comdirect is one of Germany’s three biggest online banks, with almost 3 million clients. It is a 100% subsidiary of Commerzbank, the country’s second-largest private bank. Therefore, customers can benefit from Commerzbank’s broad expertise, service portfolio, and—to some extent—its branch network while enjoying the low fees of a direct bank.
comdirect is very famous among expats, English speakers, and international students in Germany as it offers a free bank account, a joint account, a savings account, and a Visa Credit Card.
What is comdirect? Bank Account Types and Fees
comdirect offers three different checking accounts: The free “Girokonto Aktiv“ and two premium accounts, “Girokonto Extra” and “Girokonto Plus“.
The accounts can be opened as comdirect current accounts for individuals, comdirect joint accounts, or comdirect student accounts. Additionally, a children’s account is available for minors under 18. All comdirect accounts come with a German bank account number (IBAN).
| Girokonto Aktiv | Girokonto Extra | Girokonto Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Visa Debit Card (incl. Apple / Google Pay / Garmin Pay) | |||
| Free flexible savings account "Tagesgeld" | |||
| Free Girocard | 1 Euro/month | 1 Euro/month | 1 Euro/month |
| Visa Credit Card (incl. Apple / Google / Garmin Pay) | |||
| Free online / mobile banking | |||
| Free monthly ATM withdrawals worldwide (Visa Debit) | 3 (unlimited in Germany with Girocard) | 5 (unlimited in Germany with Girocard) | Unlimited (unlimited in Germany with Girocard) |
| Free cash deposits per year | 3 | 3 | Unlimited |
| No fees for payments / withdrawals outside of Eurozone (Visa Credit) | |||
| Free real-time bank transfers | |||
| Priviledged customer support | |||
| Travel insurance package | |||
| Monthly fee | €0.00 or €4.90 | €2.90 | €9.90 |
| Check details | Check details | Check details |
Free Account “Girokonto Aktiv”
The “Girokonto Aktiv” is free of monthly fees during the first six months after account opening. It remains free afterward in case the account holder fulfills one of the following conditions:
- Student, pupil, apprentice, or intern below 28 years of age
- Monthly incoming transfers of 700 Euros or more
- Three monthly payments by Google Pay or Apple Pay
- One monthly trade or execution of a savings plan through a comdirect broker account
In all other cases, a monthly fee of 4.90 Euros is applicable. The free comdirect account includes the following perks:
- Free Visa Debit card with contactless option
- Mobile Payment (Apple Pay / Google Pay / Garmin Pay)
- Free card payments by Visa Debit within the Eurozone; non-Euro transactions are subject to a transaction fee of 1.75%
- Three free monthly cash withdrawals in Germany and worldwide by Visa Debit Card; there is an additional foreign currency transaction fee of 1.75% outside the Eurozone
- Three free cash deposits per calendar year at Commerzbank branches (at the counter, self-service machines, or retail partners) and retail partners; additional deposits cost 4.90 Euros each
- Optional Girocard for 1 Euro per month for domestic payments and unlimited cash withdrawals at Cash Group ATMs (Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Postbank, HypoVereinsbank) and retail partners; the card is free with the children’s account for minors below 18
- Use of Commerzbank self-service machines (e.g., deposits, card pin change)
- Free Flexible Savings Account “Tagesgeld PLUS”
- Free online and mobile banking
- 24/7 customer support
- 50 Euro account opening bonus: The bonus is paid after five transactions (transfers, direct debits, withdrawals, deposits) of at least 25 Euros during the first three months. You must consent to newsletter and phone promotions during the account opening. Your consent will not be revoked until the bonus payout. Check the bank’s website for the detailed requirements.
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comdirect bank logo
comdirect TV spot
Premium Accounts “Girokonto Extra” and “Girokonto Plus”
The Girokonto Extra costs 2.90 Euros per month. It includes the same features as the “Girokonto Aktiv.” Still, it has five complementary monthly cash withdrawals and an additional Visa Credit Card. The “Girokonto Plus” comes for a monthly fee of 9.90 Euros and additionally includes:
- Cash plus option (Bargeld Plus) with unlimited cash withdrawals worldwide by Visa Debit and unlimited cash deposits by Girocard at Commerzbank
- Travel insurance package (Reise-Sorglos-Paket) with international insurance for travel cancellation, health, luggage, rental car, and emergency service
comdirect Joint Account “Gemeinschaftskonto”
All bank accounts can also be opened as a comdirect joint account. The account will be registered under both names. Both account owners receive full account access and banking cards.
comdirect Student Account
The “Girokonto Aktiv” is always free for students under 28. In this case, you do not require minimum incoming transfers, mobile payments, or investment trades.
comdirect Credit Cards and Debit Cards
Free comdirect Visa Card Debit
All current accounts include the Free Visa Debit Card with a contactless option. It supports mobile payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even Garmin Pay. Outside the Eurozone, there is a foreign-currency transaction fee of 1.75%. Free cash withdrawals at all ATMs and stores accepting Visa are possible. The amount of complementary monthly cash withdrawals depends on the chosen account type.
comdirect Visa Debit Card
comdirect Visa Credit Card
comdirect Girocard
Source: comdirect press material
comdirect Girocard
A comdirect Girocard can be purchased for a monthly fee of 1 Euro. It is helpful when paying in stores in Germany that do not accept Visa. Additionally, it permits free unlimited cash withdrawals at Cash Group ATMs (Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Postbank, HypoVereinsbank) and associated retailers.
comdirect Visa Credit Card
The comdirect Visa Credit Card is fully suitable for store payments, online shopping, and hotel or rental car bookings. The balance is repaid once a month and automatically deducted from the current account. All payments by Visa Credit Card outside the Eurozone are free of charge; there is no foreign currency transaction fee. The premium accounts “Girokonto Extra” and “Girokonto Plus” include a comdirect Visa Credit Card. When selecting the “Girokonto Plus,” a comprehensive insurance package is included.
