Compare Tagesgeld Accounts in Germany
Enter your savings amount and how long you plan to keep the money in the account. Our calculator compares the interest you could earn and accounts for promotional periods and ongoing rates.
BBBank
Tagesgeld
- 3% promotional interest rate for 4 months
- 0.75% ongoing interest rate
- Deposit insurance in Germany
Bank of Scotland
Tagesgeld
- 3% promotional interest rate for 12 months
- 1.25% ongoing interest rate
- Deposit insurance in Germany
Grenke Bank
Tagesgeld
- 2.75% promotional interest rate for 3 months
- 1.75% ongoing interest rate
- Deposit insurance in Germany
Deutsche Bank
Flexgeld
- 2.5% promotional interest rate for 9 months
- 0.5% ongoing interest rate
- Deposit insurance in Germany
Scalable Capital
Prime+ Broker Tagesgeld
- 2.5% ongoing interest rate
- Deposit insurance in Germany and France
Commerzbank
Topzinskonto Plus
- 2.25% promotional interest rate for 12 months
- Deposit insurance in Germany
What Is a Tagesgeld Account?
A Tagesgeld account (Tagesgeldkonto) is the German equivalent of an easy-access or flexible savings account. You earn interest on your balance while keeping access to your money, with no fixed term or notice period. Unlike a current account, a Tagesgeld account is generally not intended for everyday payments.
The interest rate is usually variable, meaning the bank can change it over time. Some banks offer higher promotional or guaranteed rates for new customers for a limited period before switching to a lower ongoing rate.
English-speaking residents may also see terms such as “flexible savings account,” “easy-access savings account,” or “instant-access savings account.” German banks, however, typically use the term Tagesgeldkonto.
When Is a Tagesgeld Account a Good Choice?
A Tagesgeld account is a good option when you want to earn interest while keeping your money accessible. It is particularly useful for savings that you may need at short notice or that you do not want to lock away for a fixed period.
Typical use cases include:
- Emergency funds: money you may need unexpectedly should remain easy to access.
- Short-term savings goals: for example, money for a move, holiday, car, or larger purchase within the next few months or years.
- Temporarily parking cash: useful while you decide what to do with money that would otherwise sit in a non-interest-bearing current account.
- Saving without a fixed term: you can usually add or withdraw money without waiting for a fixed deposit to mature.
The main trade-off is that the interest rate is not guaranteed. A bank can lower its variable rate, and promotional offers may expire after a few months. If you are certain that you will not need the money for a defined period, a fixed-term deposit (Festgeld) may offer more predictable returns.
Promotional vs. Ongoing Interest Rates
Not all Tagesgeld interest rates work the same way. Many banks advertise a higher promotional rate for new customers, but this rate may only apply for a limited period. Once the promotion ends, the account usually switches to the bank’s lower ongoing variable rate.
For example, an account paying 3.75% for four months and 0.75% afterward can be attractive if you only plan to keep your money there for a short time. Over a longer period, however, an account with a lower headline rate but a stronger ongoing rate may generate more interest overall.
This is why you should compare more than the advertised rate:
- Promotional or guaranteed rate: the higher temporary rate offered to eligible new customers.
- Promotional period: how long that rate is guaranteed.
- Ongoing or regular rate: the variable rate that applies after the promotion ends.
- Eligibility: whether the promotional rate applies to you and to your full deposit.
- Expected interest: how much you are likely to earn over the period you actually plan to keep the money in the account.
The Verbraucherzentrale also recommends taking the lower rate into account after a temporary new-customer offer when comparing Tagesgeld accounts.
Our calculator accounts for promotional periods and ongoing rates, helping you compare the estimated interest earned over your chosen savings period rather than focusing only on the headline rate.
How to Compare Tagesgeld Accounts
The highest advertised interest rate is not always the best Tagesgeld offer. To compare accounts properly, look at the conditions behind the rate and how well they match your savings plan.
The most important factors are:
- Promotional rate and duration: check whether the headline rate is temporary and how long it applies.
- Ongoing rate: see what the account pays after any introductory offer ends.
