Comdirect Current Account: Full Review – Fees, Cards, Cash, and Where It Falls Short
By: Simon Heinrich – Last updated: 07/2026
Comdirect is one of Germany’s largest direct banks and a subsidiary of Commerzbank. It offers online-first banking with access to a physical infrastructure that most neobanks and even some other direct banks can’t match, including cash deposits at Commerzbank ATMs and a retail cash service at supermarkets.
In this article, we break down everything the comdirect current account offers: the different models, what “free” actually means, which cards you get and which cost extra, how cash handling works, what the app is like in daily use, and where comdirect has clear weaknesses.
This article is part of our Finance guide for your life in Germany.
Still deciding which bank to go with? Start with our overview: Your First Bank Account in Germany – Why There’s No Single “Best” (And What Actually Matters)
On this page you'll find:
- Account models: which one you actually need
- Account fees: when it’s really free
- Cards: what’s included, what’s optional, what’s worth it
- Cash: withdrawals, deposits, and retail cash service
- Online banking and app: what to expect
- Using comdirect abroad: manageable, but not the strongest
- Fee structure: where extra costs can appear
- Opening your account: what to expect from the process
- Who comdirect is good for – and who might look elsewhere
- Conclusion: A reliable main account with good day-to-day features
Account models: which one you actually need
Comdirect offers several current account variants. This can seem confusing at first, but the differences are straightforward once you know what each adds.
Girokonto Aktiv
The standard model. It includes a Visa Debit card, full online banking, app access, and all core features for everyday banking. This is the model most people end up with, and it’s sufficient for the vast majority of use cases. Monthly fee: from 0.00 Euro.
Girokonto Extra
Everything from Aktiv, plus a real Visa credit card with monthly billing (separate from the debit card). Relevant if you regularly need a credit card for hotel bookings, car rentals, or situations where a debit card isn’t accepted. Regarding credit cards, however, there are better offers available from other providers. Monthly fee: 2.90 Euro.
Girokonto Plus
The premium option. Includes everything from Extra, plus travel insurance, unlimited free ATM withdrawals worldwide, and additional perks. Makes sense if you travel frequently and want everything bundled with your main bank. However, the travel insurance is overpriced compared to standalone policies; better to get dedicated coverage separately, as credit card-linked options often come with restrictive clauses and only apply when using that specific card. Monthly fee: 9.90 Euro.
Important: All three models use the same app, same login, same banking infrastructure. The difference is only in included cards, withdrawal limits, and bundled extras. You can upgrade or downgrade between models at any time.
Account fees: when it's really free
One of comdirect’s main selling points is that the account can be kept fee-free long-term, but there are conditions worth understanding.
The first 6 months are always free. No conditions, no minimum income, no catches. This applies regardless of which model you choose.
Under 28 years old and apprentice or student? Account stays free indefinitely, regardless of income or activity. Once opened, your status isn’t checked again – for example, open at 22 as a student, and it remains free until 28 even after graduating at 25.
28 and older? After the initial 6 months, the account remains free if you meet at least one of these conditions each month:
| Condition | What counts |
|---|---|
| €700 incoming payment | Salary, pension, freelance income, scholarship, government payments |
| 3 payments via Apple Pay or Google Pay | Any mobile payment – groceries, coffee, transit |
| 1 trade or savings plan execution | Even a small monthly ETF savings plan qualifies |
If none of these are met: A monthly fee of approximately 4.90 Euro applies. Comparable to other major direct banks in Germany not unusual, but avoidable for most people.
In practice: Anyone with a regular salary or income landing in this account meets the condition automatically. If your income is irregular, three mobile payments per month is an easy threshold to hit. Most users won’t need to actively think about this.
Cards: what's included, what's optional, what's worth it
The card setup determines how you pay in daily life in stores, online, abroad, and at ATMs.
Visa Debit Card (included, free)
Your primary card for everyday use:
- Accepted anywhere Visa is accepted, online and offline, in Germany and internationally
- Contactless payments via NFC
- Compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Garmin Pay
- Money is deducted directly from your current account balance; no separate credit line, no monthly bill
- Uses a standard Visa card number format, so it works for online shops and subscriptions that ask for a “credit card”
For the majority of daily situations (supermarkets, restaurants, online orders, subscriptions, transit) the Visa Debit card is all you need.
Girocard (optional, small monthly fee)
Germany’s traditional debit card system (formerly called EC-Karte). While Visa acceptance has grown enormously in recent years, some places still only accept Girocard:
- Small shops, weekly markets, certain medical practices, some parking garages
- Withdrawals at Cash Group ATMs (Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Postbank, HypoVereinsbank) without extra fees
- Available for a small monthly fee (currently 1.00 Euro)
Worth it? Girocard is rarely needed nowadays, as “Girocard-only” shops are almost nonexistent and even then, cash is usually accepted as an alternative. In most cases, it’s unnecessary.
Visa Credit Card (optional, depending on model)
A real credit card with monthly billing:
- Transactions are collected over the month and billed as a lump sum
- Required by some hotels, car rental agencies, and services that explicitly need a credit card
- Included in Girokonto Extra and Plus, or available as a paid add-on for Girokonto Aktiv
Worth it? Only if you regularly encounter situations requiring a real credit card. In that case, you’ll find better credit cards with superior terms at other banks.
Cash: withdrawals, deposits, and retail cash service
Cash handling is an area where comdirect genuinely differentiates itself from most other direct banks and neobanks.
