The selection of bank accounts in Germany is huge and it can quickly become confusing to find the right offer. You are probably also using the same account you have had for years and paying unnecessarily high fees even though there are better alternatives. Because what many people do not know is this: there are also free checking accounts in Germany with all the important features completely without an annual fee!
Free checking accounts compared- Our ranking for 2026
Berliner Volksbank Bank Account
- Deal: 250 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 3.95 Euros per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free at VB ATM’s
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Girocard and Mastercard credit card included
BBVA Bank Account
- Deal: 20 euros with code BONUS
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone from 150 Euros
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
ING Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month with 1,000 Euros incoming payments
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: VISA debit card
- Savings account with 2.75% p.a. interest
C24 Bank Account
- Deal: 75 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free worldwide up to 4 times per month
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
bunq Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: 2.99 Euros per withdrawal
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide up to 1,000 Euros per year
- Card Type: Mastercard debit or credit card
- 2.01% p.a. interest on savings account
Note: In Germany, a bank account is called a Girokonto, which is a standard checking account used for everyday banking, such as receiving salary, making payments, and withdrawing cash.
But what should you really look for in a free bank accounts? And is switching actually worth it if you want to save money? Our reisetopia finance experts have examined the German checking account market closely and are convinced that you too can benefit from the free account models we introduce.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Free checking accounts compared- Our ranking for 2026
- What really matters in a free bank account
- Free bank accounts in the reisetopia expert test
- Free checking accounts compared: Our test results + Top 3
- Free Checking Accounts: Our Personal Experiences
- How much money can I save with a free checking account?
- What does Stiftung Warentest say about free checking accounts?
- Free checking accounts compared: Our conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions about Free bank Accounts
In this guide, we present our top recommendations, share insights from our own experiences, and answer the most important questions on the subject.
What really matters in a free bank account
Several factors play a role when choosing a free checking account. For a quick overview, we have put together a practical list for you:
📝 reisetopia checklist: Is your checking account truly free?
If your current checking account meets all the following criteria, you really do have a free checking account. If not, switching is worth it to save real money.
✅ No monthly or annual account management fee
✅ No hidden conditions, for example a minimum incoming payment
✅ Free cash withdrawals or cash deposits
✅ Free debit card and/or credit card
✅ No fees for transfers or account statements
Free bank accounts in the reisetopia expert test
Our reisetopia finance experts have thoroughly tested free checking accounts and considered all important criteria. What mattered most was that account management remains free on a permanent basis.
If certain requirements such as a minimum incoming payment or a special status are needed, we have clearly marked this. Possible additional costs, such as for paper-based transfers, were also included in our evaluation.
Our checking account test focused primarily on cash access, that is, how and under what conditions customers can access money worldwide, as well as card and payment options for maximum everyday flexibility. In addition, we examined the fee structure for fairness, evaluated the service, and carefully analyzed additional features and special conditions.
👉 Thanks to this comprehensive analysis, we were able to clearly determine which free checking accounts are not only attractive in the short term but also offer the best long-term conditions and the highest value. In the next section, we present our top 3 based on these findings.
Free checking accounts compared: Our test results + Top 3
For our comparison of free checking accounts, we evaluated all test criteria in detail and ranked the accounts based on these results. Below we present the free checking accounts that proved particularly attractive and currently make up our top 3:
Our top recommendation: BBVA Checking Account
The currently best free checking account for us is clearly the BBVA Checking Account! It impresses with permanently fee-free account management without conditions and automatic interest on balances up to 500,000 euros — with attractive terms and guaranteed interest!
With the Savings Box feature, you can also structure your funds easily and flexibly, while the full range of banking services is available in the intuitive app.
BBVA Bank Account
- Free bank account with no requirements
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
- Free EU cash withdrawals starting at 150 Euro
- 3 Prozent interest for six months
- Free debit card with 3% cashback included
- No fees for foreign currency payments
With free debit Mastercard: C24 Checking Account
The C24 Checking Account offers attractive interest on balances as well as free payments and withdrawals worldwide using a debit card. Through the app, you have full control over your finances and benefit from multi-banking, practical sub-accounts, and cashback programs.
