https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed An additional real-time security measure that comes into force on Thursday across the Eurozone puts the onus on users to ensure bank details of financial transfer recipients is accurate. https://www.thelocal.de/20250926/the-important-eu-banking-security-change-you-need-to-know-about Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:13:22 +0200 the-important-eu-banking-security-change-you-need-to-know-about Online payment service provider PayPal said Friday it had resolved a glitch that may have blocked billions in payments in Europe this week. https://www.thelocal.de/20250830/paypal-says-it-has-resolved-payment-disruption-in-germany Sat, 30 Aug 2025 10:46:53 +0200 paypal-says-it-has-resolved-payment-disruption-in-germany Germany's highest court has ruled that negative interest rates are not permissible on savings accounts - meaning some customers could be entitled to a refund. https://www.thelocal.de/20250205/how-a-key-bank-ruling-could-affect-your-savings-account-in-germany Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:15:45 +0100 how-a-key-bank-ruling-could-affect-your-savings-account-in-germany Even in privacy-obsessed Germany, you'll often be asked to provide your bank details - or IBAN - when purchasing products or setting up contracts. Is it always safe to do so - or is there a chance of fraud? https://www.thelocal.de/20240920/reader-question-is-it-safe-to-give-out-your-iban-in-germany Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:28:04 +0200 reader-question-is-it-safe-to-give-out-your-iban-in-germany Germany is consistently ranked as a top destination for freelancers and digital nomads. But being self-employed can make finding the right bank a challenge. https://www.thelocal.de/20240403/explained-what-are-the-best-bank-accounts-in-germany-for-freelancers Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:08:45 +0200 explained-what-are-the-best-bank-accounts-in-germany-for-freelancers Cash has long been king in Germany, with many smaller retailers refusing to join the rest of the world in adopting contactless payment systems. But card-based payments are on the rise, as recent stats about Girocard use reveal. https://www.thelocal.de/20240213/card-over-cash-why-germany-is-seeing-a-new-payment-preference Tue, 13 Feb 2024 13:31:08 +0100 card-over-cash-why-germany-is-seeing-a-new-payment-preference Banking can be a confusing topic for foreigners in Germany, so we'd love to hear your thoughts on the best banks and savings accounts for people from abroad. https://www.thelocal.de/20240213/tell-us-what-are-the-best-banking-and-money-saving-options-for-foreigners-in-germany Tue, 13 Feb 2024 13:08:00 +0100 tell-us-what-are-the-best-banking-and-money-saving-options-for-foreigners-in-germany With savers hammered by high inflation, banks in Germany are offering unorthodox options to make your money last longer. So what's the best way to stop your savings getting consumed by the rising cost of living? https://www.thelocal.de/20231027/how-to-grow-your-savings-in-germany-during-high-inflation Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:00:15 +0200 how-to-grow-your-savings-in-germany-during-high-inflation Germany has long been notorious for its hefty bank charges - and according to a new study, the situation is getting worse. https://www.thelocal.de/20230823/why-its-almost-impossible-to-find-a-free-bank-account-in-germany Wed, 23 Aug 2023 13:41:18 +0200 why-its-almost-impossible-to-find-a-free-bank-account-in-germany An app acquired by the German credit agency Schufa promises instant credit checks and alerts when transactions damage your credit score - but consumer rights campaigners have data protection concerns. https://www.thelocal.de/20230719/bonify-what-to-know-about-the-new-credit-score-app-in-germany Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:36:03 +0200 bonify-what-to-know-about-the-new-credit-score-app-in-germany Interest rates are on the rise, with some banks now offering as much as 3 percent on savings accounts. Here's why it could make sense for people in Germany to stash some money away now. https://www.thelocal.de/20230408/is-now-the-best-time-to-open-a-savings-account-in-germany Sat, 08 Apr 2023 20:17:56 +0200 is-now-the-best-time-to-open-a-savings-account-in-germany Whether it's blocked accounts, confusing T&Cs or unnecessary fees, financial watchdogs have been swamped with complaints about German banks lately. Here's what's going on. https://www.thelocal.de/20230406/why-german-banks-are-getting-more-customer-complaints-than-ever Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:19:09 +0200 why-german-banks-are-getting-more-customer-complaints-than-ever After shares in Deutsche Bank dropped, the German chancellor said on Friday that there was no reason to worry about the lender. https://www.thelocal.de/20230324/no-reason-to-worry-about-deutsche-bank-says-scholz Fri, 24 Mar 2023 16:39:52 +0100 no-reason-to-worry-about-deutsche-bank-says-scholz A year after the German Federal Court of Justice ruled in favour of bank customers in a case centred on consent for banking fees, many credit institutions are still not implementing the decision. https://www.thelocal.de/20220420/unlawful-german-bank-fees-continue-to-cause-controversy Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:57:05 +0200 unlawful-german-bank-fees-continue-to-cause-controversy German online bank N26 said Thursday it was closing its operation in the United States next year, as regulators in Europe place the "fintech" start-up under increased scrutiny. https://www.thelocal.de/20211118/german-online-bank-n26-shutters-us-service Thu, 18 Nov 2021 16:22:42 +0100 german-online-bank-n26-shutters-us-service From speeding up transfers to getting rid of fees for taking out cash, here are the changes foreigners in Germany want to see to banking services. https://www.thelocal.de/20211008/move-into-this-century-how-germany-could-improve-its-banking-system Fri, 08 Oct 2021 19:13:33 +0200 move-into-this-century-how-germany-could-improve-its-banking-system Germany’s federal high court has ruled that the Postbank is not allowed to raise fees without the explicit consent of a customer. The ruling is likely to have consequences for almost all German banks. Here’s how you can benefit from it. https://www.thelocal.de/20210502/why-a-german-court-decision-means-you-could-be-entitled-to-compensation-from-your-bank Sun, 02 May 2021 14:32:24 +0200 why-a-german-court-decision-means-you-could-be-entitled-to-compensation-from-your-bank Germany's second-largest lender Commerzbank said Thursday it will cut 10,000 jobs and close 340 branches by 2024 as it grapples with a switch to online banking and cashless payment options. https://www.thelocal.de/20210128/commerzbank-to-cut-10000-jobs-and-close-340-branches Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:28:10 +0100 commerzbank-to-cut-10000-jobs-and-close-340-branches As the end of the Brexit transition period looms, the UK has so far failed to negotiate access to the European passporting scheme for banks - here's what that means if you are British and live in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20200921/how-post-brexit-bank-changes-could-affect-british-people-in-germany Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:36:05 +0200 how-post-brexit-bank-changes-could-affect-british-people-in-germany Some of Britain's biggest banks have begun contacting customers in European Union countries, warning them that their accounts will be closed down within weeks because the cost and complexity of operating without a continuation of pan-European banking rules is too much. https://www.thelocal.de/20200920/brits-in-eu-risk-losing-uk-bank-accounts-within-week Sun, 20 Sep 2020 16:19:03 +0200 brits-in-eu-risk-losing-uk-bank-accounts-within-week