Free checking accounts are increasingly rare, but several banks still offer them along with attractive bonuses for new customers. Options include Comdirect’s six-month free period, Santander’s 75 Euro bonus, ING’s 100 Euro incentive, BBBank’s potential 150 Euro bonus, and Consorsbank’s up to 200 Euro offer. Most accounts require specific conditions to remain fee-free, while various debit card benefits and cash withdrawal options are also highlighted. Stay updated on financial opportunities by subscribing to relevant newsletters.
Understanding Free Checking Accounts
A checking account is essential for managing financial transactions for both individuals and businesses; it acts as the core for incoming and outgoing funds. However, free checking accounts are becoming less common. Fortunately, certain banks still provide this valuable service and attract new clients with enticing bonuses and credits.
Exciting Offers from Leading Banks
Here’s an overview of some appealing bonuses available for new customers who open free checking accounts in February 2025 at various banks.
Comdirect Checking Account: 50 Euro New Customer Bonus
New customers can enjoy a six-month free period with the Comdirect checking account. To maintain this free status, one of the following conditions must be met: a minimum monthly deposit of 700 Euros, three monthly payments via Apple Pay or Google Pay using the bank’s Visa debit card, or executing one trade or securities savings plan per month. If you are under 28 years old and a student, pupil, trainee, or intern, the account remains free. Otherwise, a fee of 4.90 Euros per month, or 58.80 Euros annually, applies. A Visa debit card is provided at no charge, and an optional Girocard is available for one month. With the Girocard, you can withdraw cash for free at ATMs of Cashgroup (Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, HypoVereinsbank, and Postbank) as well as at Shell gas stations and supermarkets in Germany without limits. The Visa debit card allows for three free cash withdrawals monthly at any Visa ATM in Germany and worldwide, with a fee of 4.90 Euros for additional transactions. A foreign transaction fee of 1.75 percent applies for payments outside the Eurozone. Additionally, you receive a complimentary daily money PLUS account with an attractive 2.5 percent interest rate for deposits up to one million Euros for three months. After this period, the standard interest rate of 0.75 percent applies, and the daily money PLUS account remains free permanently.
Santander BestGiro: 75 Euro Bonus
Santander Bank welcomes new customers with a 75 Euro bonus when they open a checking account. The BestGiro account has no account management fees, and there is no minimum deposit requirement. A free Visa debit card is included, which allows for cash withdrawals without fees at Santander ATMs and those of CashPool partner banks. You can withdraw cash for free up to four times a month worldwide; after that, a fee of 3.95 Euros per transaction applies. Additionally, you can withdraw up to 200 Euros at select retailers. A fee of 1.85 percent applies when making payments in foreign currency. A Girocard can be obtained for an additional annual fee of 12 Euros, and you can also opt for the free BestCard Basic as a real credit card.
ING Checking Account with Visa Debit Card: 100 Euro Bonus
The ING checking account is free for customers who have a salary deposit of 1,000 Euros or are under 28 years old; otherwise, a monthly fee of 4.90 Euros begins from the third month after account opening. The associated Visa debit card allows for cash withdrawals without fees in the Eurozone (minimum withdrawal amount is 50 Euros), and the overdraft interest rate is below ten percent. Credit card transactions are processed within a few days, but fees apply for cash withdrawals outside the Eurozone.
BBBank Checking Account: Up to 150 Euro Start Bonus
With a new checking account at BBBank, you receive a Visa DirectCard at no cost. For those under 30, both the debit card and the young account are free as long as deposits from salaries or training allowances flow into the account. Once you turn 31, the fee structure changes to an annual cost of 18 Euros for the debit card, a monthly fee of 2.95 Euros for the checking account, and 11.95 Euros annually for a Girocard, totaling 65.35 Euros per year. Worldwide payments in Euro and foreign currency are free, and you can withdraw cash for free at ATMs up to 36 times each billing year; afterwards, a fee of 1.50 Euros per withdrawal applies.
Consorsbank: Free Checking Account with Up to 200 Euro New Customer Bonus
Consorsbank offers a checking account that becomes free with monthly deposits of 700 Euros or for customers under 28 years old; otherwise, an annual fee of 48 Euros or a monthly fee of 4 Euros applies. You can withdraw cash for free from 50 Euros using the provided Visa debit card at over 58,000 Visa ATMs in Germany and Europe. Withdrawals below 50 Euros incur a fee of 1.95 Euros, and a fee of 2.10 percent applies for foreign currency withdrawals. An optional free Girocard is available, enabling cash withdrawals at approximately 9,000 German supermarkets without fees.
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