In our 3rd edition we inform you about:
Opening a bank account in Germany
Companies wishing to open a business bank account in Germany have to decide first of all for a suitable provider. Many direct banks but also some branch banks offer business accounts for alien corporations.
In general, the following details and documents are required to open a bank account in Germany:
• company name and legal form
• trade register excerpt/trade register number
• official ID documents of all representatives including Apostilles or legalisations
• certificate of registration or tax certificate (in case the ID documents don‘t include addresses)
• notarized statute Apart from a few exceptions, in which there is a bilateral agreement – like with Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland – all documents issued in foreign countries must be officially authenticated. In almost all countries which party the Hague Agreement this is possible by an Apostille. Otherwise, the respective German consulate in the issuing state can legalise the documents. Information, which procedure is possible in the relevant country can be obtained from the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) or local diplomatic missions.
