give you an overdraft, and it may charge only reasonable fees.

You do not need a registered address

For a basic account, a registered residence in the sense of the registration law is not required. If you do not have a fixed residence yet, a postal address is enough. If a bank asks for an Anmeldung and you are not registered yet, ask specifically for a Basiskonto.

Bring a valid photo ID

The bank must verify your identity. Accepted are, among others:

  • a valid official photo ID, such as your passport
  • a Duldung certificate (§ 60a(4) AufenthG)
  • an arrival certificate (Ankunftsnachweis, § 63a AsylG)

A Fiktionsbescheinigung (the certificate you receive while a residence permit extension is pending) is not enough on its own. Bring your passport as well.

How long it takes, and what if the bank says no

Once your application is complete, the bank must confirm that it received it and has ten business days to open the account or refuse it.

A bank may refuse only for specific reasons, for example if you already have a payment account in Germany that you can actually use (not one that has been cancelled or that you were told will be closed), or if the bank previously ended a basic account with you for lawful reasons. If you think a refusal is wrong, you can:

  • request a free administrative procedure at BaFin, the financial supervisor, attaching your application and the refusal
  • take the bank to a civil court
  • contact a consumer arbitration body

Online banks: what N26 asks for

Online banks let you open an account from your phone, which helps in your first weeks. N26 is one example. According to its support page, you need to:

  • be at least 18
  • live in a country N26 supports
  • have a compatible smartphone and a supported ID
  • complete identity verification in English, German, Spanish, Italian or French
  • not already have an N26 account

The support page does not mention proof of address. When I opened my N26 account, I signed up with my passport and did not need an Anmeldung; identity verification was a live video call. Requirements can change, so check the current support page before you start.

Which account to choose

  • Not registered yet, or refused elsewhere: ask a branch bank for a Basiskonto; you have a legal right to it.
  • You want to start quickly from your phone: an online bank can be faster, as long as you meet its requirements.
  • You want cash deposits or a branch nearby: compare how each bank handles cash and support before you decide.

Checklist

  • Valid passport (not only a Fiktionsbescheinigung)
  • A postal address, even if you are not registered yet
  • Ask explicitly for a Basiskonto if a bank asks for an Anmeldung
  • Keep the bank's confirmation of receipt and note the ten-business-day deadline
  • If refused, keep the refusal for a BaFin complaint