Opening Bank Accounts Online in Germany, Handelsblatt Reports

Opening a bank account in Germany at many banks works without a printed application, envelope, or postal counter, according to a report published by Handelsblatt. While digital onboarding has become standard practice across direct institutions, the specific verification methods and promotional incentives vary sharply by provider.

The Bottom Line

• Digital banking adoption among Germans aged 16 and older reached 84% in 2026, marking a substantial increase from 53% in 2014, as reported by the digital association Bitkom.
• Account registration now relies primarily on three methods: the online national identity card function (eID), video chat verification, or traditional in-person post office checks.
• Institutions like comdirect (a brand of Commerzbank AG) are offering cash incentives up to 250 euros to capture new deposit accounts under strict transaction and marketing consent requirements.

The Shift Toward Paperless Banking Infrastructure

For the vast majority of consumers, traveling to a traditional branch office to establish a checking account is increasingly obsolete. Data from the digital association Bitkom confirms that 84 percent of the German population aged 16 and over actively used online banking in 2026. That figure illustrates a continuous upward trajectory from 53 percent recorded twelve years prior in 2014.

Traditional financial institutions and online-only operators have systematically dismantled legacy paperwork requirements to capture digitally active consumers.

Banks Use Three Pathways to Verify Identity

Under German anti-money laundering legislation, banks must unambiguously verify every new account holder using an official identity document. To satisfy this legal mandate without requiring physical branch visits, institutions deploy three established verification pathways.

The most frictionless method utilizes the online identity function (eID) paired with an NFC-enabled smartphone. Chip data from the national identity card transfers contactlessly to the banking application, authenticated by the user’s six-digit personal identification number. Alternatively, applicants can complete a video chat with a trained examiner or utilize the legacy combination of an online form followed by an in-person check at a post office branch.

Identification Method	Required Equipment	Execution Location
E-Ident (eID)	Identity card with active online function, six-digit PIN, NFC smartphone, banking app	Anywhere remotely
Videoident	Valid identity document, smartphone with camera, stable internet connection	Anywhere remotely
Postident	Valid passport or identity card, physical or digital identification coupon	Postal branch office

Technical prerequisites vary particularly regarding the national identity card. Identity cards issued from July 2017 onward feature the online functionality enabled by default from the manufacturer. For older documentation, local municipal citizens’ offices activate the chip upon request.

Varying Digital Capabilities Across Banking Sectors

The availability of streamlined, paperless onboarding depends heavily on the institutional category. Digital-first competitors such as comdirect, ING, and DKB operate without proprietary physical branch networks, routing all registration processes exclusively through web platforms and dedicated mobile applications. Large traditional retail banks maintain online application portals as a secondary alternative to their branch infrastructure.

Meanwhile, regional savings banks and cooperative institutions—including 344 Sparkassen and 647 cooperative credit institutions counted by the Deutsche Bundesbank toward the end of 2025—maintain decentralized operational structures. Each individual institute determines its own digital onboarding capabilities autonomously.

Comdirect Offers Cash Bonuses for New Accounts

To attract digital depositors, financial institutions frequently bundle account openings with cash bonuses. For instance, comdirect structured a 250-euro promotional campaign targeting new clients who complete account registration by November 23, 2026. Securing this incentive requires applicants to grant marketing consent to Commerzbank AG, execute at least five qualifying transactions of 25 euros or more within the first three months, and maintain the account for a minimum duration of twelve months.

Following successful identification and account activation, statutory account-switching regulations require banks to assist clients in transferring existing standing orders, direct debits, and recurring credits.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.