{"id":93754,"date":"2023-10-04T00:42:51","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T04:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/german-bank-vocabulary\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T08:36:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T13:36:11","slug":"german-bank-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-bank-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"German Bank Vocabulary: 40 Words and Phrases"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Germany, a bank account is necessary for everything, from paying your rent to paying monthly phone and internet bills. So if you’re living, working or studying abroad in Germany, you’ll need to use German bank vocabulary.<\/p>\n

Discover 40 German words and phrases related to banking, using ATMs, making purchases and more.\u00a0 Even if you’ll just be visiting a bank or an ATM for a quick transaction while traveling, this vocabulary will come in handy!.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc skip=3]
\n<\/p>\n

Managing a Bank Account<\/h2>\n

\"bank-teller-giving-cash-to-customer\"<\/p>\n

Many bank tellers in Germany speak English, but some may not. And banking in German can be a great opportunity to practice your language skills!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are some useful words for opening and managing a bank account:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/th>English<\/th>Example<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
die Bankfiliale<\/em><\/td>the bank branch<\/td>Ich gehe zur Bankfiliale<\/b>, um Geld abzuheben.<\/em> (I'm going to the bank branch to withdraw money.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
das Bankkonto<\/em><\/td>the bank account<\/td>Ich m\u00f6chte ein Bankkonto<\/b> er\u00f6ffnen.<\/em> (I'd like to open a bank account.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
das Sparkonto<\/em> <\/td>the savings account<\/td>Mein Sparkonto<\/b> hilft mir, Geld f\u00fcr die Zukunft zu sparen.<\/em> (My savings account helps me save money for the future.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
das Girokonto<\/em> <\/td>the checking\/current account<\/td>Mein Girokonto<\/b> ist gratis.<\/em> (My checking account is free.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
der Kontostand<\/em> <\/td>the account balance<\/td>Kannst du mir meinen aktuellen Kontostand<\/b> sagen?<\/em> (Can you tell me my current account balance?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Zinsen<\/em>\u00a0(plural)<\/td>the interest<\/td>Die Zinsen<\/b> in Deutschland sind relativ niedrig.<\/em> (The interest rates in Germany are fairly low.)
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Kontof\u00fchrungsgeb\u00fchr<\/em> <\/td>the account maintenance fee<\/td>Die Kontof\u00fchrungsgeb\u00fchr<\/b> wird monatlich von meinem Konto abgebucht.<\/em> (The account maintenance fee is debited from my account monthly.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die \u00dcberziehung<\/em> <\/td>the overdraft<\/td>Die \u00dcberziehung<\/b> des Kontos kann teuer werden.<\/em> (An overdraft of your account can get expensive.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
das Formular<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>the form<\/td>Bitte f\u00fcllen Sie dieses Formular<\/b> aus.<\/i> (Please fill out this form.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Unterschrift<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>the signature<\/td>Auf dem Formular fehlt Ihre Unterschrift<\/b>. Bitte unterschreiben Sie hier.<\/i> (The form is missing your signature. Please sign here.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00fcberweisen<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>to transfer <\/td>Ich werde Geld von meinem Girokonto auf mein Sparkonto \u00fcberweisen<\/b>.<\/i> (I'll transfer money from my checking account to my savings account.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die \u00dcberweisung<\/i><\/td>the transfer (noun)<\/td>Ich kann eine \u00dcberweisung<\/b> auf Ihr Girokonto vornehmen.<\/i> (I can make a transfer into your checking account.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
abheben<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>to withdraw <\/td>Kann ich bitte 200 Euro von meinem Konto abheben<\/b>?<\/i> (Can I please withdraw 200 euros from my account?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Abhebung<\/i><\/td>the withdrawal (noun)<\/td>Sie k\u00f6nnen nur eine Abhebung<\/b> pro Tag vornehmen.<\/i> (You can only make one withdrawal per day.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
einzahlen<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>to deposit<\/td>Ich werde das Bargeld auf mein Konto einzahlen<\/b>.<\/i> (I'll deposit the cash into my account.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Einzahlung<\/td>the deposit (noun)<\/td>Kann ich eine Einzahlung<\/b> auf mein Sparkonto machen?<\/i> (Can I make a deposit into my savings account?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

