Best Tagesgeld Accounts
in Germany 2026
A Tagesgeld account is Germany's flexible savings account — access your money any time, earn interest daily. Rates have fallen from their 2023 peaks as the ECB cut rates, but the best accounts still pay 2 % to 3,5 % per year. This guide explains how they work, where the traps are, and which accounts suit expats in Germany right now.
All rates as of 2 June 2026. Variable rates may change. Always verify with the provider before opening an account.
What is a Tagesgeld account?
Tagesgeld translates literally as "day money" — a savings account where you earn interest from day one, without committing to a fixed term. You can deposit money whenever you like and withdraw it at any time, typically with the transfer arriving in your linked Girokonto within one to two business days. There is no minimum deposit at most providers, no notice period, and no penalty for withdrawals.
In practice, a Tagesgeld account is where Germans keep their Notgroschen (emergency fund) and any savings that are not yet earmarked for a specific long-term goal. Because the money stays accessible, it sits between the Girokonto (current account, typically paying little or no interest) and the Festgeld account (fixed-term deposit, higher rate but locked for a set period).
Girokonto
Current account for daily use. Cards, direct debits, transfers. Usually 0 % to 0,5 % interest. Money available immediately.
Tagesgeld
Flexible savings. 2 % to 3,5 % interest. Withdraw anytime. Variable rate follows ECB decisions. Separate from current account.
Festgeld
Fixed-term deposit. Higher rates possible. Money locked for 3 months to several years. No access until maturity.
Interest calculator — how much will you earn?
Simplified calculation. Tax applies once the Sparerpauschbetrag of 1.000 € p. a. is exceeded. Submit a Freistellungsauftrag to avoid automatic withholding.
Aktionszins vs. Anschlusszins — the most important thing to understand
Almost every Tagesgeld account in Germany advertises a headline rate that is only available for a limited time to new customers. This is called the Aktionszins (promotional rate). After the promotional period — typically 3 to 6 months — the rate drops to the Anschlusszins (ongoing rate), which is often significantly lower.
Checking both figures before you open an account is non-negotiable. A 3,40 % Aktionszins for 5 months that drops to 0,80 % afterwards may be less attractive than a 2,00 % unlimited rate at another provider — depending on how long you plan to leave the money there.
Example: What 10.000 € earns over 12 months
| Provider | Aktionszins | Duration | Anschlusszins | Gross interest (12 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consorsbank | 3,40 % | 5 months | 0,80 % | 208 € |
| ING | 3,20 % | 4 months | 1,50 % | 207 € |
| TF Bank | 3,25 % | 4 months | 1,45 % | 197 € |
| Trade Republic | 2,00 % | Unlimited | 2,00 % (same) | 200 € |
| DKB | 1,00 % | Ongoing | 1,00 % (same) | 100 € |
Approximate figures for illustration purposes. Based on 10.000 € deposit, rates as of June 2026.
Some savers deliberately move money from one bank to the next every time a promotional rate expires, always claiming the best new-customer Aktionszins. This works but requires effort: opening new accounts, transferring money, submitting Freistellungsaufträge at each new bank. If you prefer simplicity, Trade Republic's 2,00 % unlimited rate or the ING's solid ongoing rate after the Aktionszins period may fit better than constant account-hopping.
Best Tagesgeld accounts for expats (June 2026)
The accounts below were selected based on competitive interest rates, accessibility for expats (online opening, VideoIdent, English-language support where available), transparent fee structures, and solid deposit insurance. Rates are verified as of 2 June 2026 and subject to change.
ING (Internationale Nederlanden Groep) is the largest direct bank in Germany by customer numbers, with over 9 million accounts. The Extra-Konto Tagesgeld offers 3,20 % for new customers for 4 months on deposits up to 250.000 €. After the promotional period, the ongoing rate of 1,50 % is one of the more competitive standard rates in the market. ING does not require you to open a current account first, though doing so unlocks a longer promotional period. Interest is credited annually. Account opening is fully online with VideoIdent.
