Banks in Germany
Last verified: · Sources: Source Policy
Germany has a three-pillar banking system: private banks, public savings banks (Sparkassen), and cooperative banks (Volksbanken). The Sparkassen are organised by state, which is why the savings bank available to you genuinely depends on which Bundesland you live in.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Currency | EUR |
| Regulator | BaFin / Deutsche Bundesbank |
| Deposit protection | 100,000 EUR per depositor, per bank |
| Protection scheme | German statutory deposit guarantee (Einlagensicherung) |
| Residency required | Required |
| Identity needed | Steueridentifikationsnummer |
| Regions covered | 16 |
Browse Germany by federal states (bundesländer)
Each page covers the local regulator, banks and credit unions with a real presence in the region, local rules and the exact steps to open an account.
National banks across Germany
These operate nationwide, so your region does not restrict access to them.
Deutsche Bank
National bank
Largest German private bank. Full national branch network.
Commerzbank
National bank
Second largest private bank; strong business banking.
Postbank
National bank
Part of Deutsche Bank; large branch and postal network.
HypoVereinsbank
National bank
UniCredit subsidiary with strong regional presence.
Santander Germany
National bank
Consumer-focused bank with competitive rates.
Digital banks
N26
Digital
Full German banking licence. Free standard account.
Comdirect
Digital
Commerzbank subsidiary with a strong app.
DKB
Digital
Popular free account with good card benefits.
ING Deutschland
Digital
Competitive rates and no-fee standard account.
Trade Republic
Digital
Investment-first platform with a German banking licence.
Check the numbers before you borrow
Our calculators run entirely in your browser — no signup, no stored data.
Sources and verification
German banking supervision and deposit protection are administered by BaFin, the Bundesbank and the statutory deposit guarantee scheme.
- BaFin — Banking supervisionBundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht
- Bundesbank — TasksDeutsche Bundesbank
- EdB — Deposit protectionEntschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken
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