Without a bank account it is hard to get through your first month in Germany: your pay is transferred, and rent, phone contract and insurance are debited from the account. The good news: an account is opened quickly, and you have a legal right to a basic account.
As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.
In short: every consumer legally resident in the EU has a right to a basic account (Basiskonto) in Germany – even without a permanent address (§ 31 Payment Accounts Act). A passport or ID card is usually enough; not all banks ask for a certificate of address registration. You can also get your pay into an account in another EU country, because the SEPA Regulation forbids requiring a German IBAN.
What you need a current account for
- Pay: employers pay by bank transfer, not in cash.
- Running costs: rent, internet, phone and contributions are taken by direct debit.
- Authorities and funds: the health insurance fund, the landlord and the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse, for Kindergeld) ask for your IBAN.
It is best to take care of it right after you arrive – or even before you move.
Right to a basic account
The Payment Accounts Act (ZKG) has applied since 2016. Under § 31 ZKG, banks that offer accounts to consumers must open a basic account for every consumer legally resident in the EU, including people without a permanent address and asylum seekers.
- The bank must offer the contract without delay, at the latest within ten business days of your application.
- A bad Schufa score or debts are not, on their own, a reason to refuse.
- The bank may only refuse for legal reasons, for example if you already have a usable account in Germany.
- The basic account can do everything important: receive pay, transfers, direct debits, a card – just no overdraft.
If you are refused, you can contact BaFin (the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). There is a free administrative procedure in which BaFin can order the bank to open the account. You can find the form and the online complaint on bafin.de.
Which documents you need
| Document | Needed? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or ID card | Yes | EU citizens can use their national ID card |
| Certificate of address registration (Meldebescheinigung) | Often, not always | Many branch banks want it; not essential for the basic account |
| Tax ID (Steuer-ID) | Will be requested | Can be provided later |
| Address in Germany | Usually yes | For post, card and PIN |
| Mobile number and email | Yes | For online banking and approvals |
Tax ID: under § 154 of the Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung), the bank must record your tax identification number. If it is missing when the account is opened, the bank asks the Federal Central Tax Office for it within three months. The tax ID comes by post after your address registration – more under Moving and registration.
Ukrainian citizens without a valid passport can, according to the consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale), show a Ukrainian identity document together with a document from a German authority, for example a certificate of address registration or a Fiktionsbescheinigung.
Branch bank or online bank?
Branch bank
Sparkassen, Volksbanken and large private banks with branches.
- Advantages: personal advice, documents handled on the spot.
- Disadvantages: appointment needed, often ask for a certificate of address registration, usually a monthly account fee.
Direct bank / online bank
Opening via app or website, identification via Video-Ident or PostIdent.
- Advantages: fast, often cheap or free under certain conditions, app partly in several languages.
- Disadvantages: no branch; not every identity document is accepted for Video-Ident; cash through partner cash machines.
Tip: check the bank’s list beforehand to see if your ID document is accepted for Video-Ident. If not, choose PostIdent or a branch.
Account fees
When comparing, look at:
- the monthly basic fee,
- the cost of the card (Girocard or debit card),
- cash withdrawals at other banks’ machines,
- conditions for a free account, for example a minimum monthly amount coming in.
A basic account may also cost money, but the fee must be reasonable. The Federal Court of Justice has already declared excessive basic account fees invalid. Ask for the list of prices and services before you sign.
IBAN and SEPA: pay into an account from Romania or Lithuania?
The IBAN is the international account number. German IBANs start with DE (22 characters), Romanian ones with RO, Lithuanian ones with LT.
All EU countries belong to the SEPA area for euro payments. Under Art. 9 of the SEPA Regulation (EU) No 260/2012, a payer – including an employer – may not decide in which EU country the recipient’s account must be held, as long as it can be reached by SEPA. Refusing foreign IBANs is IBAN discrimination; in Germany, BaFin checks that the rules are followed.
In practice:
- Lithuanian or Latvian euro accounts usually work for your pay without problems.
- Romanian or Bulgarian accounts are also allowed. If the account is in the local currency, your bank may charge conversion fees – ask your bank.
- Accounts in Moldova or Ukraine are not covered by the EU SEPA Regulation. For your pay, an account in Germany or another EU country makes sense.
A German account is still often more practical, for example for landlords and local contracts.
Schufa in short
Schufa is the largest credit agency in Germany. Banks report, for example, accounts, loans and unpaid debts to it. Later, landlords and mobile phone providers often ask about it. A well-run account helps you build a good credit rating over time. You can request a free copy of your data from Schufa at any time.
Beware: fraud and “financial agents”
The police and the Federal Criminal Police Office regularly warn about jobs as a financial agent: you are supposed to receive money in your account and forward it straight away – for a commission. In reality, this is money laundering. Under § 261 of the Criminal Code (StGB), even careless behaviour is a crime.
- Never give your account, card, PIN, password or app access to anyone else.
- Do not open an account “for someone” and do not sell one.
- Banks never ask for your PIN or TAN on the phone.
- A “job” where you forward money is a scam.
Read more warning signs in our article How to spot fake job offers.
Step by step to your account
- Choose a bank: an online bank for speed or a branch for personal help.
- Have your passport or ID card and your German address ready.
- Apply and identify yourself (Video-Ident, PostIdent or at a branch).
- Give your IBAN to your employer.
- After your address registration, give the bank your tax ID and, if needed, your new address.
Work and pay with us
We pay from €15.33 per hour gross, and as a forklift driver (m/f/d) from €16.08 per hour gross – by bank transfer to your account. How much is left net is explained in our article Gross and net. We help with moving and address registration, and accommodation can be provided if needed. Applicants do not pay a placement fee with us.
See all jobs or fill in the application form straight away.
