Germany · Answer
Can I open a German bank account without a Schufa or a registered address?
Two of the most common blockers for a new arrival: no Schufa history, and no registered address yet. Neither is a lawful reason to refuse you a basic account. Here is what the regulator and the law actually say.
The right to a basic account explicitly covers people who often struggle to open one — including those without a fixed abode, asylum seekers, and tolerated persons (Geduldete). A missing Schufa or address is not a lawful reason to refuse it. Source ↗
If you have no permanent residence yet, you can still give the bank a contact address in Germany to receive letters — it does not have to be your home; a friend's address or a counselling centre works, as long as post reaches you. Source ↗
Rules v2026-07-15.1 · verified 2026-07-14
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Rules last verified: 2026-07-14.