How to Open a Bank Account When Starting a Company in Germany?

Open the bank account in the correct order when establishing a company in Germany: Timing, requirements, 2025 updates

Why incorporation first, then bank? (Critical order for GmbH/UG)

When establishing a GmbH or UG, you sign the articles of association at the notary, the company transitions to “i.G.” status, and with this status, you open a capital account with the bank. You deposit the capital, present the receipt to the notary, the notary completes the registration, and the commercial registry registration follows. After receiving the registration output from the bank, it fully activates the account.

• Minimum capital for GmbH: 25,000 EUR (you must deposit at least half of the shares in cash)
• Minimum capital for UG (mini GmbH): 1 EUR (plan a higher amount for convincing banks and notaries in practice)
• Freelancer/individual: Manage tax and VAT clearly by opening a separate business account

What has changed in 2024–2025?

Banks have tightened anti-money laundering (AML) and ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) scrutiny. VideoIdent/PostIdent is now standard. Some fintechs do not support “capital blocked accounts”; traditional banks progress faster in this step. For international founders, address, source of funds, and proof of activity play a decisive role in the process.

Prepare your document set completely: Founders, company, and proof of activity

Requirements from the founder/representative side

• Passport or EU ID (valid and legible)
• Proof of address (residence certificate or service bill; choose a bank that accepts foreign addresses)
• Visa/residence permit and stay plan in Germany (for non-EU founders)
• Source of funds declaration (origin of capital and operating expenses)

You submit all documents in German or English. Plan for sworn translation and apostille for documents in foreign languages.

Company documents

• Articles of association and notary approval
• Incorporation decision and manager appointment document
• Commercial registry registration output (for full activation after registration)
• Activity description and business plan (keep it clear and measurable for the bank’s risk assessment)

UBO, AML, and tax records

• Clearly specify the ultimate beneficial owner(s); include the scheme in the file for tiered partnership structures
• Summarize expected transaction volume, main countries, typical payment methods, and supplier profiles
• Provide the tax number and VAT number, if any, to the bank after incorporation

Corpenza checks the document set with an AML focus, streamlines the UBO flow, and you file in the format requested by the bank.

Make a strategic bank selection: Branch bank or digital bank?

Traditional branch banks: High success rate for capital account opening

Branch banks like Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse, Volksbank provide stable results in opening capital blocked accounts. They invite the manager for an appointment, want to see original documents, and complete the process in 3–10 business days.

• Pros: Clear process for capital investment, wide range of products, access to corporate credit
• Cons: Higher fees, longer appointment and signature process

Digital banks and fintechs: Fast onboarding, but not always suitable

Digital banks (e.g., providers offering fully online onboarding) open business accounts quickly. However, many fintechs do not accept capital blocked accounts or “i.G.” status. According to some notaries, fintech receipts may not be sufficient for proving capital.

• Pros: Fast setup, low monthly fees, strong mobile experience
• Cons: Restrictions in the capital process, tighter filters for non-EU founders

How do you proceed when making a selection?

• If the capital deposit step is critical, focus on branch banks first
• If you are operating with a multinational team and multi-currency transactions, compare fee schedules and SWIFT/SEPA costs
• Ask about English/German customer support and the speed of VideoIdent processes

Corpenza shortlists suitable banks based on your profile, organizes appointments, and increases the likelihood of “one-time approval”.

Manage the application step by step: Verification, capital investment, activation

1) Pre-approval and identity verification

• Start the application through the bank’s portal, upload documents
• Verify your identity with VideoIdent/PostIdent; be prepared for additional questions in a video call for non-EU founders
• Write the activity description concretely: Target markets, contract types, invoicing cycle

2) Capital investment (GmbH/UG)

• The bank opens the “capital account” and provides an IBAN
• Transfer capital from the founding shareholders; do not prefer cash investment
• Take the bank receipt to the notary; the notary completes the registration process

3) Activation and initial setup

• Send the commercial registry registration to the bank; the bank activates the account with full authority
• Set up online banking, two-factor (TAN), and user roles (CFO, accounting, manager)
• Design separate sub-accounts or a labeling system for payments, collections, and taxes (VAT/corporate)

Corpenza conducts correspondence with the bank, coordinates the receipt and registration flow, and you establish the financial operation flow on the first day.

Special scenarios for non-EU founders and international workforce

Residence, work, and presence of the manager

The manager/representative usually attends the appointment in person at most branch banks. A valid passport, visa/residence permit, and address plan in Germany make a difference for non-EU founders in the process. If physical presence is not possible, turn to banks that offer VideoIdent or accept transactions by proxy.

• Requests for criminal records or credit scores from the manager rarely arise; prepare the source of funds declaration clearly
• If the address issue is critical, use a rental office contract instead of a virtual office as a temporary solution

Remote team, payroll, and IBAN needs

You establish a reliable IBAN and bulk payment infrastructure to regularly pay your remote employees and contracted personnel. Plan ERP, payroll, and bank integration from the start.

• Check cut-off times for SEPA bulk payments and payroll days
• Define separate payment templates for VAT, social security, and income tax payments

Corpenza pays the salaries of remote workers and contracted personnel on behalf of your company with payroll services; you can write off these payments as expenses. The international accounting team consolidates multi-country payroll and reporting into a single format.

Temporary employment and posted worker compliance

When sending project-based personnel to Germany or other EU countries, you apply “posted worker” rules. Keep notifications, minimum wage, and working time rules in line with the payment flow at the bank.

• You manage local employer responsibilities with a personnel leasing/EOR model
• Structure salary and benefit payments through the bank according to country rules

Corpenza manages posted worker processes as a temporary employment agency, establishing end-to-end compliance and payroll with bank flow.

Costs, durations, risks, and applicable tips (2025)

Estimated time and costs

• Pre-application and appointment: 3–7 business days
• Capital account and receipt: 2–5 business days (depending on the bank and document quality)
• Full activation: 1–5 business days after registration
• Monthly account fee: ranges from 5–20 EUR; additional fees for international SWIFT transfers

Plan the total initial banking budget, including notary and incorporation costs, in the range of 200–1,000 EUR (excluding capital).

Reasons for rejection and delays: How to prevent them?

• Document inconsistency: Clearly outline the partnership structure and UBO scheme
• Activity uncertainty: Specify target customers, contract model, and annual turnover range in the business plan
• Address and residence deficiency: Explain the founder’s address plan and continuity in Germany
• High-risk sectors: Proactively address compliance checks; add additional licenses and procedures to the file

Accelerating practical steps

• Send a single file to the bank, organized and named PDF set
• Clarify “i.G.” status and capital receipt timing in the pre-meeting
• Define user roles and approval flows in online banking from day one
• Template payment patterns (salary, tax, supplier); reduce error and interruption risk

Corpenza offers services for company formation, residence permits, investment citizenship/golden visa, international accounting, payroll, personnel leasing (posted worker), and tax optimization in Europe and globally. When opening a bank account in Germany, you connect incorporation, compliance, and workforce steps with a single plan; operations proceed seamlessly.