Best Banks in Germany

Deutsche Bank is one of Germany’s largest banks, offering a wide range of services including retail, corporate, and wealth management. Known for its robust global network and multilingual support, it carries monthly fees unless you meet deposit or usage criteria. Interest on standard savings remains modest.

Commerzbank is a major retail and corporate bank offering fee-free checking if you meet minimum deposit or activity requirements. The digital platform is solid, though savings yields and transfer pricing are average.

KfW is Germany’s government development bank—offering subsidized loans for housing renovation, student financing, and green tech. It doesn’t provide consumer checking accounts directly.

DZ Bank supports Germany’s network of cooperative banks (e.g., Volksbanken) and provides wholesale and corporate financing. Retail customers connect to it through their local cooperative bank.

HypoVereinsbank is part of the Italian UniCredit group, offering a solid European account option with competitive savings and decent digital tools—monthly fees can be avoided with payroll setup.

Landesbank Baden‑Württemberg (LBBW) emphasizes corporate and regional banking solutions. Retail clients receive solid service, though rates and fees depend largely on local branches.

BayernLB provides specialized banking services to corporations and government entities in Bavaria—standard consumer accounts are not their focus.

NordLB operates mainly in northern Germany, serving agribusiness, shipping, and the public sector. Retail customers typically access banking via partner institutions.

Helaba is a central public bank for Hesse and Thuringia, operating in corporate and municipal finance. It does not provide retail banking services.

ING-DiBa is one of Germany’s leading direct banks, known for competitive savings rates and a fully digital experience—ideal for tech-savvy users who don’t require branch access.