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What Bank Account Checklist does
A German current account is the key to almost everything. Your employer will not pay your salary in cash, the landlord wants bank details, and electricity and phone run by direct debit. But if you are new to Germany you face a classic chicken-and-egg problem: to open an account you often need city registration, sometimes a residence permit, and almost always the right documents. The Bank Account Checklist clears this up and shows step by step what is really needed.
Not every bank suits every situation. Some direct banks run entirely online and open the account in minutes via video identification, others require an appointment at a branch. Some require a SCHUFA check, others offer accounts without SCHUFA. Some have English-language support and a good app, others are free only under conditions. The bank comparison filters by exactly these criteria so you do not open three accounts that turn out not to fit.
For many, SCHUFA is the stumbling block. It is a credit agency that rates your creditworthiness, and anyone without a German credit history or with negative entries gets rejected by some banks. The checklist explains what SCHUFA is, how to get your free self-disclosure, and which banks open an account even without a clean SCHUFA.
If you are rejected, you are not powerless. Under the Payment Accounts Act (Section 31 ZKG), everyone in Germany has the right to a basic account, even without a fixed address, with SCHUFA problems, or as an asylum seeker. Banks must offer such a credit-based account. The checklist explains this right and how to claim it when a bank stalls.
The document part is the heart of it. Passport or ID card, registration certificate, often the residence permit, sometimes proof of income - the checklist shows per bank and situation what you have to bring or upload. You tick off what you have and see instantly what is still missing.
Finally it keeps going: what to do after opening the account? The checklist reminds you of the first steps like giving the account details to your employer, setting up standing orders and activating your debit card. Everything runs in the browser without signup, and your details stay with you.
Features
Tick-off document checklist
Passport, registration certificate, residence permit and more, filtered by bank and situation. Tick off what you have.
Bank comparison with quick filters
Filter by online-only, no SCHUFA, English support and free. Sort by fee, opening time or app rating.
SCHUFA explained clearly
What SCHUFA is, how to get your free self-disclosure, and which banks open an account even without a clean SCHUFA.
Right to a basic account
Under Section 31 of the Payment Accounts Act every bank must offer a basic account. The checklist shows how to claim your right.
What to do if rejected
Concrete steps to take when a bank refuses your account, instead of giving up in frustration.
First steps after opening
Give account details to your employer, set up standing orders, activate your debit card. So your new account works right away.
How it works
- 1
Enter your situation
State whether you are an EU citizen, hold a residence permit, and whether a SCHUFA check could be a problem.
- 2
Find a bank
Use the quick filters for no SCHUFA, English support or online-only, and compare fees and opening times.
- 3
Tick off documents
Look at the document list for your bank and tick off what you already have. What is missing shows immediately.
- 4
Open the account and move on
Open the account online or at a branch and work through the checklist for the first steps afterwards.
Who needs this
Frequently asked questions
Which documents do I need to open an account?
Usually a passport or ID card and a registration certificate. As a third-country national often the residence permit too, sometimes proof of income. The checklist shows you exactly what each bank and situation requires.
Can I get an account without SCHUFA?
Yes. Some banks offer accounts without a SCHUFA check, and your legal right to a basic account under Section 31 ZKG applies regardless of SCHUFA. The checklist shows suitable banks and how to apply for a basic account.
What is a basic account?
A basic account is a credit-based current account that, under the Payment Accounts Act, everyone in Germany has a right to, even without a fixed address or with SCHUFA problems. Banks may only refuse it in narrow exceptional cases.
Do I need to register first before opening an account?
Many banks require a registration certificate, which you get when you register at the citizens office. But there are also direct banks that need less. The checklist marks which banks require registration.
What do I do if my account application is rejected?
You can approach a bank that offers accounts without SCHUFA, or insist on your right to a basic account. If even that is refused, the financial regulator BaFin can be involved. The checklist walks you through these steps.
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