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Eleven no-fee credit cards currently lure new customers with sign-up bonuses of up to 200 euros, even as German banks raise account fees — a spread that ranges from Amazon’s 15-euro starter credit to Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold’s 60-euro payout, and CHIP reported the offers are aimed at consumers who want a card without an attached checking account.
While the headline promises up to 250 euros, the actual top bonus in the comparison is 60 euros. The reason this matters now is that free credit cards have become the last customer-acquisition tool left in German retail banking, where Girokonto fees are climbing and lenders are paying cash up front for users they hope to keep for years.
The Bottom Line
- The largest single bonus available is 60 euros (Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold and easybank Visa), not the 250 euros the headline implies — the 250 figure appears to bundle multiple offers.
- Most cards in the comparison are permanently free of annual fees, but several attach conditions: minimum spends of 100 euros within four weeks, or three qualifying transactions of 5 euros each within six weeks.
- Carrying a balance is where these “free” cards get expensive: effective annual rates reach 18.25 percent (Amazon Visa) and 24.40 percent (Bank Norwegian).
How 60 Euros Became the Real Ceiling on Sign-Up Bonuses
CHIP’s comparison lists eleven no-fee cards, and the bonuses stack in a clear hierarchy. Amazon Visa and Bank Norwegian each offer 15 euros; American Express Blue offers 25 euros; DKB offers 30 euros; BBBank offers 50 euros; and Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold and easybank Visa each offer 60 euros. The 250-euro figure in the headline is not attached to any single card — it is the theoretical sum a consumer could collect across several accounts, which no single offer delivers.
But the balance sheet tells a different story about what these bonuses cost the banks. The Amazon Visa charges 3.9 percent (minimum 1.50 euros) for cash withdrawals and 1.5 percent for foreign use. The Amex Blue charges at least 5 euros plus 4 percent at ATMs and 2 percent outside the euro zone. Bank Norwegian waives ATM and foreign-exchange fees entirely — but only until the statement is late, at which point the effective annual rate jumps to 24.40 percent.
What the Fee Structure Means for Frequent Travelers and Online Shoppers
For shoppers, the Amazon Visa returns 1 point per euro spent on amazon.de (2 points for Prime members during special promotions), with 1 point worth 1 cent — meaning 500 euros of monthly Amazon spending yields 5 euros back, or 10 for Prime members on promotion. For travelers, the Bank Norwegian Visa, easybank Visa, and Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold all offer free worldwide ATM withdrawals and no foreign-currency fees, which is where the real value sits for anyone spending time abroad.
Bank Norwegian also offers up to 44 days of interest-free credit, and easybank extends the payment window to as long as 56 days at 0.0 percent interest — but both require the customer to pay manually by bank transfer, since direct debit is not automatic.
Comparing the Eleven Offers Side by Side
| Card | Sign-up bonus | Annual fee | Effective APR if balance carried | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Visa | 15 EUR | None | 18.25% | First purchase on card |
| Bank Norwegian Visa | 15 EUR | None | 24.40% | First transaction within 45 days |
| Amex Blue Card | 25 EUR | None | n/a (revolving) | 1,200 EUR spend in 6 months |
| BBBank Visa DirectCard | 50 EUR | None under 30 | n/a | No BBBank account in prior 24 months |
| Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold | 60 EUR | 4.90 EUR/month (year 1 free) | 27.57% | 3 uses, 100 EUR total in 4 weeks |
| easybank Visa | 60 EUR | None | High (avoid installment plan) | 100 EUR spend in 4 weeks + app consent |
Why Banks Are Paying Cash for Customers in Late 2026
As CHIP notes, banks bundle free cards with perks — cashback, insurance packages, and partner programs — to attract new customers. The Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold, for example, bundles a full insurance suite (trip cancellation, travel health, baggage, and emergency coverage) under its “SicherMobil” package, while Bank Norwegian’s travel insurance activates once at least half the trip was paid with the card.
The risk for the consumer is the reverse — when a payment is missed or a balance is revolved, effective annual rates of 18.25 to 24.40 percent apply.
Several offers — the DKB 30-euro bonus and the Deutschland-Kreditkarte Gold 60-euro bonus — carry end dates of December 31, 2026, meaning the window for the best deals closes within two months of this reporting.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
