Many small business owners feel lost when they try to find a bank for SEPA transfers and international payments. Germany has over 1,800 banks, split into private, public and cooperative groups.
This post shows the top seven banks for business checking accounts, mobile banking apps, invoicing tools and low foreign currency fees. Read on to find your bank.
Key Takeaways
- Seven top banks in Germany for business accounts include Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse, N26 Business, Wise Business, Qonto, and Kontist.
- They all support SEPA transfers across 36 EU countries in seconds or minutes and SWIFT payments to over 190 countries in one to four days.
- Each bank issues a German IBAN, shows real-time exchange rates, and applies clear, low foreign-currency fees before you confirm a transfer.
- Mobile apps and online portals give you invoicing tools, expense tracking, multi-currency wallets, and links to popular accounting software.
- Businesses enjoy deposit protection up to €100,000, wide ATM access via Cash Group, and expat-friendly support in English and German.
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank lets you move euros with SEPA transfers in minutes via its mobile banking app. It issues a debit card with low cash machine fees and clear direct-debit tools for small firms.
Key Features for Businesses
Firms get robust corporate and investment banking services at Deutsche Bank. The mobile banking apps pack core banking system tools that display account balances, recent payouts, and pending SEPA transfers.
Business clients can order payment cards, like visa debit cards, and credit cards with low ATM fees for cash machine use.
Wealth managers offer advice on business loans, direct debits, and foreign currency fees. Clients handle invoicing tools and expense tracking in online banking. They meet advisors in office or via messaging apps for complex decisions.
International Transfer Options
Deutsche Bank sends SEPA transfers in one business day across 36 EU states. You pay low transaction fees and avoid paper forms. A German IBAN locks in account accuracy. The mobile banking app shows live euro rates.
It feels like shooting a text out to a friend.
SWIFT handles moves to 190 countries. Transfers land in one to four working days. You can track them with a Swift code. They apply currency exchange rates at send time. Fees scale by destination and amount.
You view these costs in the online banking portal before you hit send.
Commerzbank
Commerzbank gives firms fast euro wire service and an online portal that guides your cash like a road map. Its smartphone portal handles card payments, IBAN scans, and cost tracking with a tap, freeing you from stacks of receipts.
Business Banking Solutions
Clients pay a maintenance fee starting at €12.90 per month. The digital portal features online banking and mobile banking apps. It handles SEPA transfers, SWIFT payments, German IBANs, and cash group ATMs.
Customer service teams answer calls in English and German. Expat-friendly banks and sole proprietors find this plan clear and useful.
Merchants tap various corporate banking services. They track expenses, link invoicing tools, and file receipts in one place. The platform processes card payments, cash deposits, and cheque handling.
It extends low-interest loans, factoring, and export financing. Freelancers open a blocked account and sync with accounting software.
International Payment Services
This bank sends SEPA transfers across Europe in seconds. It supports SWIFT in more than 200 countries. Customers enjoy a german IBAN for euro clearing and instant inward sepa payments.
Users log in to online banking or a mobile banking app. They track each wire transfer, rate, and foreign currency fee. The system shows pricing upfront, with no hidden exchange margins.
Sparkasse
Sparkasse spreads its ATM network wide, so you avoid extra fees at cash group machines. You get SEPA transfers, giro accounts, and a smooth mobile banking app to track expenses.
Support for Small and Medium Enterprises
This public bank network counts over 400 savings banks, run by municipalities. State regulation keeps each branch safe. They lend funds at low interest and offer invoice templates, expense tracking, and SEPA transfers with a German IBAN.
Business owners tap mobile banking apps, make cash deposits, and use Cash Group ATMs for quick withdrawals.
They join a deposit guarantee scheme that covers up to 100,000 euros per account. Sole proprietors, freelancers, and small exporters can open giro accounts in minutes. The network links to saas platforms and accounting tools, so firms track invoices and pay in foreign currencies.
Currency conversions come with fair rates and limited foreign currency fees.
