Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB AG) is a German Direct bank. As opposed to traditional banks with local branches, DKB as a direct bank needs not maintain expensive buildings. Thus it can offer its customers very good conditions:

• no account management fees
• free VISA Credit card
• free Giro/VPAY card
• pay with VISA worldwide and withdraw money at ATMs for free (0% FX for ‘active users’* / 1,75% FX for standard users)
• 0,2% p.a. interest for balance on your VISA account (for active users*)
  
• overdraft possible (when using DKB as salary account)

*active users are all customers who have incoming cash transfers of at least 700 € each month. If you decide to make DKB your salary account (which I strongly recommend), you should have no difficulties qualifying as ‘active user’. Elseif: Utilizing another (secondary) current account, you can install a circle-system of monthly standing orders (>700€). This will give you the best conditions with little effort.

Who is eligible to open an account?

In order to be eligible to open a DKB current account, you’ll require:

• residence in Germany (whatever your nationality) OR
• German, Austrian or Swiss nationality (in that case, place of residence doesn’t matter)
• be at least 18 yrs old

In order to legitimize, you’ll need to provide proof of residence (‘Meldebescheinigung’) plus a proof of identity (i.e. passport or ID card). If you apply for your DKB account online, DKB will do a background request of your SCHUFA. You may be declined if your SCHUFA credit scores are really bad.

Advice: Get your personal SCHUFA report before applying for your DKB account! Look for the following specific credit score: “Schufa-Score für Sparkassen, Version 2.0”. The higher that score, the better your chances.

Based on your SCHUFA score and addional information (such as salary, age and address), DKB will automatically calculate a internal credit score.

You’ll also need to provide your Tax Identification number (TIN), so have it ready.

Why DKB is especially well suited for persons with international relations

As opposed to many other German banks, you can keep your DKB account even when moving abroad permanently. You can profit from your internal credit history, and get the best conditions even in countries where current accounts are quite expensive.

Thanks to 0% FX fees, you can keep your costs to a minimum – wherever you are. Say goodbye to currency exchange offices and hidden fees!

Optional: Free DKB brokerage

Once a customer, you may open a securities account at DKB anytime.
Apart from regular stock market trading, DKB even offers monthly investment plans – at low costs.