Opening a German Bank Account — Essential Vocabulary
After this lesson you can give your personal details and understand what the clerk asks for.
Do this first: sein — to be
Opening a German Bank Account — Essential Vocabulary
Opening an account is an appointment with a checklist. The German is easy; what matters is knowing which documents the word on the list refers to.
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Kulturnotiz
Die Anmeldung is the hinge of German life: you register your address at the Bürgeramt within two weeks of moving in, and until you have that slip of paper you cannot easily open a bank account, get a phone contract, or start a job. It also triggers your Steuer-ID, which arrives by post a couple of weeks later. Everything else waits on it — so book the Bürgeramt appointment before anything else.
Common questions
+What documents do I need to open an account?
Photo ID (Personalausweis or Reisepass), your Anmeldung proving a registered German address, and usually your Steuer-ID. Some banks also ask for an employment contract.
+What is the difference between a Girokonto and a Sparkonto?
A Girokonto is the everyday current account you receive a card for and pay bills from. A Sparkonto is for savings and does not come with day-to-day payment functions.
+Is the EC-Karte a credit card?
No. The Girocard (still commonly called EC-Karte) is a debit card that takes money immediately. It is widely accepted inside Germany but often not abroad or online.
+What is an Überweisung?
A bank transfer — the standard way Germans pay rent, invoices and each other. You need the recipient's IBAN. A recurring one is a Dauerauftrag.