- Travel without avoidable banking fees: Active customers can pay and withdraw cash worldwide without DKB foreign-currency or ATM fees.
- Choose an established digital bank: DKB combines decades of direct-banking experience, millions of customers, and membership of the BayernLB group.
- Keep mobile banking focused: The app prioritizes reliable everyday banking and card controls over elaborate budgeting and lifestyle features.
- Meet the free-account condition flexibly: The €700 can come from ordinary transfers—including your own standing order—and does not have to be salary.
- Embrace established German direct banking: You have completed essential arrival formalities, received your tax ID, and are comfortable navigating mostly German application and support processes.
To form a well-rounded view, we combined our hands-on tests of DKB’s application journey and AI support bot with current product research, recent customer feedback, and insights from long-term DKB users.
Our review covers all three account models with the exact same conditions: DKB current account for individuals, DKB joint account, and DKB student account.
Based on average ratings on Trustpilot and BankingCheck
Based on average ratings on App Store and Google Play Store
Customer feedback is divided but follows a consistent pattern: long-term users often praise DKB’s value, reliability, and international card conditions, although older account-level ratings partly reflect benefits that are no longer included. App users are generally positive, while provider-level complaints focus primarily on difficult support and problem resolution. Overall, DKB appears to work well for routine self-service banking but less convincingly when personal intervention is required.
We tested DKB’s complete online application journey through its final stage and found the form clear, quick to navigate, and well-structured. You first choose an individual or joint account and then complete the process digitally, although identification and the delivery of access details differ slightly between the two setups.
New Girokonto customers receive active status for the first three months, resulting in no account maintenance and foreign-currency fees. To retain it afterward, arrange at least €700 in qualifying monthly incoming funds. The money does not have to be salary and can come through several ordinary transfers.
If you already have a German account, you can use the free digital DKB 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 DKB Girokonto account within minutes.
- Step 1: Digital sign-up (5-10 min) – Start by selecting the individual or joint account option. Provide your name, email, telephone number, address, employment, income, and tax residence. Foreign tax residences and TINs are supported, but our test required a German tax ID when Germany was selected as the tax residence. You must also define your login details. Optional cards can be added during or after the application. After submitting the form, DKB performs an automated, real-time Schufa credit check, confirming you do not have any negative financial payment history in Germany.
- Step 2: ID verification (5-10 min) – Individual-account applicants normally complete VideoIdent with a valid passport or identity card. For joint accounts, both applicants can use VideoIdent or PostIdent.
- Step 3: Immediate access (1 min) – The personal IBAN for your DKB Girokonto account is generated instantly. You can sign in with the login details selected during the application and start using the banking environment. Only outgoing transfers are blocked for the first 48 hours; You can add your C24 Mastercard to Apple Pay or Google Pay immediately. Complete the app setup by choosing an app PIN and, if wanted, biometric approval.
- Step 4: Delivery (3–14 days) – Your Visa Debit card arrives by post within the following days. For joint accounts, DKB also sends the IBAN, login details and cards by post within 14 days.
For better marketing, it often looks as if DKB offers target-group-specific account models. However, the following product pages all lead to the same application form and operate under the same fee structure described in this article:
DKB’s app provides a focused self-service environment with English navigation, instant-payment support, transaction notifications, and extensive card controls. Its AI bot understood our non-German questions reliably, but replied only in German—a useful illustration of DKB’s partial rather than complete English-language experience.
To help you decide if the Girokonto account is truly your best option, here is a quick breakdown of what the other plans have to offer:
DKB is strongest for established expats who value travel conditions and traditional direct banking. An alternative may suit you better if you want unconditional free banking, more included cards, advanced budgeting, comprehensive English support, or easier access to personal service.
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
Free digital account with global card payments at no fees and complimentary cash withdrawals across Europe. Thanks to a state-of-the-art app available across Europe, featuring 5 languages and investment options, N26 is the ultimate expat favorite.
Multi-language app and customer support
Account opening with a residence outside of Germany
, optional debit card
Free card payments worldwide
Free cash withdrawals in the Eurozone
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
Get a virtual and physical Visa Debit for free that protect the climate with each card payment. Besides one complimentary cash withdrawal per month, you can organize your funds in 2 sub-accounts. Tomorrow Bank puts a special focus on sustainability. It provides a full German and English application as well as customer support. Accounts can be opened from Germany, Austria, Italy, or Spain.
Multi-language app and customer support
Account opening with a residence outside of Germany
, free debit card
Free cash withdrawals in the Eurozone
Monthly fee:
From €0
DKB Girokonto is a strong choice for established expats who want a dependable direct bank and regularly travel outside the euro area. Maintain €700 in monthly incoming funds—which can simply be transferred from another account—and you can pay and make unlimited-frequency ATM withdrawals worldwide without DKB foreign-currency fees. The account is also attractive to younger customers and students because it remains a free German checking account until age 28, although the worldwide travel benefits still require the €700 in monthly incoming funds after the initial three months.
DKB adds the reassurance of a large, long-established German direct bank. Its app keeps everyday banking focused, while a genuine credit card remains available for situations in which a debit card is insufficient.
The qualification is “established.” Opening this German bank account from abroad is often impractical, while new German residents may need to wait for their tax ID. Even though DKB offers an English mobile app, the account is also a weaker fit for customers needing English-language support, personal assistance, regular cash deposits, or a passive secondary account.
If you are comfortable with a certain level of German language and prefer straightforward banking over neobank complexity, DKB’s combination of stability and travel benefits remains compelling.
If you are still hesitating whether DKB Girokonto 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).
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