Proof of ID
Anyone can apply to open a bank account, but you will always be required to prove your identity. This measure is to ensure that bank accounts are not opened in false names, and illegal money is harder to manage. In this way, banks as well as the government are able to protect themselves against 'money laundering'. Without this measure, illegally acquired money, acquired for example through theft or extortion, could be 'legalized' under a false name by depositing it as cash in a regular bank account.
If you wish to open an account you should be prepared to offer proof of your identity. If you open an account in person you should take a valid identity card or current passport as proof of ID. You can also prove your identity if you open an account online, by filling out what is known as a 'Postident-Coupon' at the post office.
The Postident-Coupon procedure is essentially an identity check carried out by an employee of the German post office. It serves the purpose of checking an applicant's identity on behalf of their future bank, if the applicant is unable to visit the bank in person.
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