Global Transfer Capabilities
Sparkasse opens global payment lanes with SEPA transfers across 36 European countries, and SWIFT channels for distant markets. It lets small firms send funds in dollars, pounds, or yen with clear, flat foreign currency fees.
German IBAN use and real-time tracking keep cash flows smooth. The bank covers accounts under an Institutional Protection Scheme that holds 13 guarantee funds, so customers feel secure.
N26 Business
N26 Business runs on a sleek banking app with a German IBAN. It lets you send SEPA transfers, track expenses, and use a credit card abroad at low cost.
Digital Banking for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs get an online bank account in minutes. They open an account with a German IBAN. Digital banking cuts waiting time for cash deposits and withdrawals. It runs on mobile banking apps that work worldwide.
The bank uses mobile-first designs and no branches. Users get SEPA transfers at low fees.
Anyone can track expenses and send invoices with in-app tools. Multilingual support solves language walls for expat-friendly banks. Foreign transactions cost a small fee and clear exchange rates.
They save time by using analytics and API connections.
Affordable International Transfers
N26 Business offers no monthly fees for its standard account. You get free ATM withdrawals at all Cash Group machines. It uses a German IBAN for SEPA transfers. You link a credit card in the mobile banking app.
The digital platform shows your balance live, and it sends alerts when you hit limits.
N26 taps the SWIFT network to send affordable cross-border payments on the same day. You see live exchange rates to dodge hidden foreign currency fees. The online interface works like a fee comparison tool.
You pay only low markups on currency trades. It feels like carrying a borderless wallet.
Wise Business
Wise Business cuts foreign currency fees like a pro chef slicing bread, and it shows the interbank rate on transfers to major currencies. You manage funds on a clean multi-currency dashboard, and its integration feature links to your billing tool in seconds.
Competitive Exchange Rates
Wise Business taps the mid market rate. It cuts big markups on dollars and euros. You view the fee on your screen before you pay. This clear tool links to bank transfers, online banking, and SEPA transfers.
It lets you hold many currencies in one multi currency account. You enjoy low-cost multi-currency management with no hidden foreign currency fees. The Visa debit card covers cash withdrawals at cash group ATMs in Germany.
You withdraw up to €200 per month for free.
User-Friendly Online Platform
Open the app and access the dashboard. Icons guide you to send money, check balances, or pay invoices. Digital banking feels fun, not stiff. Invoicing tools live beside expense tracking in one tab.
Mobile banking apps for Android and iOS work the same way. It beats many online banks with clear, bright menus.
The platform gives you a Belgian IBAN, no German IBAN needed. Account setup costs zero euros. Foreign currency fees stay low on every transfer. You can send SEPA transfers or SWIFT wires with a tap.
Customer service teams chat in seconds or answer calls in minutes. Teams can share access, set limits, and track budgets.
Qonto
Qonto gives you a German IBAN and lets you send SEPA transfers in seconds. Its dashboard links to your invoicing and accounting tools, and it works with all major payment cards for fast expense tracking.
Tailored for Startups and SMEs
This service shapes plans around lean teams and fast growth. It links your German IBAN, a Mastercard, and a girocard. Mobile banking apps sync with your billing tool and spend tracker, so you snap receipts and tag business expenses.
You will see clear alerts for foreign currency fees and cash withdrawal fees.
Four price tiers fit solo founders up through growing SMEs. Plans start at low monthly fees and rise with more options. You can switch your tier in seconds. Flexible pricing guards your budget.
Multi-Currency Transfer Features
Qonto offers multi-currency accounts. Companies hold euros, dollars, pounds in one dashboard, like shells in a basket. They run SEPA transfers free inside EU, using your German IBAN number.
A live rate feed cuts sneaky foreign currency fees. You see the mid-market rate before you hit send. Shared credit or debit card lets you buy in any zone, with clear fee alerts.
Swift payments work too, with low fees on hard currencies, like the dollar or pound. The mobile banking app links to popular invoicing tools and live expense tracking. You pick a currency, enter the IBAN, then confirm.
