If you’re arriving in Germany from outside Europe, you’re probably used to being able to whip out your credit card at a moment’s notice.
However, over 80% of all transactions in Germany are made in cash. Foreign debit or credit cards (and even locally-issued credit cards!) are usually not accepted at supermarkets, drugstores, train ticket machines, restaurants and bars, government payment machines… hey, even some large furniture stores baulk at the sight of a Visa.
We’ve been receiving lots of requests lately for help opening a bank account in Germany. Opening a bank account is one of the first things to do when getting established.
You might ask why you need to go to the hassle of opening yet another account when you probably have at least one working account in your home country. If you are drawing a monthly salary, billing local clients, paying rent or utility bills (these are usually paid by direct debit or Lastschrift from an Inland or local account only) or just want to withdraw money without being hit by transaction fees every single time, a local account is a good idea.
