DKB Cash review
A free online bank account in Germany, with a world of perks.
DKB, also known as Deutsche Kredit Bank, is a well-known digital bank in Germany. Its four accounts come with a range of perks, from free Euro ATM withdrawals to zero monthly account fees. This review will help you break down the features, costs and considerations involved with DKB cash accounts, to help you pick the best one for you.
0 €
Management Fee
0 €
Card Fee
0%
Interest Rate
What is DKB?
DKB is a digital bank that’s a subsidiary of Bayerische Landesbank. It serves over three million users worldwide through its current accounts and personal loan offerings. Its accounts are available in Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as to German citizens worldwide.
How does DKB work in Germany?
DKB offers four types of accounts, and each comes with a German IBAN number. There’s a free Cash Account, Cash Joint Account, a Cash Student Account and an U18 child account. All accounts come with a handy mobile app, seamless payment options and free Euro cash withdrawals.
What features do you get?
- Free Euro cash withdrawals. Unlike other digital banks that place a limit on free cash withdrawals, DKB offers unlimited free withdrawals in Euros within the Euro area.
- Mobile app. The DKB mobile app allows users to easily manage and monitor their finances on-the-go.
- Cash in shop. This feature allows users to withdraw money at selected shops. Generate a QR code using your DKB app, or on the DKB website, and withdraw cash at shops including Penny, Ludwig, ON! Express and Mobilcom-Debitel.
- Contactless payments. Use DKB’s Visa credit card or Girocard to make contactless payments.
- No monthly account fees. DKB accounts do not come with monthly charges or fees.
How do DKB cash accounts work
DKB offers 4 different types of accounts, with features as follows.
Compare DKB with a wide range of current accounts in Germany
How do you use DKB abroad?
DKB splits its customers into Active and Standard users. When you open a DKB account, you are automatically an Active user. Following this, you must maintain a monthly deposit of to maintain your Active status.
Active customers receive a range of perks including when you use DKB abroad. DKB Active customers enjoy free ATM euro withdrawals worldwide and they are not subject to foreign currency transaction costs.
Standard users account enjoy free euro ATM withdrawals in the Eurozone, with a fee of otherwise applying.
How much does DKB cost in Germany?
DKB generally offers low-cost accounts with few fees and no hidden costs. However, there are some fees to watch out for, including:
- Non-Euro cash withdrawal and payments: fee (Standard Customer account only)
- ATM withdrawals outside of the Eurozone: fee (Standard Customer account only)
- Cash im Shop deposit fee: 1.5% (all accounts)
- Card replacement fee: €10
Is DKB safe?
As a subsidiary of Bayerische Landesbank, DKB is considered a safe bank. Additionally, DKB offers a range of security features to help you keep your money safe. This includes fingerprint secure-logins for the DKB mobile app and the ability to add extra verification layers for online transaction approvals.
Pros and Cons
- Free Euro cash withdrawals that could save you plenty in the long-term
- Cash in Shop allows for easy withdrawals when no ATMs available
- Contactless payments for quick transactions
- Card Control features for extra security
Cons
- No multi-lingual support, so it’s better for those that speak German
- Easy withdrawals but difficult deposits, as few ATMs offer free deposits and in-shop deposits come with a fee of 1.5%
How to sign up
As DKB is a digital bank, you can simply sign up for an account online. Fill in the DKB online application form and then choose either the Video-Ident or Post-Ident to verify your identity. Follow the steps outlined for the verification process you’ve chosen and submit your application.
To be eligible for an account, you need to be a German resident or have a German residential address. DKB accounts are also available to German citizens living outside Germany and residents of German-speaking nations including Austria and Switzerland.