Opening German Bank account as UK Resident

[User33678888]

Does anyone have any experience or tips? Not necessarily looking for best buy, just ease of opening with little knowledge of the language or german address etc..

[Claudia Skies]

I think you will find any bank jumpy about opening an account out of the blue for a foreigner who has no particular tie to the country - employment, property ownership, home address etc. Good old money laundering issues etc.

However, you may find that if your regular banking is with one of the big international bank groups they can help you. They certainly offer Euro accounts and will allow full online access/servicing.

[User33678888]

Nothing dodgy like money laundering. I want a german account to deposit some cash to insure against the slim possibility of a euro collapse. New deuthschmarks vs drachmas... It'd be funded by taxed british money..

[Adenauer]

Barclays are in Germany, they may be able to help?

https://www.barclays.de/

[Du1point8]

I know HSBC said I can open a Euro account if I wanted in the UK, not sure if it was to be attached to my personal or business account though.

ask them about something similar to this:

https://www.expat.hsbc.com/1/2/hsbc-expat/ways-to-...

Edited by Du1point8 on Tuesday 17th February 09:53

[DonkeyApple]

User33678888 said:

Nothing dodgy like money laundering. I want a german account to deposit some cash to insure against the slim possibility of a euro collapse. New deuthschmarks vs drachmas... It'd be funded by taxed british money..

This money is already in Euros though, obviously? And it can't be crossed to another currency?

[digger_R]

DonkeyApple said:

This money is already in Euros though, obviously? And it can't be crossed to another currency?

I'm guessing the OP is implying a Euro collapse leading to reversion to separate currencies - hence your German Euro account going to DM and Greek Euro account to drachma etc

[C15]

Like that would happen... In germany you need proof of residency to open a normal bank account, same as any EU country now.. I tried to open one back home in UK, but couldnt as I live in Germany.. Savings accounts are no problem, as lomg as you give your EU Tax number..

[DonkeyApple]

digger_R said:

DonkeyApple said:

This money is already in Euros though, obviously? And it can't be crossed to another currency?

I'm guessing the OP is implying a Euro collapse leading to reversion to separate currencies - hence your German Euro account going to DM and Greek Euro account to drachma etc

Yup. But if you are currently holding GBP you'd just lose whatever as even the Deutchmark would collapse against Sterling.

If you currently have Euros and for some reason cannot change them to another currency then I can begin to see the logic of holding your Euros in a German bank rather than a Greek one.

[DonkeyApple]

[redacted]

[W99KSY]

I've heard of Swiss residents being able to open accounts with DKB bank without a German address - not sure if that'll extend to UK residents but you never know

[Seek]

DonkeyApple said:

You'd just open an account with a German stockbroker and lodge funds in their client account. . And if you chose the right broker they would run segregated client accounts and you'd have your German bank account in your name by default.

Why not open an account with a UK-based online stockbroker?

With the added advantage of easy/cheap currency transfers.

Edited by Seek on Tuesday 17th February 21:02

[DonkeyApple]

Seek said:

DonkeyApple said:

You'd just open an account with a German stockbroker and lodge funds in their client account. . And if you chose the right broker they would run segregated client accounts and you'd have your German bank account in your name by default.

Why not open an account with a UK-based online stockbroker?

With the added advantage of easy/cheap currency transfers.

Edited by Seek on Tuesday 17th February 21:02

How would that get you Euros held in a German bank account?

[TheLordJohn]

Are you near a squaddie town? There were numerous English speakers at our local Sparkasse!
We all had German accounts.