- Maximum balance for the advertised rate: some banks only pay the top rate up to a certain deposit amount.
- Interest payout frequency: monthly, quarterly, or annual crediting can affect how quickly interest starts earning interest itself.
- Deposit protection: check which legal entity holds your money and which deposit guarantee scheme applies.
- Eligibility: some offers are limited to new customers, Germany residents, or specific identification and reference-account requirements.
- Access to your money: Tagesgeld should remain flexible, but withdrawal processes and reference-account rules can still differ.
- Direct bank or savings platform: some accounts are opened directly with the bank, while others are accessed through platforms such as Raisin.
For most savers, the best way to compare offers is to focus on the estimated interest earned over the period you actually expect to keep the money in the account, rather than ranking accounts only by their headline rate.
Zinshopping: Should You Switch After the Promotional Rate Ends?
In Germany, frequently moving savings to another Tagesgeld account to benefit from a new promotional rate is sometimes referred to as Zinshopping or interest rate hopping.
It can make sense because many Tagesgeld offers provide their highest rate only to new customers and only for a limited period. After that period expires, the account may fall back to a substantially lower rate for existing customers. Consumer advocates therefore recommend factoring the post-promotional rate into your comparison rather than looking only at the initial headline rate.
Switching may be worthwhile when:
- your promotional rate is about to expire;
- the ongoing rate is clearly below competitive alternatives;
- the additional interest justifies the effort of opening or moving to another account; and
- the new offer is suitable for your deposit amount and intended savings period.
However, constantly chasing the highest temporary rate is not necessarily the best strategy for everyone. If you prefer less administration, an account with a competitive ongoing rate can be more convenient even if its headline rate is slightly lower.
A practical approach is to compare the expected interest over the period you actually plan to save. Our calculator does this by taking both promotional and ongoing rates into account.
Example: €50,000 saved for 12 months
Assume:
- Promotional rate: 3.75% p.a. for 4 months
- Ongoing rate afterward: 0.75% p.a.
- Alternative ongoing account: 3.01% p.a.
- With Zinshopping, you successfully move to another comparable 3.75% promotional offer every 4 months
| Strategy | Approx. interest after 12 months |
|---|---|
| Stay after promo expires | €875 |
| Use a 3.01% ongoing-rate account | €1,505 |
| Zinshopping at 3.75% throughout | €1,875 |
Illustrative example only:
Actual returns depend on the offers available when you switch, the timing of transfers, interest-crediting rules and whether you remain eligible for new-customer rates.
Set a reminder before your promotional rate expires. Otherwise, your money may remain in the account at a much lower ongoing rate.
How to Open a Tagesgeld Account in Germany as an Expat
Many Tagesgeld accounts can be opened online, but the exact requirements depend on the bank and the offer.
As an expat living in Germany, check in particular:
- whether the account is available to residents in Germany;
- which passports or identity documents are accepted;
- whether the application process is available in English;
- whether a German or another SEPA reference account is required;
- which identification method is used; and
- whether the account is opened directly with the bank or through a savings platform.
Some providers may also ask for your German tax identification number.
If you use a savings platform such as Raisin, you typically register and verify your identity once and can then access multiple partner-bank offers through the same platform account. That can make Zinshopping, switching between Tagesgeld offers, easier.
Are Tagesgeld Accounts Safe?
Tagesgeld accounts offered by regulated banks are generally covered by the applicable statutory deposit guarantee scheme. For banks covered by EU deposit-guarantee rules, eligible deposits are generally protected up to €100,000 per depositor and bank.
The relevant guarantee scheme depends on the bank and its legal entity. A German bank may be covered by a German scheme, while a bank headquartered elsewhere in the EU may be protected by the scheme of its home country.
When comparing Tagesgeld accounts, check:
- which legal entity holds your deposit;
- which deposit guarantee scheme applies;
- the applicable protection country; and
- whether your total deposits with that bank stay within the protection limit.
For a more detailed explanation of European deposit protection, refer to our overview of best savings accounts in Germany.