Modern technology, high standards, and deposit protection also ensure reliable and secure banking!
C24 Bank Account
- Free bank account
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
- Interest on checking account balances
- Free Mastercard debit card included
- Optional: Instant-access savings feature
For modern banking on the go: N26 Checking Account
The free N26 Checking Account is also one of our top recommendations among checking accounts. It impresses with a fully digital account opening in just a few minutes, a modern banking app with real-time notifications, and a fee-free Mastercard debit card.
In addition, you benefit from free worldwide payments in foreign currencies and intuitive management directly from your smartphone. N26 thus combines maximum flexibility with a clear focus on user-friendliness!
N26 Go Bank Account
New Customers: 1 % cashback on all payments outside Germany
- 1 % cashback on purchases outside the EEA, UK and Switzerland for 12 months
- Free Mastercard debit card included
- 5 free withdrawals per month within Germany
- Unlimited free withdrawals abroad
- No foreign currency fees
- Strong insurance package included
Free Checking Accounts: Our Personal Experiences
Our experiences with free checking accounts confirm what our reisetopia finance experts have long emphasized: Switching from a checking account with an annual or monthly fee to a free model can save significant costs. In our cases, this switch was always straightforward and quick.
However, as with many people, our initial hesitation was the concern that the process would be complicated, which is why we avoided free checking accounts for a long time.
Some reisetopia team members were initially skeptical of fully digital checking accounts without branch networks. Today, however, they have been using fee-free accounts like the N26 Checking Account for years and have never needed in-person customer service.
Our experiences clearly show that the BBVA Checking Account is currently the best free checking account in Germany. So far, we have not encountered any hidden fees, and the account opening was completed in just a few minutes.
Particularly noteworthy are the attractive interest rates and cashback, which provide real added value compared to other accounts.
👉 In short: Nobody today needs to hold a checking account with fees — unless you specifically want a premium account with special additional services.
How much money can I save with a free checking account?
How much you can save with a free checking account mainly depends on the fees of your current account. Many banks currently charge monthly account management fees between 3 Euro and 10 Euro, sometimes even more. With a free checking account, this amount is completely eliminated — and it adds up quickly:
➡️ Monthly account fees: At 5 Euro per month, you save 60 Euro per year; at 10 Euro, it’s already 120 Euro.
➡️ Card fees: Some banks charge an additional 10–36 Euro per year for a debit or credit card. Free accounts often include at least one card at no extra cost.
➡️ Cash withdrawals: You can save fees of 2–5 Euro per withdrawal if the free account offers a wide ATM network or partner banks.
➡️ Transfers & online banking: At modern direct banks, these services are generally free, while some traditional branch banks still charge fees for certain transactions.
| Cost Type | Example Cost per Month/Year | Savings with Free Account |
|---|---|---|
| 🏦 Account Fees | €8 per month = €96 per year | €96 |
| 💳 Card Fees | €25 per year | €25 |
| 🏧 Cash Withdrawals | 2 × €2.50 per month = €60 per year | €60 |
| 💻 Transfer Fees | €5 per year | €5 |
| Total Savings | €186 per year |
✏️ Example Calculation:
Assume you currently pay 8 Euro per month for account management (96 Euro per year), 25 Euro for card fees, a total of 60 Euro for occasional cash withdrawals, and 5 Euro for transfers – with a free account, you could save around 186 Euro per year!
👉 It quickly becomes clear: for many people, the savings range between 100 Euro and 200 Euro per year, and in some cases even significantly more. The higher your previous fees and the more often you use paid services, the greater your saving potential. Switching to a free checking account is definitely worth it!
