Hey bunqers 🌈,

You can get a Basiskonto with bunq, even if other banks have declined your account application or you don’t have a fixed residential address. 

A Basiskonto is a basic payment account that the German law, under the German Payment Accounts Act, the Zahlungskontengesetz (ZKG, §§ 30 to 53), guarantees to almost everyone. 

It works like an everyday bank account, without an overdraft or credit. With a Basiskonto account, you get a Euro account with a German IBAN, a digital card, transfers, and direct debits. 

Who can apply for a Basiskonto?

You can apply if you're a resident of the European Union and you don't have a payment account in Germany that you can use yet. This includes:

• People without a fixed address

• Asylum seekers

• People whose deportation has been suspended (Duldung)

The Basiskonto is for personal banking only. This means we can’t open a Basiskonto account for businesses.

What's included in a Basiskonto, and what does it cost?

Your Basiskonto has no monthly fee and no limit on the number of payments you make. You only pay for cash deposits above €100 a month and for ATM withdrawals.

Good to know:

• You spend the money in your account — a Basiskonto doesn't include an overdraft or credit.

• We don’t currently offer P-Konto, Pfändungsschutzkonto (garnishment protection account), accounts.

• You can get support in your bunq app, 24/7.

How can I apply for a Basiskonto? 

Simple, here’s how: 

• Download the Basiskonto application form

• Fill in every section and sign the form: 

  • In section 5, tell us if you already have a payment account in Germany, and whether it has been closed or you've been told it will be

• Send the filled out form by postal mail to the following address: 

bunq B.V. Niederlassung Deutschland

Landsbergerstraße 302 

80687 München

We’ll confirm the reception of your form within 1 working day of us receiving your letter.  

What happens next? 

We’ll review your application and get back to you with our decision within 10 business days of receiving your complete application. Here’s the breakdown of the full process: 

• Within 1 business day: we confirm in writing that your application arrived. The confirmation shows the date we received it, the date by which we'll respond, and a copy of your application form.

• If anything is missing from the form: we tell you what we need using the email you provided, otherwise by post. We’ll continue reviewing your application once we get the entire information. 

• Within 10 business days of your complete application: you get our decision in writing 

  • If we accept, you can open your Basiskonto. We’ll share the steps and how-tos in the acceptance email. 

  • If we decline: you get a letter that names the exact legal reason and explains how you can challenge the decision.

Heads up: all our letters are in German, and we may add an English translation whenever relevant. 

How do I set up my Basiskonto after I'm accepted?

You can set your Basiskonto up directly in your bunq app with the same details you used on your application form. Here’s how: 

1. Once you get the acceptance email, download the bunq app and sign up with the same name and details you used on your application.

2. During your sign up: 

   1. Add a copy of a valid ID document to complete the identification in the app by taking a photo of the front and back of your ID. Then take a selfie or short video. Pro tip: a well-lit spot and a flat document help avoid glare.

   2. Add your proof of address. If you don't have a fixed address, a postal address where you can be reached is enough.

3. If your bunq app shows your identification wasn't successful — that's expected for a Basiskonto. This is because our team reviews your details manually, so you don't need to do anything else. Just sit tight while we review your sign up! 

4. Once the review is complete, we let you know immediately and your Basiskonto is ready to use.

Can I sign up for a regular bunq account instead?

Yes, and for most people it's the fastest way. Signing up for a regular bunq account in the bunq app takes just a few minutes and requires no paperwork.

Keep in mind: once you have a bunq account that you can use for payments, you already have a usable payment account in Germany. That means you won't need a Basiskonto, and an application would be declined. If your sign-up in the app wasn't approved, apply for a Basiskonto by post instead. It accepts more types of ID than the app sign-up.

Which documents do I need for a Basiskonto?

You need a valid photo ID and proof of address. If you don't have a fixed address, a postal address where you can be reached works instead.

The following are considered valid photo IDs:

• German Personalausweis (national ID card)

• Passport from an EU or EEA country

• Aufenthaltsgestattung (permission to stay while your asylum application is decided)

• Duldungsbescheinigung (suspension of deportation certificate)

• Ankunftsnachweis (arrival certificate)

Proof of address:

• Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate), no older than 3 months

• A current rental contract together with a utility bill

No fixed address? A postal address where you can be reached is enough. This can be the address of friends, family, or a counseling or support center. 

Why can a Basiskonto application be declined?

We can decline only for the 5 reasons the law lists. We aren't allowed to decline for any other reason.

1. You already have a usable payment account in Germany (§ 35 ZKG). This doesn't apply if that account has been closed, you've been told it will be closed, or you can't use it for payments.

2. You were convicted of an intentional crime against bunq, our employees, or our customers in the last 3 years (§ 36 No. 1 ZKG). A suspicion or an ongoing investigation isn't enough. It has to be a final conviction.

3. We closed a previous Basiskonto of yours without notice in the last year, because it was used for illegal purposes or opened with false information (§ 36 No. 2 ZKG).

4. Opening the account would stop bunq from meeting its legal anti-money laundering duties under the Geldwäschegesetz (GwG) or Kreditwesengesetz (KWG) (§ 36 No. 3 ZKG). In this case, the law may not let us share more details.

5. We closed a previous Basiskonto of yours in the last year because of unpaid fees (§ 37 ZKG).

What can I do if I disagree with the decision?

If we decline your application and you disagree with our decision, our rejection letter includes the appeal form. You can ask BaFin, the German financial supervisory authority, to review the decision in an administrative procedure, free of charge. Read more about Basiskonto and appeals on the BaFin website. 

You can also contact BaFin if:

• You don't get our decision within 10 business days of your complete application

• Your account isn't opened within 10 business days of your acceptance

BaFin (administrative procedure) Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht Graurheindorfer Straße 108 53117 Bonn bafin.de 

Can bunq close my Basiskonto?

We can close your Basiskonto only for reasons the law allows. We tell you in writing why, unless the law doesn't let us, and how to contact BaFin and the consumer arbitration body.

We may close your account if:

• You haven't made any payment for more than 24 months in a row

• You no longer meet the conditions for a Basiskonto

• Your account is not used as per the T&Cs

• You've opened another usable payment account in Germany

• You don't accept a contract change that we offered to all Basiskonto holders

• You committed an intentional crime against bunq, our employees, or our customers

• You owe more than €100 in fees for more than 3 months, and more unpaid fees are likely. We warn you first and give you time to pay.

Frequently asked questions

I already have a bunq account. Can I turn it into a Basiskonto? No, but you don't need to. Your bunq account is already a usable payment account in Germany, so you keep using it as you do now.

My sign-up in the app wasn't approved. Can I still get a Basiskonto? You can apply by post with the Basiskonto application form. We check your application against the Basiskonto rules, which accept more types of ID documents.

Do I need the bunq app before I apply for Basiskonto? No, you apply by post. Once we accept your application, we ask you to download the app and complete the identification there.

Can I get a P-Konto with bunq? No, bunq doesn't offer a Pfändungsschutzkonto. You can open one with another bank.

Who can I ask about my Basiskonto? Chat with us in the bunq app, 24/7. You can also write to us at bunq B.V. Niederlassung Deutschland, Landsbergerstrasse 302, 80687 München.