Short answer: A student account (Studentenkonto) is a current account with conditions for students. What matters are account fees, charges for cards and cash, charges for payments abroad and the interest rate on an overdraft. The prices are listed in the bank’s price and service list. Every consumer with a right of residence in the EU can apply for a basic account (§ 31 ZKG). Last updated: October 2026.
A student account is meant to make everyday life at university easier, with a card, online banking and an account that does not cost money unnecessarily. Whether an offer suits you depends less on its marketing than on the fees you actually pay. This guide shows what to check and how to calculate your own costs.
The most important points
- The decisive costs are account fees, card payments, cash withdrawals, charges abroad and the overdraft interest rate.
- The prices are listed in the bank’s price and service list (Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis). Read it before you decide.
- A basic account (Basiskonto) is a legally secured offer for consumers with a right of residence in the EU (§ 31 ZKG).
- Calculate with your own behaviour: how often do you withdraw cash, pay by card or pay abroad?
- An overdraft is a loan with interest and should only be used for short periods.
Which costs matter most for a student account?
Many accounts advertise free account management, but the price list often shows that individual services cost money. Check these points in particular:
| Item | What to check | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | Whether it is waived or tied to conditions | Price and service list of the bank |
| Card payments | Whether card use and payments in Germany are free | Conditions for the card |
| Cash | Fees at third-party machines and at the counter | Price and service list |
| Payments abroad | Charges for payments in foreign currency | Price and service list |
| Overdraft | Interest rate and conditions of use | Contract documents and interest rate information |
Assumption: account A costs 5 euros per month, plus 2 euros per month for withdrawals at third-party machines. That is 84 euros per year. Account B has no monthly fee but charges 3 euros per payment abroad. With 12 payments abroad per year you pay 36 euros. In this example account B is cheaper, even though it looks more expensive at first glance.
What is a basic account and who is entitled to it?
A basic account (Basiskonto) is a payment account that every bank must open for consumers if the conditions are met. Consumers with lawful residence in the EU are entitled to it, even without a fixed address (§ 31 para. 1 ZKG). The bank must offer the contract without delay and at the latest within ten business days after receiving the application (§ 31 para. 2 ZKG).
A basic account is not a student account, but it is a reliable minimum standard. If a bank refuses your application for a student account, you can still apply for a basic account, provided the conditions of § 33 ZKG are met.
For everyday life, a basic account is often enough. Check in advance whether you need extras such as a credit card or an overdraft, because these are not part of every offer.
How do you read the price list correctly?
The price list is often long and uses terms that are not immediately clear. Two points matter most. First, check whether fees apply per month, per transaction or per year. Second, check whether there are packages that bundle services, and whether you actually need them.
Many banks offer accounts for students in which part of the fees is waived if you meet certain conditions. These conditions can change, so check them before you open the account and note the date on which you checked them.
Which services should you look for?
Beyond the fees, the range of services determines how useful an account is day to day. Check whether the bank offers these points:
- A debit card for payments in Germany and within the European Economic Area.
- Online banking and an app for transfers and standing orders.
- Instant transfers and notifications for payments.
- The option to withdraw cash free of charge at certain machines.
- An overdraft with a transparent interest rate, if you need one at all.
Also look at service: how reachable is the bank, what language the app uses, and whether there are branches or partner machines if you need cash. These points often matter more in daily life than a single euro per month.
How do you compare accounts properly?
A sensible comparison always follows the same pattern. Go through the list so that you treat all costs in the same way.
- Note how often you withdraw cash, pay by card and pay abroad each month.
- Get the current price and service list for each account.
- Calculate the yearly costs for your actual use.
- Count only the services you really use and set the rest aside.
When is it worth changing your account?
A change makes sense if the yearly costs are clearly higher than in your calculation, or if your habits change, for example through a stay abroad. A change is usually more work than expected, because many payments are tied to the old account.
How do you switch accounts without losing anything?
A clean switch follows a fixed order. This helps you avoid returned direct debits and gaps in important payments.
- Open the new account and have the card and access details sent to you.
- List all standing orders, direct debits and regular payments from the last three months.
- Move the payments to the new account gradually and check every month that everything has arrived.
- Close the old account only when the balance has been transferred and no payments are still running.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a student account if I have a basic account?
Not necessarily. The basic account covers the core functions, but its equipment can be more limited. Compare services and costs before you decide.
Are student accounts only offered by branch banks?
No, online banks also offer accounts for students. What matters are the conditions and whether you regularly need cash at a counter.
Can I keep my account when I go abroad?
Usually yes. Your German account remains in place. Check which fees apply to payments and cash abroad, and whether your card works there.
What does Sollzins mean?
The Sollzins is the interest rate you pay on a credit or on an agreed overdraft. It is stated as a percentage per year. Also compare the effective annual interest rate (effektiver Jahreszins), because it includes fees.
Is an overdraft useful for students?
An overdraft is a loan with interest. Use it only for short gaps and check the interest rate before you rely on it. For larger plans, a student loan is often a better fit, as the comparison in Studienkredit Vergleich 2026 (in German) shows. Assumption: an overdraft of 1,000 euros for 30 days at 12 percent interest costs about 10 euros, because the annual rate is applied to 30 days.
What should you do now?
- Decide which services you really need: card, cash, abroad, online banking.
- Get the price and service lists of three or four banks and compare them with your use.
- Check the overdraft interest and conditions before you plan on an overdraft.
- Open the account, set up standing orders again and close the old account only once everything has moved.
Related articles
- Finanzen im Studium organisieren: Konto, Notgroschen und Fristen (in German)
- Studienkredit Vergleich 2026: KfW, Bildungsfonds und Banken (in German)
- Konto als Student im Ausland: Non-Resident-Optionen im Überblick
- Student Job 20-Hour Rule, Pension and Semester Breaks
Sources: § 31 ZKG (accessed October 2026), Payment Accounts Act (Zahlungskontengesetz) as published at gesetze-im-internet.de, last updated October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