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Customer services: English Support and Online Banking Experience?
comdirect English Support
There is no English or foreign language support for customer service (hotline with 24/7 landline phone number) or the entire interface (web and mobile). The good news is that basic German skills are sufficient to understand user-friendly and self-explanatory interfaces. If you require some initial support, we recommend using Google Translate or your web browser’s translation functionality for automatic website translation.
comdirect Online Banking and Mobile App
As an online bank, accounts can be fully managed through the website. Furthermore, comdirect recently released a new mobile banking app with the following features:
- Bank Transfers (including photo and voice transfer options)
- Stock trading
- Review of balances and limits
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comdirect ATMs
There are no dedicated comdirect ATMs. With your comdirect Visa Debit Card, you can withdraw cash for free at any ATM or cooperating retailer. The amount of complementary ATM withdrawals depends on your selected account type. Using the Girocard, you enjoy unlimited free cash withdrawals at (Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Postbank, HypoVereinsbank) and associated retailers.
Further Services: DKB Savings Accounts, Brokering, Credits
Comdirect clients have easy access to all other services of Commerzbank’s full-service portfolio. Furthermore, comdirect offers the following additional services to their customers:
- Savings accounts at comdirect are overseen by Bafin (German federal financial supervisory authority), and funds are protected under the German deposit insurance scheme.
- Broker accounts (“Depot”) at comdirect are free without conditions during the first three years. Afterward, they stay free for customers with a free current account, a regular savings plan, or two trades/ quarter.
- Various offers for credits and mortgages
comdirect Account Opening: How does it Work?
Requirements: Opening a comdirect Bank Account as a Foreigner or Non-Resident in Germany
Job Requirements
All comdirect accounts are exclusively for private purposes. Hence, you are not allowed to use them for activities related to freelancing and self-employment. For this reason, comdirect’s parent company, Commerzbank, offers various paid business accounts . If you are looking for a free alternative, look at our comparison table to find the best free business accounts in Germany.
Residence
comdirect is the only German bank that allows opening a bank account with every passport from around the world. Therefore, potential customers follow the online application process. Afterwards, various methods are available for required personal identification depending on the nationality and country of residence. Furthermore, you can keep your account and continue using comdirect’s services when moving abroad later.
Creditworthiness
comdirect performs credit checks when opening a bank account (SCHUFA, income checks). Those checks are more extensive when applying for a credit card and defining the credit limit than when opening a bank account with the Visa Debit Card. However, if you are rejected, you may choose another account from the list of banks in Germany and reapply later.
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What Steps to Follow to Open a comdirect Bank Account?
Opening an account is convenient, fast, and done entirely online – as for opening any other bank account in Germany. You will have to fill out the online form with your data and then identify using one of the following options:
- Video-Ident: Remote identification through a webcam is available for customers from any country worldwide with a German, Austrian, Swiss, Liechtenstein, or Luxembourg ID or passport.
- PostIdent: Identification is also possible in any post office in Germany. Short-term visitors can also use this method by bringing a passport and proof of their residence abroad (e.g., official certificate, ID card, phone/ electricity bills).
- Certification by a notary: This possibility exists for people living abroad. A local notary must confirm their identity using the provided form. If you want to use this option, please contact comdirect for any individual-specific additional requirements (e.g., an apostil).
Conclusion: Is comdirect a Good Bank?
comdirect bank is one of Germany’s most established and popular online banks. As a subsidiary of Germany’s second-largest bank, Commerzbank, it is a reliable and well-established financial institution. Even with the rise of modern neo-banks like N26, comdirect positions itself with digital and innovative financial solutions:
- comdirect’s current account is free if you are below 28 years old, have minimum incoming funds of 700 Euros per month, make regular payments with Apple or Google Pay, or actively use a broker account with comdirec. It includes a free Visa Debit Card, mobile payments, and cash free of charge within Germany and worldwide. Furthermore, comdirect has an edge over other online banks as it allows customers to deposit cash free of charge,
- comdirect provides premium accounts and credit cards for a monthly fee. The comdirect Credit Cards with a credit line are fully suitable for reserving hotels or rental cars. Some account types also come with comprehensive insurance packages. If you do not want to pay for a credit card, you can connect your comdirect account with a free credit card from another bank.
- All account types can also be opened as a comdirect Joint Account, with both account owners obtaining full account access and banking cards.
- You also open a savings account with comdirect as part of the current account. Here, you can organize your finances and gain interest.
- comdirect does not allow you to use the account for business transactions, e.g., as a freelancer. In this case, you must obtain a business account with Commerzbank or another bank for freelancers.
- In case you need other services, comdirect offers various financial solutions such as broker accounts, robo advisors, credits, and loans.
- You can get an account with any international place of residence and do not require “Anmeldung” in Germany. Unfortunately, comdirect’s website and app are exclusively available in German language. However, basic German skills should be sufficient to manage the account.
For any questions, do not hesitate to use the comment function!
