How to Open a Business Bank Account in Germany (GmbH Capital Deposit)

How much capital must be deposited?

The German GmbH has a minimum share capital of €25,000 (§5 GmbHG, gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed 2026-06-10). You do not have to pay all of it before registration, but §7(2) GmbHG sets two conditions that must both be met:

• At least one quarter of each shareholder's cash contribution must be paid in: "auf jeden Geschäftsanteil … ein Viertel des Nennbetrags eingezahlt ist".
• The total paid-in must reach at least half of the minimum capital, that is €12,500: "die Hälfte des Mindeststammkapitals gemäß § 5 Abs. 1 erreicht" (§7(2) GmbHG, gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed 2026-06-10).

Both conditions matter. A founder who pays in €12,500 but skews it unevenly across the shares can still fail the per-share quarter test. The remainder of the capital is owed later, and the shareholders remain liable for it. Germany Trade & Invest corroborates the figures: the GmbH minimum share capital is €25,000, and at least half (€12,500) must be actually and verifiably contributed on a bank account before commercial-register registration, after which limited liability begins (gtai.de, accessed 2026-06-10).

UG vs GmbH on the deposit

The UG (haftungsbeschränkt) follows a different rule, so do not let the GmbH "half" rule bleed onto it. A UG can be founded from as little as €1 of share capital, but that capital must be paid in full before registration. There is no in-kind contribution and no part payment for a UG: whatever the stated capital, it is all paid in up front (§7 GmbHG; firma.de, accessed 2026-06-10). The GmbH "half before registration" rule does not apply to a UG.

The GmbH i.G. capital-deposit account and how it becomes a normal account

After notarisation but before registration, the account is opened in the name of the company in formation (i.G.), often as a dedicated capital-deposit or formation account (Gründungskonto). The mechanics run in a fixed sequence:

1. The account is opened in the name of the GmbH i.G. once the articles have been notarised.
2. The shareholders transfer in the share capital.
3. The bank issues proof of deposit (Einzahlungsbestätigung), which the notary files with the Handelsregister.
4. On entry in the register, the account is converted into the regular business account (Qonto; finom.co; expats.de, accessed 2026-06-10).

One clarification that trips up founders coming from Austria or Switzerland: this is not a frozen "blocked account". German GmbH practice uses an ordinary i.G. business account with proof of deposit. The German "Sperrkonto" is a separate visa and student concept and has nothing to do with company formation.

Documents and KYC/AML (GwG)

A German bank will typically require:

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

Formation-focused fintechs let you supply the register extract and tax number after opening: Finom allows roughly 90 days and Qonto up to about 10 weeks (Finom; Qonto, accessed 2026-06-10).

The identity checks are not optional. German banks must identify the legal representatives and all beneficial owners before opening, under the Money Laundering Act (Geldwäschegesetz, GwG), via VideoIdent or POSTIDENT, or in person (commenda.io; expats.de, accessed 2026-06-10). Enhanced due diligence is common for newly formed entities and foreign founders. Where onboarding is slow, it is a compliance process, not discrimination.

Can a non-resident or foreign-owned company open an account?

Yes, but it is the hardest part of the whole formation. Traditional banks such as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and Sparkasse typically require in-person identification and often a German address or a local representative (a lawyer, notary or tax adviser) (commenda.io; expats.de, accessed 2026-06-10).

Neobanks and fintechs allow fully remote onboarding, but each applies its own residency rules, and those rules are the live risk in any non-resident formation. The matrix below sets them out. If your priority is to do this without flying to Germany, see our companion guide on how to open a German business account online.

Provider comparison, who actually onboards a non-resident GmbH i.G.?

The following are live provider policies (terms and conditions), not law. They change, so verify each one per applicant at the time you apply.

Sources for the policies above: finom.co; Qonto help centre; Holvi; N26 support; commenda.io; expats.de (accessed 2026-06-10).

Note on Penta: Penta is legacy. It was acquired by Qonto (announced 22 July 2022), the brand was discontinued, new openings closed from December 2022, and customer migration completed by the end of 2023. It is no longer a separate option (Qonto blog, accessed 2026-06-10).

Timeline and cost

Speed depends entirely on the route. Traditional banks typically take around 4 to 8 weeks. Fintechs issue a German IBAN within roughly 24 hours to a few days, and proof of deposit often within about 24 hours, putting the overall formation at roughly 1 to 4 weeks end-to-end (expats.de; commenda.io, accessed 2026-06-10).

On cost, Qonto's GmbH plans run at €49, €99 and €199 per month excluding VAT, and Holvi starts from a free pay-per-use plan or €9 per month on its Lite tier (Qonto; Holvi, accessed 2026-06-10).

Liability risk before registration (Handelndenhaftung)

A word of caution about the gap before registration. In the Vor-GmbH / i.G. phase the limited-liability shield does not yet exist. Anyone acting on the company's behalf before the Handelsregister entry can be personally liable (Handelndenhaftung), and that shield only takes effect on register entry (de.wikipedia.org/Vor-GmbH; Qonto blog, accessed 2026-06-10). The practical takeaway: treat the formation account primarily as a capital-deposit vehicle, not a trading account, until the company is registered.

Next steps

• Open a German business account online for the fully remote route, VideoIdent and the notary-acceptance detail.
• German company formation, the flow this account feeds into.
• Company formation in Germany for foreigners.
• Non-EU company formation in Germany, where the KYC is toughest.
• Background reading: business bank account for non-residents in Germany.