Despite zero and negative interest rates: These six banks still offer bonuses or starting credit and attract new customers with free accounts.
A current account is the linchpin of all monetary transactions for people and companies, it serves as the basis for incoming and outgoing money. However, free checking accounts are becoming increasingly rare. Nevertheless, there are banks that offer this service and also lure new customers with bonuses and credit.
CHIP gives an overview of attractive bonuses in January 2022 for new customers when opening a free current account.
1822 direct current account: 75 euros new customer bonus
The 1822direkt-Bank is a subsidiary of the Frankfurter Sparkasse mbH. For the classic account model you receive a premium of 75 euros.
The classic account is free if you have received a monthly payment of at least 700 euros, otherwise you pay 3.90 euros per month. With your 1822direkt-Sparkassen-Card, you can withdraw cash up to six times a month free of charge at over 25,000 Sparkasse ATMs. There is also free cash in numerous supermarkets.
The 1822direkt current account offer at a glance:
- Free classic current account from 700 euros monthly incoming money (otherwise 3.90 euros per month)
- Free Visa Classic credit card in the 1st year, thereafter 29.90 annually (free of charge with an annual credit card turnover of EUR 4,000)
- 75 euros premium for a classic current account
- Condition 1: Application for the account by January 6, 2022
- Condition 2: by May 2, 2022 at least three incoming payments of more than 1000 euros per month (e.g. wages, pension, salary, BAföG or similar income)
- Condition 3: The money must remain in the account for at least three days before it can be moved again
- The bonus will be paid out between June 6 and 10, 2022
- 50 euros bonus for your recommendation
- Condition: The person referred opens an account with 1822direkt
Good to know: If you pay for goods or services in EEA foreign currency or third country currency with the credit card, 1.75% of the turnover will be deducted as a fee. If you take the giro card, 1.75% of the turnover, at least 1.50 euros, will be due. If you withdraw money with the 1822direkt giro card, you have 6 withdrawals per month free of charge in Germany (afterwards 2 euros per transaction), you do not pay any fee in the euro area, abroad with foreign currency 1% of the turnover, at least 6 euros. With the Visa card, you pay 2% of sales in Germany, at least 5.11 euros, no fee in the euro area, and 1.75% of sales in EEA and foreign currencies. If you withdraw with your credit card at the counter, it always costs 3% of the turnover, at least 5.11 euros and an additional 1.75% for foreign currency.
Now to the offer from 1822 directly
Degussa Bank GiroDigital PLUS: 75 euros welcome bonus
A free current account is also available at Degussa Bank. The account management at Giro-Digital PLUS is permanently free as long as there is a monthly incoming payment of 750 euros or the owner is under 27 years old.
To make it easy to switch, Degussa Bank offers a free online service that makes it easier for you to switch accounts and informs your payment partners about the account transfer. A partner program with over 500 affiliated shops offers you extensive discounts and monetary benefits. The branch bank operates 191 bank shops, mainly in industrial, business and technology parks as well as at company locations. You can also conduct your banking transactions by phone, internet banking or smartphone app.
The Degussa Bank GiroDigital PLUS offer at a glance:
- Free current account from 750 euros monthly payment (otherwise 5 euros per month)
- Free Girocard
- 75 euro welcome bonus
- Bonus condition 1: At least three incoming wages or other income (BAföG, pension, ALG or similar) over 750 euros in the first three months
- Bonus condition 2: In the first three months, five or more transactions each amounting to 25 euros or more (such as direct debits from the electricity supplier, internet provider or landlord. Own transfers and cash payments are not included)
Good to know: Outside of Germany, withdrawals from ATMs at third-party banks cost hefty fees: in euros with the Girocard 1%, at least 3.95 euros, maximum 5 euros, in foreign currency 1% of the withdrawal amount is added, at least 0.77 euros, max. 3, 83 euros; with the credit card 2%, at least 5 euros, in foreign currency plus 1.5% fee.
Now to the offer from Degussa Bank
Norisbank free current account: 50 euros new customer bonus
The bonus of 50 euros is yours if you, as a new customer, move at least 5 payment partners to the new current account using the Norisbank online account switching service. The account management of the top current account is free of charge, provided you are not older than 21 years or have a monthly incoming payment of at least 500 euros. Otherwise the account costs 3.90 euros for the month concerned. You can withdraw cash free of charge across Germany at over 22,000 participating markets (e.g. Netto, Aldi Süd, Rewe, Lidl, Penny), at over 1,300 Shell petrol stations or at over 9,000 ATMs from the Cash Group, e.g. at machines from HypoVereinsbank, Norisbank, Postbank , Commerzbank or Deutsche Bank. The latter also accepts cash for deposit at their machines.
