- Get a genuine credit card as a student: Adults receive the free Young Visa Credit card with a real credit limit and monthly billing if they have at least €300 in recognized, reliable monthly income and sufficient creditworthiness.
- Keep full-service banking free: As a student or apprentice, you pay no monthly account fee and need no minimum account-level deposit while retaining access to personal branch support.
- Bank largely in English: After the German application, you can enjoy Commerzbank’s English website, app, online banking and English-language telephone support pr branch staff.
- Cover everyday banking in Germany: The account includes a free Girocard, SEPA transfers, direct debits, mobile payments and fee-free cash withdrawals within Commerzbank’s German partner network.
- Qualify through study or training in Germany: You are under 28, have a registered residence in Germany, and can provide current proof from school, university, vocational training, an internship, volunteering, or another eligible service.
- €50 sign-up bonus: Get rewarded by Commerzbank for opening the account
To give you our personal, honest assessment, we combined our eight years of experience with Commerzbank’s regular GiroKonto and detailed research into the StartKonto’s current account conditions. The StartKonto uses essentially the same everyday banking infrastructure, app, online banking, and branch network that we have used ourselves. The main differences are its free pricing and the Young Visa card option.
Based on average ratings on Trustpilot and BankingCheck
Based on average ratings on App Store and Google Play Store
Public feedback broadly reflects our own Commerzbank experience: customers value the broad branch and cash network, established German banking infrastructure, and an increasingly capable app. Complaints often concern inconsistent service between branches, slower handling of unusual cases, and fees outside the standard domestic use cases. For the StartKonto, the free pricing and Young Visa are highly appreciated.
No. The Young Visa is tied to the Commerzbank StartKonto and cannot be held on its own with an external current account. You must open the StartKonto before or while requesting the card.
That can still make StartKonto worth opening as a free secondary account if you already use another bank for everyday banking but need a genuine student credit card with low eligibility requirements for students or apprentices. A modest initial card limit does not necessarily prevent a larger hotel or rental-car reservation. You can transfer money to the Young Visa’s credit-card account at any time, increasing the amount available for card payments.
Commerzbank accounts can be opened online without visiting a branch. Although the application form is available only in German, we recommend using the online method. Commerzbank frequently offers welcome bonuses for new account openings; these are usually only available online.
We opened our Commerzbank account online and recently retested the onboarding. It was clear and straightforward: identification can be completed online, via POSTIDENT, or at a Commerzbank branch.
If you are over 18, you need to upload a current school, university, training, internship, volunteer-service, or comparable status certificate through Commerzbank’s online banking. The Young Visa is not automatically issued with every StartKonto. Depending on the application route, it may be selectable directly during the account setup; otherwise, request it after the account is active through online banking or a Commerzbank adviser. Commerzbank can ask you for a proof that you meet the €300 threshold in recurring income.
- Step 1: Digital sign-up (5-10 min) – Open the link to the StartKonto application form. Provide your name, date and place of birth, nationality, German residential address, contact information and tax-residency details. Applicants must be adults with residence and unlimited tax liability in Germany. You are also asked to enter your occupation and expected incoming funds, cash activity and international transactions. Commerzbank performs an automated, real-time Schufa creditworthiness check. A missing credit history due to your recent move is usually not a problem but a negative entry can lead to rejection of the Commerzbank StartKonto application. To set up your online banking, choose your username and PIN, review any optional savings or investment products and accept the required terms. Commerzbank then immediately displays your StartKonto IBAN and provides your application documents and identification reference.
- Step 2: Instant ID verification (2-5 min) – Identify online via IDnow or in person (at a post office or a Commerzbank branch) with a valid passport or identity card. Online identification can generally be conducted in English, although document acceptance depends on the issuing country and specific identification method. If you not have an entry of your German on your ID or passport, make sure to have your registration certificate "Meldebescheinigung" ready.
- Step 3: Immediate access (1 min) – Following successful identification, you will receive an e-mail and text message to activate the photoTAN app. StartKonto online and mobile banking then become available within minutes. Please note, if photoTAN is not activated within three hours, Commerzbank sends an activation letter instead, delaying digital access by approximately three to five days.
- Step 4: Delivery (3–7 days) – Your personal StartKonto banking card and PIN arrive separately by post.
