Bank Account Options in Germany: 2026 Update

Alright, so you’ve secured that job (or that spouse 😊) in Germany, got your visa sorted, and are ready to start your new adventure. But wait … that’s only half the battle won! The real fun begins when you land and have to tackle finding a place to live, sorting out all the paperwork, and, of course, first of all, opening a bank account.

Now, here’s where things can get a bit tricky. Banks in Germany require you to have a registered residence (Anmeldung) and also a Tax ID before they’ll let you open an account.

And here’s the kicker: to get a Tax ID, you need to register your residence, you need a residence, for which you need a proof of income, and that.. gotta be your bank account again. It’s like that classic chicken-and-egg problem, but with more bureaucracy and less eggs.

So, how do you break this loop? Let’s dive into some options that don’t require an Anmeldung.

Bunq

I recently onboarded my wife to Berlin. After downloading and exploring quite a handful of apps we found Bunq.

Bunq is super easy. Period.

Bunq also needs a Tax ID, but unlike others, they give you a grace period of 90 days to upload your Tax ID.

That means you get the IBAN, you get your salary or you transfer money to it, register your residence, get a Tax ID, all of which can happen very much realistically within the 90 days, but only once you get the IBAN.

Bunq is a full bank, so nobody can deny you services.

You also get free premium for a month, i.e. a working debit card, which arrived almost within 2 days.

Revolut

While Revolut is definitely much more user friendly, with options of investing, crypto, forex transfers etc. You would still need Bunq first.

While creating a Revolut account, they do not ask for Tax ID, but they ask for another IBAN to validate your identity. And that has to be Bunq.

So right after getting Bunq, I would also recommend getting Revolut if you are in the business of sending and receiving money from abroad.

Deutsche Bank

If the above options don’t work for you, visiting a Deutsche Bank branch (Alexanderplatz branch if you are in Berlin) is your nuclear option and surprisingly straightforward. Just walk in with your passport and German work/spouse visa - no other documents needed, paperwork is also in English (thankfully). You can walk out with an IBAN in about ten minutes.

Comments/feedback?

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