Open A Bank Account Without Schufa in Germany [Girokonto Ohne Schufa]

Key Takeaways

• Opening a bank account without a Schufa Score in Germany is tough, but it’s not impossible.
• Schufa Score helps banks assess your creditworthiness. A bad or no Schufa Score usually results in the rejection of your application to open a bank account.

This is how you do it

• If a bank rejects your account opening application, you should request a copy of your Schufa data and review it for errors.
• You can open a Basic Account (Basiskonto). Every resident in Germany and an EU national can open a Basic Account, regardless of their Schufa score (Zahlungskontengesetz, ZKG).
• Look for alternative banks that offer bank accounts without Schufa or with less strict criteria.
• Consider bank accounts that don’t offer credit cards or overdraft facilities.

Table of Contents

What is a Schufa rating?

Schufa is an agency that gathers customer data from various insurance and financial companies. It assigns a Schufa score or rating to each customer based on data such as their personal and financial information, which includes

• loans
• leases
• bank accounts 
• credit cards
• installment transactions

Banks and financial institutions use these scores to understand customers’ creditworthiness better. 

How can you improve your Schufa score in Germany ->

Why is a good Schufa rating important when opening a bank account in Germany?

Here are the reasons why German banks check your Schufa score before opening an account.

• Banks don’t know anything about you. Schufa ratings give banks insight into your financial history.
• Schufa is an independent body, and banks can trust the authenticity of their data.
• Many banks offer overdraft facilities or free credit cards to their customers. It’s vital for banks that the customer can repay the credit. The Schufa Score helps banks assess this requirement.

Besides opening a bank account, a good Schufa score also increases your chances of being approved for

• Loan (Car loan, personal loan, etc.)
• Credit cards
• Online shopping (installment payment)
• Phone (installment payment)
• Getting a rental property. Landlords ask potential tenants for their Schufa score to assess their financial standing. Landlords want to ensure that the tenant can pay the rent.

However, there could be cases where you don’t even have a Schufa Score. For example, you are new to Germany and want to open your first bank account.

What can you do in such situations? Let’s check.

How do you open a bank account with a bad Schufa rating

Banks often reject applications to open a bank account from customers with

• a bad Schufa rating or
• those who don’t have a Schufa Score. 

However, you still have three ways to open a bank account without a Schufa rating.

Open a bank account with a bank that doesn’t require a Schufa Score

Some banks don’t check your Schufa Score when opening an account. This is common to

• Banks that are new to the market: These banks want to attract new customers. Thus, have more lenient acceptance criteria. 
• Banks outside of Germany: These are banks outside Germany but within the European Union. They don’t have a German IBAN.
• Fintechs or online banks: These banks don’t have a physical branch. They are ideal for individuals who prefer cashless transactions or banking via smartphone.

Here are the banks that don’t require a Schufa score to open a bank account.

• Bunq
• Monese
• Revolut
• Tomorrow
• Wise
• Vimpay
• Vivid Money
• Western Union
• Norisbank

The following digital banks require a Schufa score to open a bank account in Germany.

• C24*
• N26*
• Openbank
• ING
• DKB

NOTE: Bank policies change over time. Make sure to verify the latest information with your preferred bank before proceeding with any applications.

Best bank accounts for expats in Germany ->

Choose a bank account that does not offer a credit card

Banks that offer credit cards and overdraft facilities typically have stricter Schufa assessments. The reason is that these services allow you to borrow money.

If you are rejected by banks that offer credit cards, you may consider alternatives such as

• Banks that issue only debit cards
• Banks that issue only prepaid cards
• Banks that don’t grant overdraft facilities

With debit and prepaid cards, you can only spend the money that is in your bank account. As a result, Schufa assessments tend to be less strict than those that offer credit cards.

For example, Revolut doesn’t offer credit cards or an overdraft facility. Thus, opening an account with Revolut is easier than with C24 or N26.

Complete review of Revolut ->

Complete review of C24 ->

Complete review of N26 ->

Open a basic account (Basiskonto)

A basic account (“Basiskonto”) is a checking account with limited features. Everyone who is a legal resident in the European Union (including expats and refugees) and doesn’t have a bank account can open a Basic Account in Germany.

Banks in Germany cannot reject an application to open a basic account. A bank can only reject the Basic Account application in certain cases, such as

• You already have a working payment account in another German bank
• You previously had a basic account with the same bank, but the bank terminated it due to failure to pay the fees or breach of the terms.
• You used a basic account for criminal activity (e.g., money laundering)
• It will be against the bank’s due diligence to grant you an account

If the bank rejects your application, it must provide the reason in writing. 

Your Schufa Score plays no role in opening a Basic Account in Germany.

What are the steps to open a bank account without a Schufa check

1. Compare different banks to find one that best suits your needs.
2. Submit your application on your chosen bank’s website. For basic accounts, you must download and submit a specific form provided on the bank’s site.
3. Verify your identity. Some banks utilize PostIdent, VideoIdent, E-Ident, or verification by uploading a photo of your ID.
4. Wait for the bank to approve your application. It can take a few days before you receive your login details and can start using your account.

What can you do if a bank rejects your application to open a bank account in Germany?

Suppose a bank rejects your application to open a bank account. However, you believe that you have a good financial record. 

In this case, you should request a free copy of your Schufa data and review it for potential errors. Wrong information can negatively affect your score.

You should check

• Is your information accurate?
• Are details, like dates and totals, recorded correctly?
• Are the records up to date?

If you identify any errors, submit a written request to Schufa to have them corrected or deleted. You have the right to have Schufa’s records fixed, and Schufa must do it free of charge.

How to correct errors in your Schufa entry in Germany ->

How much does a checking account cost despite a bad Schufa rating?

Bank account fees are the same for all customers, irrespective of their Schufa Score. Some banks offer free checking accounts, and others charge monthly fees.

When opening a bank account in Germany, you must check the following bank fees.

• Account management fee
• ATM withdrawal costs
• Cash deposit fee
• Credit card fee (if applicable)

We find C24 Bank’s* free checking account to be the best in Germany. However, it offers services only in German. If English service is important for you, N26* and Revolut are other options.

Likewise, basic bank accounts also offer free and paid options. Paid accounts usually cost an average of 100 € per year (as of April 2025). Aside from that, some providers also charge for certain services (e.g., cash withdrawals).

FAQ

References

• https://www.finanztip.de/girokonto/girokonto-ohne-schufa/
• https://www.bafin.de/DE/Verbraucher/Bank/Produkte/Basiskonto/basiskonto_artikel.html;jsessionid=18AF9E829B4A95E36DF4BEA18CB62657.internet001?nn=19642674#doc19642676bodyText1
• https://www.check24.de/girokonto/ohne-schufa/