Tip: Check our screenshot guide on how to open a Commerzbank account in English, where we describe the process step-by-step
If you already have a German account, you can use the free digital Commerzbank switching service right after activation. The app automatically logs into your old bank, identifies your recurring payments (like rent, gym, or electricity), and moves them over to your new Commerzbank StartKonto account within minutes.The StartKonto is intended for customers under 28 who both live in Germany and complete their qualifying school education, university studies, vocational training, internship, or eligible service in Germany. Studying at a foreign university does not meet this requirement.
Commerzbank’s app and online banking provide the core functions students need: transfers, standing orders, transaction search, card controls, and mobile payments. We have found the underlying Commerzbank platform dependable and easy to navigate. English-language digital access is a major advantage, although the application and some official correspondence may still appear in German.
To help you decide if the StartKonto account is truly your best option, here is a quick breakdown of what the other plans have to offer:
StartKonto is unusually strong for students who want personal branch service and a genuine credit card. Consider alternatives if inexpensive international usage, advanced budgeting tools, or permanent eligibility without status documentation—for example, as a student in their 30s—matters more.
With 25 sub-accounts, 3 physical cards, 25 digital cards, and included cash withdrawals, bunq Pro is the smart solution for covering everyday banking needs in Germany. bunq focuses on usability, sustainability and multi-currency account management for international transactions. Open your account in 6 languages throughout Europe.
Multi-language app and customer support
Account opening with a residence outside of Germany
, free debit card, optional credit card
Free cash withdrawals in the Eurozone
Monthly fee:
From €0
Free account for students, apprentices, pupils, and federal volunteer service participants up until 30 years. It includes a combined girocard/Mastercard for unlimited domestic cash withdrawals and deposits. Deutsche Bank is entirely bilingual - providing customer support channels, browser banking and a mobile application in English.
Multi-language app and customer support
, free girocard, optional debit card, optional credit card
Free cash withdrawals in the Eurozone
Monthly fee:
From €0
Unconditionally free account with a cutting-edge German banking app including complementary cash withdrawals, physical and digital banking cards, cashback program, as well as individual and shared sub-accounts. comdirect differentiates itself from other online banks through a full web banking interface and 24/7 phone, chat, and e-mail support.
0.75% interest on the account balance
Cashback program and interest earnings
, free girocard, free debit card
Free card payments worldwide
Free cash withdrawals worldwide
Traditional retail banking with the conditions of an online bank: An unconditionally free checking account with complimentary debit card, optional credit card, cash deposits and withdrawals. Santander provides a branch network and a mobile app in English.
0.2% interest on the account balance for 1 year
Multi-language app
Interest on account balance
, free girocard, free debit card, free credit card
Free card payments worldwide
Free cash withdrawals worldwide
Yes, Commerzbank StartKonto is one of Germany’s strongest full-service accounts for eligible students and young customers. Its defining feature is the free Young Visa: a genuine credit card with monthly billing and a credit limit, not merely another Visa debit card. That makes the account especially useful for travel, hotel deposits, and rental cars—situations in which students often struggle with debit-only products.
The overall package is also unusually compelling. There is no monthly account fee or account-level minimum deposit as long as you provide proof of your educational status. Yet you retain personal branch service, a useful German girocard, and extensive digital English-language banking. Even if you already have a current account, opening StartKonto as a fee-free secondary account can be worthwhile for the Young Visa alone. You can also transfer money to the card account before a larger hotel or rental car booking, temporarily increasing the available spending limit beyond the approved credit line.
There are important limits. The card requires at least €300 in recognized, reliable monthly income. Foreign use is expensive. You must also keep your eligibility documentation up to date to not be charged a monthly fee of €9.90;
Overall, StartKonto combines a rare student-friendly credit card with the personal support of a traditional bank at no ongoing package cost.
If you are still hesitating whether Commerzbank StartKonto is the right choice for you, check our alternatives above.
Disclaimer: This blog and providing support are our passion and hobby. However, we do not intend to provide financial advice. All investments involve risks of loss. This post is non-binding, for informational purposes only, and does not represent a complete market overview. We do not take responsibility for the accuracy and up-to-dateness of the data (§18 ZKG).
Some of the links are promotional links. You help to keep this site running, as we gain a small commission for each purchase. It does not come at any cost to you.
