Personal accounts: Germany
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
| In short | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Without residence | possible, but easier with address registration |
| Visit | a branch or a video check with a German address |
| Currency | euro |
| Deposit protection | up to 100,000 euros, ~$112,100, per depositor per bank |
| Limit for Russians | deposits up to 100,000 euros without EU citizenship or residence |
| Tax on capital income | 25% plus the solidarity surcharge for German residents |
| Russian tax notice | within a month for Russian tax residents |
A personal account in Germany is easiest to open after registering your address: the bank sees a German address, and the tax office issues a personal tax ID. Without registration some banks also open an account on a passport and foreign address, but checks take longer. Banks are supervised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority and European banking supervision. Dollar amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, $1.12 per euro.
Can you open an account in Germany without residence or a visit
Residence is not mandatory: some banks open an account for a non-resident on a passport and a foreign address. But a Russian citizen living in Russia with no link to Germany will be refused almost everywhere today: the bank needs a clear reason, and it cannot accept a large sum from such a client under sanctions rules. Without a visit, online banks open accounts with video identification, but they usually need a German address and a document the bank accepts. The most reliable path is to open an account after moving and registering your address, and before moving, if your visa requires it, a blocked account.
We will calculate online the cost of opening a personal account and maintaining it for a year.
The right to a basic account
Under the payment accounts law, every consumer lawfully present in the EU is entitled to a basic account in Germany, including those without a fixed address. A bank cannot refuse it without legal grounds, and its fee must be reasonable. A basic account suits the first weeks after moving, before registration and a full document set. The bank must explain a refusal of a basic account in writing, and a complaint can be filed with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.
Which banks accept Russians
Savings banks and cooperative banks work mainly with residents of their region and open an account on address registration. Large private banks take Russians with a residence permit and clear income, but check them longer. Online banks open accounts fastest, but some do not accept a Russian passport for video identification, leaving a branch visit. For students and other visa applicants, blocked accounts are opened by specialised banks and providers. We choose the bank for your status, city and needs.
Documents for the account
| Document | Why the bank asks |
|---|---|
| Passport, and for non-EU nationals after moving, a residence permit | identity and right to stay check |
| Address registration certificate or a foreign address | the address for a resident or non-resident account |
| German tax ID or the tax number of your country of residence | tax status and automatic exchange |
| Proof of income and source of funds | for large inflows |
| EU residence document, if you have one | lifts the sanctions cap on deposits for Russian citizens |
A blocked account for a visa
Students and some other applicants need a blocked account for a German visa: a year's living costs, set annually by the government, are paid in advance, and only a monthly portion can be withdrawn. Such an account is opened before moving with specialised banks and providers.
Deposit protection
The statutory guarantee scheme protects deposits up to €100,000, about $112,100, per depositor per bank. Many private banks also belong to voluntary protection funds that cover more, on their own terms. Banks do not accept deposits over €100,000 from Russian nationals without EU citizenship or EU residence, under EU Regulation 833/2014.
Taxes on the account
- A resident pays 25% tax on interest and other capital income, plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge on the tax and church tax if applicable. The first €1,000 of capital income a year, about $1,120, is tax-free via an exemption order to the bank.
- A non-resident generally pays no German tax on ordinary interest from a German bank.
- Tax residency arises with a home in Germany or a stay of more than six consecutive months.
Taxes for a Russian resident
Since 8 August 2023 Russia has suspended the main articles of its double tax treaty with Germany, and Germany, as the Russian Ministry of Finance reported on 14 July 2026, is fully suspending the 1996 treaty and its protocol. So, according to the tax service, a Russian tax resident cannot credit German tax in Russia, and account income is also taxed on the Russian scale. While you remain a Russian resident, it makes more sense to keep spending money in Germany rather than large savings on deposit.
How opening works
- Address registration if you are moving.
- Choosing a bank: a branch or an online bank with video identification.
- Documents and source of funds.
- Identity check at a branch or by video.
- Account, card, online banking and the tax exemption order.
Timelines and account costs
An online bank with video identification opens an account within a few days, a branch usually within one to two weeks, and a non-resident without registration is checked longer. Many German banks charge a monthly fee for the account and card, while online banks are often free with regular incoming payments. By law the fee for a basic account must be reasonable. Euro transfers within the EU are usually free or cheap.
The main risk is explaining the purpose of the account and the source of money
The law does not stop you from applying to a German bank on your own. But mistakes cost more than any fees: an application with no clear ties to Germany, large payments without proof of origin, contradictions in the tax residence form, a bank that does not work with your profile, a missed notice to the Russian tax service. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists choose the bank for your profile and payments, prepare documents and the explanation of the source of funds and run the application to a decision. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on the bank and your tax residence; a manager will calculate it in chat.
Tax data exchange and the Russian tax notice
A Russian tax resident notifies the tax service within a month of opening a foreign account, then files a report on account movements by 1 June each year. For accounts in Eurasian Union countries and automatic exchange countries the report is not filed if no more than 600,000 roubles, about $7,100, was credited during the year or remained at year end. The duty does not apply to those who spent more than 183 days outside Russia in the calendar year. The fine for not filing the notice is about $50-60 per account, and about $15-20 for filing late. Income on a foreign account, such as interest, is declared by the Russian resident personally. The procedure and form are covered in our article on the foreign bank account notification.
Why banks refuse
- A non-resident with no registration or clear link to Germany.
- Source of funds not proven.
- Sanctions risk by nationality or counterparties.
- Inconsistencies in the tax residency form: Germany sends non-residents' account details to their countries.
What we do
Murblz specialists choose a bank for your status, help with address registration when you move, prepare documents and the source-of-funds explanation, and support the opening until the decision. We quote the cost after a short consultation; the decision always rests with the bank.
This topic in other countries
- Personal account in Georgia
- Personal account in Turkey
- Personal account in Armenia
- Personal account in Serbia
- Personal account in Uzbekistan
- Personal account in Cyprus
- Personal account in Switzerland
- Personal account in Singapore
- Personal account in Hong Kong
- Personal account in Kyrgyzstan
- Personal account in the USA
- Personal account in Spain
- Personal account in Portugal
- Personal account in Thailand
- Personal account in Argentina
- Personal account in Paraguay
- Personal account in Uruguay
For this country: moving to Germany, freelancer visa in Germany, German citizenship.
All countries and bank requirements for Russians are in our overview of opening a bank account abroad in 2026.
What we do
- Personal account - opening assistance
See also
Company formation · Business account · Investment property · All country programs
FAQ
Can I open an account in Germany without address registration?
Must a German bank open an account?
Can I open a German account remotely by video?
What is the tax on interest in Germany?
Does Germany share account data with other countries?
Can a Russian citizen keep more than 100,000 euros in a German bank?
Will Russia credit German tax on interest?
Do you need to notify the Russian tax service of an account in Germany?
Need a personal account with a German bank?
We explain which German bank will open an account before and after address registration, prepare the documents and follow the identity check. Every country is in the searchable catalogue.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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