The Norisbank offer for the free current account at a glance:
- Free current account from 500 euros monthly receipt of money (otherwise 3.90 euros per month)
- Free debit card
- 50 euro new customer bonus, valid until March 31, 2022
- Bonus condition 1: opening a top current account by March 31, 2022
- Bonus condition 2: move at least five payment partners using the free account switching service
- Free Mastercard credit card
Good to know: Within the EU, payments and withdrawals in euros should be made with the Maestro card, as these are free of charge, payments and withdrawals in other currencies should be made free of charge with the credit card. The best way to make cash withdrawals at the counter is with the Maestro card; this is free of charge within Germany, a fee of 1%, at least 6 euros, is charged with a credit card, it is 3%, at least 6 euros.
Now to the Norisbank offer
PSD Bank Nürnberg: 50 euros starting credit
If you, as a new customer, use the current account for active payment transactions, you will receive EUR 50 starting credit from the cooperative direct bank. Alternatively, you can donate 85 euros to a regional project.
In addition to the free Girocard, a Mastercard credit card is also included, for which you permanently pay nothing. Great: If you have to take advantage of the overdraft facility, it will cost you a relatively low 4.99% pa.
The free current account offer of the PSD Bank at a glance:
- Free checking account
- Free Girocard
- 50 euros starting credit or 85 euros donate to a regional project
- Credit condition: Active use as a wage and salary account
- Payment of the bonus after the second salary has been received
- Permanently free Mastercard credit card
Good to know: 13 free cash withdrawals with the Girocard are included per quarter in the BankCard service network (Volks- and Raiffeisenbanken, cooperative banks), after that it costs 1.02 euros per transaction. Abroad, 1% of sales, at least 5 euros, are charged for withdrawals at ATMs. With the credit card, you have to pay a fee of 1 euro per withdrawal in euros from your own and other banks within the EEA countries, in foreign currency 1 euro plus 1% of the turnover, in the case of EEA foreign currency (e.g. kroner, zloty, lev, franc) 0.3% currency conversion fee on top. If you pay for goods or services abroad with the Girocard, you will be charged 1% of the turnover, at least 0.77 euros, maximum 3.83 euros, for EEA foreign currencies plus 0.3% fee for currency conversion. If you pay abroad with the PSD-Mastercard, a 1% fee of the turnover will be due plus a 0.3% currency conversion fee.
Now to the offer of the PSD Bank
Open a Commerzbank account online: new customer credit of 50 euros
The Commerzbank account costs 9.90 euros – but only if there are no regular payment transactions. The account is free of charge for monthly incoming payments of EUR 700 or more.
You can withdraw cash at over 9,000 Cash Group machines with your free Girocard, and cash deposits at Commerzbank machines. You can conveniently manage your account while you are out and about using online and mobile banking. There are 800 Commerzbank branches available throughout Germany, to which you can address questions or requests.
The Commerzbank offer with a free current account at a glance:
- Free current account from 700 euros monthly payment (otherwise 9.90 euros per month)
- Free debit card
- 50 euro new customer bonus
- Condition: at least five or more transactions of 25 euros or more for a period of three months
- 100 euros bonus for your recommendation
- Condition: The person referred opens an account with Commerzbank
Good to know: Cash deposits and withdrawals at the counter cost EUR 1.50 per transaction. With the Girocard, you can withdraw money from ATMs in Germany at your own bank and within the cash group free of charge, at other banks and abroad it costs 1% turnover, with a fee of at least EUR 5.98. If you pay for goods and services in a foreign currency with the Girocard, 1% of the turnover, a minimum fee of 1.50 euros in EU countries with a foreign currency and at least 2.50 euros in non-EU countries are due. In addition, there is a currency conversion fee of 0.59% for EEA currencies.
Now to the Commerzbank offer
Consorsbank free current account: 50 euros new customer bonus
The last account in the top list is at Consorsbank. The bank will give you a bonus of 50 euros as soon as you enter 700 euros or more as incoming money from a third-party bank within the first six months of opening an account.
The Consorsbank proceeds in a similar way to other banks: As soon as the account has monthly incoming payments of 700 euros or more or you are younger than 28 years, the account is free of charge, otherwise you pay 48 euros per year or 4 euros per month. You can withdraw cash from 50 euros free of charge with the Visa debit card provided free of charge at over 58,000 Visa ATMs in Germany and Europe. Withdrawals below 50 euros incur a fee of 1.95 euros, with withdrawals in a foreign currency there is a fee of 2.10% on the amount paid out. If you also want to own a Girocard, you have to shell out 1 euro per month.
The Consorsbank offer with a free current account at a glance:
- Free current account from 700 euros monthly payment (otherwise 4 euros per month)
- Free Visa Debit Card
- Girocard can be optionally booked for 1 euro per month
- 50 euro new customer bonus
- Condition: Within the first six months after opening, a third-party bank receives at least EUR 700 in the account every three months
Good to know: If you pay with the Visa debit card in a foreign currency, 2.1% of the turnover is due. ATM operator fees may also apply. The use of Visa cards in betting offices, casinos and lottery companies costs 2.5% of the amount, but at least 5 euros plus any fees for foreign currency. The overdraft rate is 7.98% per annum.
Now to the offer of the Consorsbank
If none of the offers appeals to you, you will find other checking accounts in comparison on FOCUS Online.