In Germany, it’s essential to choose the right bank to handle your transactions. If you pick a bank that isn’t popularly used, you could end up paying heavy ATM withdrawal fees\u2014I’m talking up to 50 euros a month!<\/p>\n

The advisable banks to go for are Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse, Commerzbank, Citibank <\/em>and Postbank<\/em>.<\/em> Picking any of these banks is a safe choice, as they’re always present in every major city in Germany.<\/p>\n

Using an ATM<\/h2>\n

\"people-standing-in-line-for-ATM\"<\/p>\n

Here are some German phrases that you might need to use or understand when operating an ATM, or ein<\/strong><\/em> Geldautomat:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
German <\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Wo ist das Geldautomat, bitte?<\/i> <\/td>Where's the ATM, please?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bitte geben Sie Ihre Karte ein.<\/i> <\/td>Please insert your card.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bitte geben Sie Ihre Geheimzahl ein.<\/i> <\/td>Please enter your PIN number.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Geld abheben<\/i> <\/td>Withdraw money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Geld einzahlen<\/i> <\/td>Deposit money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Geld \u00fcberweisen<\/i> <\/td>Transfer money<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kontoauszug ausdrucken <\/td>Print out the bank statement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Making Purchases<\/h2>\n

\"person-giving-euros-to-cashier\"<\/p>\n

These words won’t just be useful when banking, but also any time you make a purchase in a German-speaking country:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/th>English<\/th>Example<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
die Zahlungsart<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>the payment method <\/td>Welche Zahlungsarten<\/b> gibt es?<\/i> (Which payment methods are available?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
das Bargeld<\/i> <\/td>the cash<\/td>Zahlen Sie Bar<\/b> oder mit Karte?<\/i> (Are you paying with cash or card?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Kreditkarte<\/i> <\/td>the credit card<\/td>Ich zahle mit Kreditkarte<\/b>.<\/i> (I'm paying by credit card.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die EC Karte<\/i><\/td>the debit card (EC cards are debit cards specific to Germany) <\/td>Ich zahle am liebsten mit meiner EC karte<\/b>.<\/i> (I prefer to pay with my debit card.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
der Scheck<\/i><\/td>the check<\/td>Ich werde dir einen Scheck<\/b> ausstellen, um die Rechnung zu bezahlen.<\/i> (I'll write you a check to pay the bill.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
die Kasse<\/i> <\/td>the checkout\/cash register<\/td>Bitte zahlen Sie an der Kasse<\/b>.<\/i> (Please pay at the checkout counter.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
der Schalter<\/i><\/td>the counter
\n(a specific, numbered counter at the bank or any public office)<\/td>		Bitte gehen Sie zum Schalter<\/b> Vier.<\/i> (Please go to counter four.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
das Kleingeld<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>the small change<\/td>H\u00e4tten Sie Kleingeld<\/b> f\u00fcr 100 Euro, bitte?<\/i> (Would you have change for 100 Euro, please?)
\n
\n*Here h\u00e4tten<\/i>\u00a0(would have) is used instead of haben<\/i>\u00a0(have) to sound more polite. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
der Dauerauftrag<\/i>\u00a0<\/td>the standing order
\n(direct payments used to pay your monthly bills such as rent, electricity, phone and internet)<\/td>		Ich m\u00f6chte einen Dauerauftrag<\/b> einrichten.<\/i> (I'd like to arrange a standing order.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

It’s important to be aware that credit cards aren’t as widely accepted in Germany<\/strong> as they are in the USA or UK. There are many caf\u00e9s and shops in Germany that still don’t accept them.<\/p>\n

Debit cards are most often used in malls, shops, supermarkets and caf\u00e9s, but there are plenty of places, especially in the town-side in Germany, that only accept cash.<\/p>\n

For more vocabulary like this, you can head to FluentU and pick up more practical, everyday German expressions there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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