Germany has a very developed economy, a complete education system, and a strong learning atmosphere. So how do you apply for a bank card when studying in Germany? Here I have compiled a complete guide for applying for a bank card when studying in Germany. I hope it will be helpful to you.
German banks generally have two types of accounts. One is the Spar account, which can only deposit and withdraw funds, but cannot transfer funds. One is a Giro account, which is a transfer account. There is no limit on the amount of deposits and withdrawals (but there is a maximum withdrawal amount every month). Many things in Germany need to be transferred. Such as rent, shopping, utility bills, etc. If you do not have a transfer account and use cash to transfer, you will have to pay an additional transfer fee of 3 euros each time. Therefore, it is almost necessary to open a transfer account so that you can transfer money for free (can cross banks and locations).
Go to the bank to open a new Giro account (opening an account is usually free). Generally, you can get an EC card (electronic cash card) for free, and you can directly swipe the card for consumption (stores with EC logo). You can withdraw money from most cash machines in Europe (those with the EC mark), or you can ask for a Master or Visa credit card (there is no difference between these two credit cards, except that you can overdraft, and if you do not repay it in time, the interest will be very high, so be careful), These credit cards have more services, so the fees are also higher, generally a fixed fee service fee of 5-20 euros per year. In fact, some Giro accounts also charge monthly service fees. Fortunately, most banks have discounts for students (including foreign students in language schools) and do not charge service fees. Be sure to ask clearly when opening a transfer account or credit card! For example, Postbank only provides services to people under the age of 26 (or with a monthly payment of more than 1,000). Euro) has a free discount. If the international student is a German college student over 26 years old, he also needs to pay a monthly service fee of 5.9 euros for the transfer account! Its VISA credit card has a service fee of 5 euros per year for those under 26 years old, otherwise it is 20 euros, and Other banks have similar conditions for this.
If you do not make a request, some banks will only provide ATM cards, which means that withdrawals can only be made at the ATMs in the bank branches, not even ordinary ATMs on the street, and the scope of use is much smaller. , please note that at least one EC card is required. So everyone should carefully inquire about any possibilities when going through the procedures.
It is understood that opening transfer accounts and credit cards at Dresden and Deutsche Bank are free for students (including language schools).
After completing the account opening procedures, the bank will directly mail you the credit card you applied for within one week, and then mail you the password within two weeks. Therefore, if you do not receive the credit card in time, you must immediately go to the bank to apply for cancellation. See Check to see if the address is wrong (if the mailbox of a German home has the name of the owner, be sure to write the name of the German owner: c/o XXX to avoid misdirection and loss). If you do not cancel in time and an accident occurs, such as the card being used fraudulently, the bank will not be responsible.
Generally speaking, if you open an account at a bank in City A, you can go directly to the bank in City B to enjoy the same services for free, such as deposits, withdrawals, billing, etc. If you move to another city, you only need to go to the bank. Just register a new contact address. German banks will send information and bills to your home in a timely manner, so you must change your mailing address in time to ensure effective contact.
Try not to open an account at a less well-known small bank, because there are few branches and it will be very inconvenient to handle procedures and transfer money in the future. The largest ones are Deutsche Bank and Dresden Bank (the two have merged some projects and are the largest banking institutions in Germany). Sparkasse bank also has many stores. There is also Postbank, which is actually a banking service launched by Deutsche Post. Any post office in Germany can handle relevant procedures and services, which is also very convenient.