Banking

One of the administrative duties that you will need to perform when arriving in Germany is opening a bank account. There are numerous banks in Baden-Württemberg all of which have connections to banks all over the world.

The largest bank in the German Southwest is the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) with 218 branches and cash-points in Baden-Württemberg. However, there are numerous other banks such as Deutsche Bank or the post office which offer banking services.

To find out which bank is best for you, it is advisable to speak to other students from your home country once you have arrived in Baden-Württemberg or speak to the relevant student advisory office.

Banks in Baden-Württemberg all have websites that are also in English. You can use these to find information on the bank and, once you have opened your account you can use online banking.

To open a bank account you need to take along the following documents:

Your passport and residence permit (if required for your country)
Your confirmation of registration (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung) from your institute of higher education

Do remember banks are international institutions that often deal in the English language everyday and are more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. However, please be patient if they do not have information at their fingertips. If this is the case, always ask for the name of the person you are speaking to and arrange a follow-up call.

URL: http://www.bw-studyguide.de/home/life/finances/bank_accounts/page.html

Date: 04.02.2012 07:02