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Open a business bank account in Germany

Banking is the part of forming a German company that defeats most non-residents — and unlike many jurisdictions, it is not optional or post-incorporation. A GmbH/UG cannot be entered in the Handelsregister until its share capital has been deposited in a German business account, so the bank sits squarely on the critical path. Traditional German banks are cautious about onboarding a company that is foreign-owned, foreign-run and has no local footprint, and they often want the managing director to verify identity in person. The practical route is a fintech/EMI that opens an account for the 'GmbH i.G.' (in formation) so you can pay in the capital, then upgrade it once the company is registered — but even fintechs apply extra scrutiny when the shareholders live abroad.

Germany overview How we research
Country
Germany
Topic
Open a bank account
Reviewed
June 2026

By the Lanzamo Editorial Team · Reviewed June 2026 · How we research

Difficulty for non-residents: Hard for non-residents

Traditional banks

Deutsche Bank

Germany's largest bank; opens GmbH business and i.G. capital accounts, but onboarding a fully foreign-owned, foreign-run company usually expects in-person identity verification and a credible German nexus — slow and often declined for a pure non-resident.

Commerzbank

Major SME bank that handles GmbH accounts including capital deposit; in practice leans on a German-resident contact, a branch appointment and documentary proof of the business, which is hard to satisfy entirely from abroad.

Sparkasse / Volksbank (local)

Regional savings/cooperative banks are widely used by German SMEs and can open i.G. accounts, but each branch decides locally and most are wary of a non-resident-only ownership structure without a local relationship.

Fintech & EMI options (built for remote)

Finom

Licensed EU electronic-money institution offering a German IBAN; opens a founder account for the 'GmbH i.G.' so you can deposit capital while regulatory checks finish. Accepts foreign founders (no FATCA hurdle), but non-resident shareholders trigger enhanced due diligence and a longer review.

Qonto

Popular French-headquartered EMI with German IBANs that opens i.G. accounts for GmbH/UG capital deposit — but it has historically declined companies whose shareholders are not resident in Germany, so check eligibility for your exact ownership before relying on it.

Penta / Kontist

German-focused business-banking fintechs used for GmbH/UG day-to-day accounts and, in Penta's case, i.G. formation accounts; acceptance of non-resident-owned structures varies by profile, so treat them as a secondary option to test.

bunq

Dutch EMI offering EU/German IBANs with fully remote onboarding for businesses across the EEA; useful as an operating or backup account for a non-resident-owned company once it is registered, though confirm it supports the GmbH i.G. capital-deposit step you need.

What you'll usually need

  • Notarised deed of formation (or, for the i.G. account, the draft/notarised articles)
  • Passport / national ID of the managing director and all shareholders (often apostilled for non-residents)
  • German registered business address on file
  • Shareholder list (Gesellschafterliste) and beneficial-owner details for holdings over 25%
  • Proof of residential address for directors and shareholders
  • Description of the business, expected turnover and source of the share capital (KYC/AML)
  • Handelsregister extract — to upgrade the i.G. account to a full account after registration

Tips to get approved

  • Line up the bank in parallel with the notary, not after — the capital deposit blocks Handelsregister entry, so a slow bank stalls the whole formation.
  • Apply to a fintech that explicitly opens 'GmbH i.G.' accounts (Finom, Qonto, Penta) before approaching a traditional bank that will likely want an in-person visit.
  • Check the bank's non-resident-shareholder policy first — Qonto, for example, has declined companies whose owners are not German-resident; do not assume eligibility.
  • Have a clean, documented source-of-funds story for the EUR 12,500+ capital; vague or third-party funding is a top KYC rejection trigger.
  • If banks repeatedly stall, consider the UG route (lower nominal capital to deposit) or a local advisor/fiduciary who can support the account opening with a German contact.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open the German company bank account from abroad?

Sometimes, via a fintech/EMI such as Finom, Qonto or Penta that opens an account for the 'GmbH i.G.' remotely so you can deposit the capital. Traditional banks (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, local Sparkassen) usually expect the managing director to verify identity in person and prefer a German nexus, so they are not a reliable remote option for a pure non-resident.

Why does the bank account hold up the whole incorporation?

Because a GmbH/UG cannot be registered until its share capital is actually deposited in a German account — at least EUR 12,500 for a GmbH or the nominal amount for a UG. The notary needs the bank's confirmation of that deposit to file with the Handelsregister. So a reluctant or slow bank does not just delay banking; it delays the company coming into legal existence.

Do fintechs accept a company owned entirely by non-residents?

It varies and you must check case by case. Finom accepts foreign founders but runs enhanced due diligence (and a longer review) when shareholders are non-resident. Qonto has historically declined companies whose shareholders are not resident in Germany. So confirm each provider's current non-resident-ownership policy before counting on it for the capital deposit.

Is the UG easier to bank than the GmbH for a non-resident?

Often a little, because the capital you must deposit is much smaller — a UG can start from a low nominal figure rather than EUR 12,500 — which makes the source-of-funds check lighter and the deposit faster. The bank's caution about non-resident ownership still applies, but a smaller capital requirement removes one common sticking point.

Sources

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