How to Open a Business Bank Account in Germany Online (Remote)

How remote identity verification (VideoIdent) works, and is it legally sufficient?

The Money Laundering Act (Geldwäschegesetz, GwG) requires identifying the legal representatives and all beneficial owners (UBOs) before an account is opened. For remote opening, this is done by VideoIdent: a live video call. Finom, for example, runs identity verification via Sumsub, with a phone-number confirmation and a link sent by SMS; clients opening a German DE IBAN are issued one under BIC FNOMDEB2 (help.finom.co, accessed 2026-06-10). VideoIdent is a recognised GwG identification method, so a properly completed video verification is legally sufficient.

Do not confuse VideoIdent with POSTIDENT. POSTIDENT is performed at a Deutsche Post branch and is therefore not a fully remote method. If you cannot get to a Deutsche Post counter in Germany, you need a provider that uses VideoIdent.

Will a neobank/EMI capital-deposit account be accepted by the notary?

For formation-focused fintechs, yes. A notarial escrow account is no longer necessary for a GmbH or UG capital deposit. You deposit the capital into the (i.G.) business account, and the provider issues an account statement or proof of deposit (Einzahlungsbestätigung) that the notary files with the Handelsregister.

Qonto states the process explicitly: it verifies the deposit and "we will verify it and provide you with an account statement within 24 hours", and it will e-mail that statement directly to your notary if you supply the notary's address (qonto.com/en-de/capital-deposit; neuebanken.de; gruendung.de, accessed 2026-06-10). The practical point is to confirm, before you apply, that your chosen provider actually issues a notary-grade Einzahlungsbestätigung for a company in formation; not every digital account does.

German IBAN vs EU IBAN, does it matter?

It is a real decision, not a cosmetic one. Both a German DE IBAN and an EU IBAN are SEPA and legally usable, but they behave differently in day-to-day German operations. A German DE IBAN (Finom, FYRST) avoids "IBAN discrimination" friction with some German counterparties, payroll providers and authorities, who occasionally balk at a non-German IBAN despite SEPA rules.

By contrast, Revolut Business issues a Lithuanian/EU IBAN for business accounts; a business DE IBAN from Revolut was not generally available as of 2026-06-10. Wise business IBANs are typically Belgian or Estonian (BE/EE) (help.revolut.com; commenda.io; neuebanken.de, accessed 2026-06-10). For a capital deposit, prefer a German-IBAN provider that explicitly supports a GmbH or UG in formation.

Which providers open online for a GmbH i.G. / UG i.G.?

Qonto and Finom are the two mainstream fully-online options for a company in formation. FYRST (a Deutsche Bank subsidiary) and Holvi also serve GmbH and UG. Qonto and Finom let you supply the register extract and tax number after opening, with Qonto allowing up to 10 weeks and Finom up to 90 days (qonto.com/en-de/open-an-account/gmbh; finom.co; handelsblatt.com, accessed 2026-06-10). That post-opening grace is what makes a true "deposit first, register after" remote formation workable.

Which providers onboard a non-resident remotely?

The policies below are live provider terms, not law, and they diverge sharply. Verify each one per applicant before relying on it; never treat one provider as a universal remote solution.

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

Note on Penta: Penta is legacy. It was absorbed into Qonto and the brand was discontinued, so it is no longer a standalone option (Qonto, accessed 2026-06-10).

How fast and how much?

Split the speed claim carefully. A German IBAN can arrive within about 24 hours (Finom), and proof of deposit within about 24 hours (Qonto), but that is not the same as being registered. Handelsregister entry still typically takes around 1 to 3 weeks end-to-end, against roughly 4 to 8 weeks at a traditional bank (qonto.com; handelsblatt.com; expats.de, accessed 2026-06-10). "IBAN in 24 hours" is not "company registered in 24 hours".

On fees: Qonto's GmbH plans are €49, €99 and €199 per month excluding VAT; FYRST starts from about €10 per month; Finom's top tier is up to about €119 per month; and Holvi starts from a free pay-per-use plan or about €9 per month (qonto.com; handelsblatt.com; expats.de, accessed 2026-06-10).

Open before registration, and the liability risk (Handelndenhaftung)

Yes, you can open the account before the company is registered; that is the entire point of the i.G. (in Gründung) account, which lets you deposit first and register after. But the same gap carries a risk. In the Vor-GmbH / i.G. phase the limited-liability shield does not yet exist, so anyone acting on the company's behalf before the Handelsregister entry can be personally liable (Handelndenhaftung) (de.wikipedia.org/Vor-GmbH; Qonto, accessed 2026-06-10). Use the formation account for the capital deposit, not for trading, until the company is registered.

Next steps

• Opening a business bank account in Germany for the §7 law, the €12,500 rule and full capital-deposit depth.
• Company formation in Germany for foreigners.
• Non-EU company formation in Germany, where remote KYC is toughest and FATCA and the Qonto residency limits bite hardest.
• Background reading: business bank account for non-residents in Germany.