The app logs each move, so your accountant smiles. A startup or sole proprietorship glides through global trade, as smooth as a sailboat.
Kontist
Kontist plugs into your billing software and spending tracker, so you see every cent in one neat place. Its Germany account code and chip card cut out fee headaches, letting you focus on growth.
Specialized Services for Freelancers
Small business owners get custom banking features. Team invoicing sits inside the account with intuitive invoicing tools. Tags and spend reports help with precise expense tracking.
Mobile banking apps show income and costs in one dashboard, so freelancers spot cash flow gaps fast.
Affordable plans include a German IBAN, proof of identity checks and low monthly fees. It comes with free cash withdrawals at Cash Group ATMs and full online banking access. Expat-friendly support replies by email and handles insurance claims too.
Syncs with tax software, payment platforms like PayPal and credit history apps.
Integration with Accounting Tools
Kontist connects business accounts to QuickBooks and Xero. It syncs payments, receipts, and expense tracking data in real time. The tool combines banking and accounting features to support seamless financial management.
You view your German IBAN balance instantly in mobile banking apps. Avoid manual entry and cut foreign currency fees on cross-border transfers.
Owners track invoices and bills inside one platform. They link VISA cards or debit Mastercards to invoicing tools. Each SEPA transfer drops into expense tracking logs at once. Strong customer service helps via online chat or phone.
Sync times stay under 60 seconds on average.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bank in Germany
Choose a bank that fits your business needs. Check deposit insurance, credit checks, and SEPA or SWIFT transfer options.
- Look at deposit insurance limits, such as the €100,000 coverage per client under German law.
- Check if the bank requires a business account for GmbH, UG, or AG setups to comply with legal rules.
- Examine SCHUFA credit checks, as a low score can block loan approvals or account openings.
- Compare transfer networks, including SEPA for EU transfers and SWIFT for global wire transfers.
- Study fee structures, from foreign currency fees to cash withdrawal fees at cash group ATMs.
- Review online banking and mobile payment apps for smooth invoicing and expense tracking.
- Evaluate ATM access, cash deposits, and withdrawals across state-owned banks and postbank’s ATM network.
- Assess customer service, including expat-friendly support and English options at big names like Deutsche Bank.
- Choose banks with accounting integrations such as KfW bank links, invoicing tools, and expense logs.
Takeaways
This list highlights banks that suit business goals. Each bank offers solid SEPA transfers and SWIFT services. Some give free German IBANs and strong mobile banking applications. Others include billing modules and expense management features.
Pick the bank that fits your cash flow and global ambitions.
FAQs on Banks in Germany for Business and International Transfers
1. Why pick DB Bank for SEPA transfers and expat accounts?
DB Bank charges low foreign currency fees, and it handles SEPA transfers in one day. Its mobile banking apps simplify identification, and you get your german iban fast. Their customer service guides expats well.
2. Where can I make easy cash deposits and withdrawals?
People’s Banks and other public banks offer many cash group ATMs. It’s like having an ATM in every town. They let you use girocards with no cash withdrawal fees at partner machines. You can drop cheques or make cash deposits in branches.
3. Which bank gives good invoicing and tracking for sole proprietors?
Postbank’s digital banking has built-in invoicing tools and simple expense tracking. It also supports mobile payments with a girocard. No more chasing receipts.
4. How do I open a blocked account for visa or rent?
Hesse-Thuringia State Bank and HCB offer blocked accounts. You just show ID, sign forms, and fund 10,332 euros. Berlin Savings may ask for more steps, but they help. Compare fees and pick the best fit.
5. Which banks give the best interest rates?
HSH and North Germany State Bank set solid interest rates on savings accounts. They also offer current accounts with perks. Some even pay cashbacks on your balance. Rates change, so shop around.
Look for banks that spell out foreign currency fees. DB Bank and Hesse-Thuringia State Bank do it in online banking. The mobile banking apps show every euro you pay. It saves you from losing your shirt on costs.
