Business Bank Account in Germany for Non-Residents

Why it's hard: KYC/AML under the GwG

The friction comes from the Money Laundering Act (Geldwäschegesetz, GwG). Before opening an account, banks and electronic-money institutions must identify the legal representatives and all beneficial owners (UBOs), and run source-of-funds checks. New entities and foreign founders routinely trigger enhanced due diligence, which means more documents and more verification, not a refusal.

How the identity check happens splits the market:

• Traditional banks (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse) require in-person identification and often a local representative or a German-address director. Expect roughly 4–8 weeks.
• Neobanks and fintechs allow remote identification by VideoIdent or POSTIDENT, which is what makes a fully remote opening possible.

Frame the delays correctly: they are compliance, not discrimination. Everyone goes through KYC; foreign founders simply go through more of it. [commenda.io; expats.de, accessed 2026-06-10]

The GmbH "i.G." capital-deposit account, and why you need it first (§7 / §11 GmbHG)

Here is the mechanic that surprises most foreign founders. A GmbH or UG becomes a legal entity only on Handelsregister entry (§11(1) GmbHG). Before that, it exists as a GmbH in Gründung (i.G.), also called a Vor-GmbH. But to register in the first place, the share capital must be actually paid into a German bank account, and the managing director confirms that to the notary (§7 GmbHG).

That creates a chicken-and-egg sequence the account solves:

1. After notarisation but before registration, you open an account in the name of the company-in-formation (i.G.).
2. You transfer the share capital into it.
3. The bank issues a proof of deposit (Einzahlungsbestätigung) for the notary and the Handelsregister.
4. On registration, the i.G. account converts into the regular business account.

So you need a provider that will open an account for a GmbH i.G. specifically, not just for a registered company. That single requirement rules several providers out. [§7/§11 GmbHG; expats.de; Qonto; Finom, accessed 2026-06-10]

How much capital before registration

A GmbH's minimum share capital is €25,000 (§5 GmbHG). But you do not deposit all of it to register. Under §7(2), registration requires both conditions:

• at least a quarter of each shareholder's cash contribution paid in, and
• a total paid-in of at least €12,500 (half the minimum).

Do not state only "half before registration": both conditions apply, and the per-shareholder quarter matters when there are several founders. The UG differs: its capital can be as little as €1, but it must be paid in full before registration. [§7/§5 GmbHG; gtai.de; Qonto, accessed 2026-06-10]

VideoIdent vs POSTIDENT, and German IBAN vs EU IBAN

Two technical choices shape your remote opening.

Identity method. VideoIdent is a live video identity call (for example, Finom uses Sumsub plus a phone-number confirmation) that satisfies GwG identification remotely. POSTIDENT requires you to visit a Deutsche Post branch in Germany, so it is not fully remote, which is a problem if you cannot travel.

IBAN type. A German DE IBAN avoids so-called "IBAN discrimination," where some German counterparties, payroll systems or authorities balk at a non-German IBAN. An EU IBAN still works for SEPA but can cause friction. For a capital deposit, prefer a provider that issues a German IBAN and explicitly supports a GmbH/UG i.G.

As of 2026-06-10, Revolut Business issues a Lithuanian/EU IBAN (no general business DE IBAN), and Wise business IBANs are typically BE or EE. [help.finom.co; help.revolut.com; commenda.io, accessed 2026-06-10]

Which neobank actually onboards a non-resident GmbH i.G.?

This is the differentiator, and the divergence between providers is the whole point. Each row below is a live terms-and-conditions snapshot dated 2026-06-10; verify per applicant, because these policies change without notice and none of them is law.

A few corrections to common guidance: N26 Business does not work for a GmbH or UG at all; Qonto excludes companies whose individual shareholders are not resident in Germany (so it is often unsuitable for the typical non-resident founder, even though it does the online capital deposit); and Holvi requires the founder to live in Germany, which defeats the remote use case. Penta is legacy: it was absorbed into Qonto and discontinued, so do not treat it as a current option. Never present any single provider as a universal remote solution. [finom.co; qonto.com; holvi.com; support.n26.com; commenda.io, verify per applicant, accessed 2026-06-10]

What documents you need

Expect to provide:

• the notarised articles / Musterprotokoll (deed of incorporation);
• a certified shareholder list;
• valid passports or IDs of all managing directors and authorised signatories;
• identification of all beneficial owners (UBOs);
• the company's German business address; and
• once available, the Handelsregister extract and the tax number.

Fintechs typically let you supply the register number/extract and tax number after opening (Finom within 90 days; Qonto up to 10 weeks). As a non-resident, also expect source-of-funds documentation on every UBO, which is the part of enhanced due diligence people underestimate. [expats.de; commenda.io; Finom; Qonto, accessed 2026-06-10]

Realistic steps & timeline

The end-to-end path is:

1. Notarise the company.
2. Choose a provider that accepts a non-resident GmbH i.G.
3. Complete KYC (typically VideoIdent).
4. Deposit the share capital.
5. Receive the proof of deposit (Einzahlungsbestätigung).
6. Register in the Handelsregister.
7. The account converts to the regular business account.

On timing, traditional banks run ~4–8 weeks; fintechs issue a German IBAN within ~24 hours to a few days, and the proof of deposit often within ~24 hours. Overall, ~1–4 weeks end-to-end is common, but Handelsregister entry itself is still ~1–3 weeks and not same-day, so the registration step, not the account, sets the floor.

On cost, fintechs charge flat monthly plans: Qonto €49 / €99 / €199 per month (excl. VAT), Holvi from free pay-per-use or €9/month Lite, and FYRST from around €10/month. [expats.de; commenda.io; Qonto; Holvi, accessed 2026-06-10]

Can Americans open one? (FATCA)

Generally yes for the company account (there is no US-citizen bar in German law), but expect FATCA scrutiny. Finom welcomes US residents and citizens on its general pages, but cannot onboard a US-based company or one with US-taxpayer interests; a US citizen with an EU-registered entity may qualify. That is a live term, so re-verify on application.

One thing to keep separate: the "$10,000" question you may have seen is a US FBAR / personal-tax reporting matter, not a German account-opening rule, and it has no bearing on whether your German business account will open. [finom.co; commenda.io, accessed 2026-06-10]

Liability before registration (Handelndenhaftung)

A word of caution about the i.G. phase. In the Vor-GmbH / GmbH i.G. period, the limited-liability shield does not yet exist. Anyone who acts for the company before Handelsregister entry can be personally liable (Handelndenhaftung). The safe practice is to use the formation account for the capital deposit only, not for trading, until the company is registered and the shield is in place. [de.wikipedia.org/Vor-GmbH; Qonto, accessed 2026-06-10]

Next step

The account is feasible but KYC-gated, and the right provider depends entirely on where your shareholders and directors are resident. The move is to pick a provider that explicitly accepts a non-resident GmbH i.G., or get help coordinating it.

For the law and the deeper mechanics, see opening a business bank account in Germany. For the fully remote route and the German-IBAN-vs-EU-IBAN detail, see open a German business account online. If you are a non-EU founder facing the toughest KYC, see non-EU company formation in Germany, and for the broader picture, company formation in Germany for foreigners. gmbh-germany.com is not a bank; verify provider terms per applicant.

Author: Anna Müller, Legal Consultant, gmbh-germany.com.