Opening an Account Online
Many banks now offer customers a choice of ways to apply for a bank account. If you do not have time to attend a bank in person, you may find that your preferred bank offers online registration, allowing you to apply for an account via the Internet. Some banks operate wholly online, and have no high street branches: for these banks, online registration is usually the only option.
Online Applications
In order to apply for a bank account online, you will need to go on the website of your preferred bank or building society. If the bank in question offers online registration, you will be able to download application forms from the website. You will need to fill in certain personal details, select which features your bank account should offer, such as direct debits or an overdraft, and give details of your income. You will also be asked whether you are an existing customer of this, or any other bank. You should be able to specify which branch of a bank you would like to be your local branch, if applicable.
You must fill out all compulsory fields for the application to be accepted, and any details you enter must be accurate. Having completed the online application you will still be required to send other documents to the bank via post. These include:
a pay slip indicating your gross income, even if you are only a trainee, with your employer's signature
a photocopy of a valid ID card or a valid passport
proof of your registration / residency in Germany
You should also be able to download a Postident-Coupon from the bank's website. You will need to print off this coupon, fill out your details and take the form and proof of ID, such as your passport, to a branch of the German post office, Deutsche Post AG, which offers Postident verification. At the post office, your identity will be verified by a post office employee. Following the ID check, you will hand all other application forms and documents needed for your bank account application to the post office employee: these documents will be sent to the bank in question.