Berliner Volksbank Bank Account
- Deal: 250 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 3.95 Euros per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free at VB ATM’s
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Girocard and Mastercard credit card included
BBVA Bank Account
- Deal: 20 euros with code BONUS
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone from 150 Euros
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
ING Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month with 1,000 Euros incoming payments
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: VISA debit card
- Savings account with 2.75% p.a. interest
C24 Bank Account
- Deal: 75 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free worldwide up to 4 times per month
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
bunq Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: 2.99 Euros per withdrawal
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide up to 1,000 Euros per year
- Card Type: Mastercard debit or credit card
- 2.01% p.a. interest on savings account
What does Stiftung Warentest say about free checking accounts?
Stiftung Warentest (“Finanztest”) also emphasizes that truly free checking accounts — that is, accounts without any fees, no minimum deposit requirements, and no costs for transactions or cards — have become rare.
Out of nearly 700 offers reviewed, only ten met these criteria. All the more encouraging is that both the N26 Checking Account and the C24 Checking Account are also recommended by Stiftung Warentest testers.
Free checking accounts compared: Our conclusion
Many banks advertise a free checking account, but that does not automatically mean that no costs are involved. Often, fees or conditions are hidden in the fine print, which can ultimately lead to significant additional costs.
However, if you choose a truly fee-free checking account, our analysis shows that you can save up to 200 Euro per year – a considerable advantage.
As reisetopia finance experts, we have compiled what to look for when choosing an account and which features make a free checking account worth recommending. With our top recommendations from the current reisetopia comparison, you are guaranteed to make a good choice: all accounts offer real saving potential and practical benefits.
🏆 Our current top pick is the unconditionally free BBVA Checking Account, which even offers 3 percent cashback and an attractive 3 percent interest rate in the first year. We especially appreciate the modern banking app, the ability to make fee-free foreign currency payments, and the free Mastercard debit card. Applying is definitely worthwhile!
Berliner Volksbank Bank Account
- Deal: 250 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 3.95 Euros per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free at VB ATM’s
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Girocard and Mastercard credit card included
BBVA Bank Account
- Deal: 20 euros with code BONUS
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone from 150 Euros
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
ING Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month with 1,000 Euros incoming payments
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: VISA debit card
- Savings account with 2.75% p.a. interest
C24 Bank Account
- Deal: 75 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free worldwide up to 4 times per month
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
bunq Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: 2.99 Euros per withdrawal
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide up to 1,000 Euros per year
- Card Type: Mastercard debit or credit card
- 2.01% p.a. interest on savings account
Frequently Asked Questions about Free bank Accounts
Do you have more questions about free checking accounts? We have compiled the most important questions on the topic and answer them here:
Which banks offer free checking accounts?
If you are looking for a new checking account, you should first take a look at which accounts are actually free. After all, you need to have an overview of the market before making a decision. In general, the most important difference to consider is whether the bank has physical branches or not.
If having a dense branch network and visiting a bank in person is important to you, you probably shouldn’t become a customer of a direct bank or neobank, since almost all checking account functions can be handled online there. So which banks offer free checking accounts in both categories?
Branch banks with free checking accounts
The landscape of branch banks in Germany is extremely complex and difficult to navigate. Each region has various Sparkassen, Volksbanken, Sparda-Banks, and other providers that do not operate nationwide.
In addition, there are nationally active banks like Deutsche Bank or Commerzbank. All of them offer checking accounts, but very few of these are actually free.
Among the Sparkassen and Volks- or Raiffeisenbanken, free offers are rare. Usually, exceptions are only available for young people, who can get free checking accounts.
Beyond account management fees, the main difference between branch banks and direct banks lies in the card issued with the checking account. While branch banks still rely on the very popular Girocard in Germany, the trend among direct banks is toward debit cards, which offer significantly more features. Neobanks, known for their innovative financial solutions, mostly issue only virtual credit cards.
💡 Note: Checking accounts from branch banks usually do not include a true credit card. These can generally only be added for a monthly fee.