- Highest Aktionszins among major banks
- Solid 1,50 % ongoing rate after promo
- No minimum deposit
- Statutory deposit guarantee (100.000 €)
- Additional voluntary fund protection
- Interest credited annually (not monthly)
- Promo period only 4 months
- German-language interface primarily
Consorsbank (a subsidiary of BNP Paribas) offers the highest Aktionszins among established German banks at 3,40 % for 5 months. The promo applies to both new customers and existing customers who have never held a Tagesgeld account at Consorsbank. The promotional ceiling is 1.000.000 € — unusually generous. The caveat: after 5 months, the rate drops sharply to 0,80 %, which is below the market average. Plan to move the money elsewhere or to the standard rate when the promotional period ends.
- Highest Aktionszins: 3,40 % for 5 months
- Very high deposit cap (1 Mio. €)
- BNP Paribas backing (large European bank)
- Interest paid quarterly (compound effect)
- Anschlusszins only 0,80 % — below market
- Move money after 5 months
- Primarily German-language interface
TF Bank (Swedish) stands out for paying interest monthly rather than annually — which means you benefit from compound interest on a short cycle. The 4-month Aktionszins of 3,25 % is followed by a competitive 1,45 % ongoing rate, making it one of the better all-round packages. TF Bank is notably more accessible for expats with a shorter Schufa history and is already known to many from its Mastercard Gold travel credit card. The cap of 100.000 € for the Aktionszins matches the statutory deposit insurance ceiling exactly.
- Monthly interest payment (compound effect)
- Good 1,45 % ongoing rate after promo
- Accessible for newcomers
- English-language banking app
- 100.000 € deposit cap for Aktionszins
- Swedish bank — BaFin supervised but Swedish DGS
Trade Republic pays 2,00 % on all uninvested cash in the account — for new and existing customers alike, with no time limit and no cap on the balance. The rate tracks the ECB deposit facility rate, so it will change if the ECB moves. Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly, enabling compound interest. Trade Republic is also a brokerage platform where you can invest in ETFs and stocks from 1 € per savings plan — making it a practical one-stop shop for both short-term cash savings and long-term investing. The English-language app is well-regarded by expats. One note from consumer advocates: the underlying structure involves a money market fund (QMMF) rather than a traditional deposit, so the protection mechanics differ slightly from a standard bank account — though Trade Republic has full BaFin banking licence since 2023.
- 2,00 % unlimited — no promo trap
- New and existing customers same rate
- Daily calculation, monthly payout
- No balance cap
- Excellent English-language app
- ETF savings plans from 1 €
- Rate lower than Aktionszins competitors
- Cash partly in QMMF, not pure deposit
- Rate follows ECB — may fall further
DKB's Tagesgeld pays 1,00 % to all customers — new and existing — with no deposit cap and no time limit. After a brief special promotion period that has since ended, DKB returned to its regular 1,00 % rate. This is below the market top for pure savings, but DKB is one of the most popular accounts for expats due to its free Visa Debit card with no foreign transaction fees. For DKB Girokonto holders, the Tagesgeld is a natural add-on: same bank, same app, instant transfers, and a solid base rate without any promotional complications.
- Simple — same bank as your Girokonto
- No cap, new and existing customers
- Instant transfer between accounts
- Quarterly interest payout
- 1,00 % — below competitors
- Best used alongside a higher-rate account
Full comparison — all top accounts
| Bank | Aktionszins | Duration | Anschlusszins | Interest paid | Deposit cap (promo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Bank direkt | 3,50 % | Limited offer | ~1,50 % | Monthly | Unlimited |
| Consorsbank | 3,40 % | 5 months | 0,80 % | Quarterly | 1.000.000 € |
| TF Bank | 3,25 % | 4 months | 1,45 % | Monthly | 100.000 € |
| ING | 3,20 % | 4 months | 1,50 % | Annually | 250.000 € |
| Santander | 2,75 % | Limited | ~1,00 % | Monthly | Unlimited |
| Trade Republic | 2,00 % | Unlimited | 2,00 % | Monthly | No cap |
| Scalable Capital | 2,50 % | Limited | ~1,50 % | Monthly | No cap |
| DKB | 1,00 % | Ongoing | 1,00 % | Quarterly | No cap |
| C24 (Tagesgeld-Pocket) | 0,50 % | Ongoing | 0,50 % | Monthly | 100.000 € |
All rates as of 2 June 2026. Variable rates are subject to change at any time. Promotional rates available to new customers or customers opening their first Tagesgeld account. Verify all conditions directly with the provider before opening an account.