Regarding other banks, there are occasional exceptions in different regions. For example, some Sparda-Banks as well as traditional banks like Postbank, Sparkasse, and Deutsche Bank sometimes offer free checking accounts. However, the services in these cases are not always fully convincing.
In addition to the previously mentioned banks, the two major nationwide branch banks in Germany should certainly be noted. In particular, the Commerzbank Checking Account is heavily advertised, and the term “free” is frequently used.
In fact, the branch bank offered an account without a basic fee and without a minimum deposit until recently. Nowadays, this is no longer the case, and the waiver of account management fees is tied to a minimum deposit.
Finally, foreign banks with similar offers in Germany should also be mentioned, such as Santander Bank or HypoVereinsbank. However, the downside here is that, while you can benefit from an extensive branch network like with other banks, you do not enjoy the attractive conditions offered by online banks.
Nevertheless, the Santander account can be particularly interesting because it offers a relatively unique bonus program compared to other banks.
Santander BestGiro Bank Account
- Completely free bank account
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
- Branch network with offices throughout Germany
- Free Santander credit card
- Discounts on fuel and travel bookings
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
Online Banks with Free bank Accounts
Much more important in the realm of free checking accounts, however, are the neo- or direct banks. While all of them offer various options, the differences are generally not very significant. Therefore, it comes down to the details of each online account. Below, we have compiled a selection of the best free checking accounts from online banks for you:
Berliner Volksbank Bank Account
- Deal: 250 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 3.95 Euros per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free at VB ATM’s
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Girocard and Mastercard credit card included
BBVA Bank Account
- Deal: 20 euros with code BONUS
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone from 150 Euros
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
ING Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month with 1,000 Euros incoming payments
- Cash Withdrawals: Free within the EU zone
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: VISA debit card
- Savings account with 2.75% p.a. interest
C24 Bank Account
- Deal: 75 Euros bonus
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: Free worldwide up to 4 times per month
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide
- Card Type: Mastercard debit card
- Tested by Stiftung Warentest 12/25
bunq Bank Account
- Account Fee: 0 Euro per month
- Cash Withdrawals: 2.99 Euros per withdrawal
- Foreign Currency Fee: 0 Euro worldwide up to 1,000 Euros per year
- Card Type: Mastercard debit or credit card
- 2.01% p.a. interest on savings account
In general, the following direct and neobanks offer a free checking account with attractive conditions:
- DKB
- ING
- C24
- comdirect
- Santander
- Consorsbank
- N26
- bunq
- Wise
- 1822direkt
- Vivid Money
The advantage of a free checking account at a direct bank is not only that it is usually completely free, but also that the fee structure is very attractive. At most direct banks, you get a free checking account without a minimum deposit requirement and no costs for account cards.
Another advantage is that, in most cases, the package includes not only a debit card but also a credit card with a free checking account. While this is often set up as a directly debiting debit card at banks like ING or Consorsbank, this benefit should not be underestimated. These cards also usually come with attractive perks such as free cash withdrawals and free payments abroad.
This way, without paying any extra fees, you can sometimes enjoy benefits comparable to the premium credit cards from branch banks. This is generally because online banks, by eliminating branches, have a leaner fee structure and can therefore offer more services.
👉 At this point, our advice for choosing the right checking account is clear: if you don’t necessarily need a branch, a free checking account at a direct bank is definitely recommended.
Are there completely free checking accounts?
The most common requirement for a free checking account is a minimum deposit. This allows banks to protect themselves and ensure that the account is actively used.
Only a few accounts are truly without restrictions and without account management fees – usually at direct banks, whose cost structures are cheaper than those of branch banks.
An account can be considered a free checking account if the following conditions are met:
❌ No account management fees
❌ No minimum deposit requirement
❌ No fees for debit cards/account cards
❌ No fees for transfers and direct debits
If these conditions are met, the most important basic functions of an account are covered — without a minimum deposit.