Tax on Tagesgeld interest: Freistellungsauftrag explained
Germany taxes interest income at a flat rate of 25 % (Abgeltungsteuer) plus a solidarity surcharge of 5,5 % on that tax — making the effective rate 26,375 %. Church tax adds a further 8 % or 9 % on top for members. The bank deducts this automatically before paying your interest out. Without any action from you, the first euro of interest is taxed.
The good news: every resident in Germany has a tax-free savings allowance of 1.000 € per year (Sparerpauschbetrag) — 2.000 € for couples filing jointly. To benefit from this automatically, you must submit a Freistellungsauftrag to your bank. Without it, you pay tax from the first euro and have to reclaim it via your annual tax return.
Tax example: 10.000 € at 2,50 % for 12 months
1 Get your Steueridentifikationsnummer (Tax ID)
Germany assigns every registered resident a unique 11-digit tax ID number (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer) automatically after Anmeldung. It arrives by post within a few weeks. If you have not received one, you can request it from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern online.
2 Submit a Freistellungsauftrag to each bank
In your banking app or online banking, find the Freistellungsauftrag section and enter your tax ID along with the amount you want to allocate — up to 1.000 € in total across all banks. If you have accounts at multiple banks, split the 1.000 € between them (e.g. 500 € to ING, 500 € to Trade Republic). The total must not exceed 1.000 €.
3 Earn interest tax-free up to the limit
Once submitted, your bank applies the exemption automatically. Interest below your allocated amount is paid without tax deduction. For interest above the threshold, the bank deducts 26,375 % automatically. If you earn more than 1.000 € in investment income from all sources combined (interest, dividends, capital gains), the excess is taxed.
Germany has double taxation agreements with most countries. If you are a tax resident in Germany and your home country also claims tax on your interest income, the treaty typically prevents you paying twice. US citizens living in Germany face specific FBAR and FATCA reporting obligations on foreign accounts — if this applies to you, consult a tax advisor familiar with both systems.
How your savings are protected
Every bank operating in Germany under a German banking licence must participate in the statutory deposit guarantee scheme (gesetzliche Einlagensicherung), which covers up to 100.000 € per customer per bank. This is an EU-wide minimum standard under the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive. If the bank fails, the funds are paid out within 7 working days.
Most German private banks also participate in a voluntary additional protection fund (Einlagensicherungsfonds des Bundesverbands deutscher Banken), which raises coverage to several million euros per customer — in some cases many times the statutory minimum. Banks from other EU countries operating in Germany (TF Bank is Swedish, Renault Bank direkt is French) fall under their home country's deposit guarantee scheme, not the German one.
- 100.000 € per customer per bank by law
- Covers all German-licensed banks
- Payout within 7 working days
- EU standard — consistent across member states
- Most German private banks in BdB fund
- Protection often several million € per customer
- Not all banks participate
- EU/EEA banks use home country scheme
For savings up to 100.000 € at any single bank, the statutory EU deposit guarantee provides solid protection. For larger amounts, split deposits across multiple banks to stay within the 100.000 € protected threshold at each. Trade Republic's cash management involves a money market fund (Sondervermögen) — structured differently from a standard bank deposit but protected from insolvency separately from TR's own balance sheet.
Frequently asked questions
The Tagesgeld market in Germany rewards those who pay attention to the fine print. The headline Aktionszins numbers — 3,40 %, 3,20 % — are real, but they last 4 to 5 months before the rate collapses. For someone willing to rotate accounts, that is free money on their emergency fund. For someone who wants simplicity without calendar reminders, Trade Republic's 2,00 % unlimited rate is genuinely competitive and has no traps attached.
My practical recommendation for most expats: open a Girokonto at C24 or DKB first for daily banking. Then open a separate Tagesgeld account at ING or Consorsbank to capture the current Aktionszins. Submit a Freistellungsauftrag at each bank. After the promotional period, reassess — either accept the Anschlusszins or move to whoever is running the next best promotion. Keep 3 to 6 months of living expenses in the Tagesgeld account as an emergency fund; invest everything beyond that in ETFs or Festgeld depending on your time horizon.