Withdrawals:
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa Debit at any Visa ATM | Works in Germany and worldwide |
| Free withdrawals | 3 per month worldwide |
| Additional withdrawals | €4.90 per transaction |
| Minimum amount | Typically €50 at ATMs |
| Girocard at Cash Group ATMs | Free (if Girocard is active) – large network: Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Postbank, HypoVereinsbank |
Deposits:
This is where comdirect has a genuine edge. Most direct banks and nearly all neobanks make cash deposits difficult or impossible.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Commerzbank ATMs | Deposit cash at Commerzbank deposit ATMs across Germany (coins and banknotes) |
| Free deposits | Up to 3 per calendar year |
| Additional deposits | €4.90 each |
This matters for anyone who receives cash regularly: Freelancers, people with side jobs, or simply anyone who accumulates cash and wants to get it into their account.
Retail cash service (via app):
A practical addition that bypasses ATMs entirely:
- Generate a barcode in the comdirect app
- Present it at participating retailers: REWE, Penny, dm, Rossmann, Budni, and others
- Deposit or withdraw cash directly at the checkout
- No ATM needed, no separate trip required
Overall assessment: If cash occasionally plays any role in your life, comdirect offers significantly better options than most competitors in the direct banking space. The combination of Commerzbank ATMs and retail cash service is hard to match.
Online banking and app: what to expect
As a direct bank, comdirect runs entirely through its app and web interface. There are no comdirect branches; still Commerzbank branches provide limited services like cash deposits.
Core features:
- Login via fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN
- photoTAN as the standard security method: free, reliable, and the recommended option
- SMS-based mobileTAN is available as an alternative but costs €0.09 per TAN
- Real-time push notifications for every transaction
- Full management of standing orders, transfers, and direct debits
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Garmin Pay
Honest assessment of the app:
The comdirect app is functional, stable, and feature-complete but it won’t win any design awards. If you’re used to the clean, modern interfaces of neobanks like N26 or Revolut, comdirect’s app may feel dated and less intuitive.
Some specific observations from user reports:
- Making a transfer feels more like a step-by-step conversation than a single-form experience
- Navigation can require a few taps more than necessary for common actions
- The feature set is rich (which is good), but the interface doesn’t always make things easy to find (which isn’t)
That said: it works reliably. Transfers go through, notifications are instant, direct debits are managed cleanly, and the app runs stably on both iOS and Android. After an initial adjustment period, most people handle their daily banking without issues.
Language:
The app, web interface, and all contract documents are exclusively in German. There is no English language option. In practice:
- Modern phones and browsers offer real-time translation that makes navigation manageable
- Banking interfaces use repetitive terminology – once you learn key terms like Überweisung (transfer), Dauerauftrag (standing order), Kontostand (balance), and Umsätze (transactions), the language barrier shrinks quickly
- Customer support is also in German only
If operating entirely in German is a dealbreaker, comdirect may not be the right choice; banks like N26 offer a fully English experience.
Using comdirect abroad: manageable, but not the strongest
Comdirect is clearly optimized for everyday use within Germany. International use works, but comes with limitations.
Within the eurozone (€):
| Action | Cost |
|---|---|
| Card payments | No extra fees |
| ATM withdrawals | Counted against your monthly free limit. Additional withdrawals cost the standard fee. |
Eurozone trips (like visiting the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Austria) are handled without surprises, as long as you stay within your withdrawal limit.
Outside the eurozone:
| Action | Cost |
|---|---|
| Card payments | 1.75% foreign currency fee on the transaction amount |
| ATM withdrawals | Foreign currency fee plus the standard withdrawal fee if free limit is reached |
This adds up. A 500 Euro hotel payment in the UK, US, or Thailand costs roughly 8.75 Euro extra in fees alone. For regular international use, that’s not competitive.
Bottom line: Comdirect works well as a domestic account and handles occasional eurozone trips fine. For frequent non-euro use (business travel, vacations outside Europe or remote work abroad) a dedicated travel card or a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise or Revolut is a better fit for that specific purpose.
Fee structure overview: where extra costs can appear
Comdirect is built for online self-service. Fees are minimal when you operate digitally, but they appear when you deviate from the standard path.
| Action | Cost |
|---|---|
| Account maintenance (conditions met) | Free |
| Account maintenance (conditions not met) | €4.90/month |
| Online transfer (app/web) | Free |
| Transfer by phone, mail, or fax | €4.90 |
| Standing order setup (online) | Free |
| Standing order setup (phone/mail) | €4.90 |
| photoTAN | Free |
| SMS mobileTAN | €0.09 Fee per TAN |
| ATM withdrawal (within free limit) | Free |
| ATM withdrawal (beyond limit) | €4.90 |
| Cash deposit at Commerzbank (first 3/year) | Free |
| Cash deposit (additional) | €4.90 |
| Foreign currency card payment | ~1.75% |
| Girocard (optional) | €1.00/month |
The pattern: Digital and online = free or very cheap. Manual, offline, or international = fees apply. Users who run their account entirely through the app with photoTAN will rarely encounter extra costs.
Opening your account: what to expect from the process
Documents you need:
- Passport or national ID card
- German registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung): not always legally required, but strongly recommended to avoid complications
- German phone number (for app setup and TAN verification)
- Email address
Identification options:
Comdirect offers both PostIdent and VideoIdent:
- PostIdent: Go to any Deutsche Post branch with your ID and a PostIdent coupon (generated during the application). Staff verifies your identity in person. Takes about 5–10 minutes, rarely fails.
- VideoIdent: Video call with an agent who checks your ID via camera. Convenient in theory, but frequently reported as unreliable (technical issues, connection problems, and failed attempts are common complaints); this is a general VideoIdent issue in Germany.
Timeline:
| Step | Duration |
|---|---|
| Online application | ~20 minutes |
| PostIdent at a branch | ~10 minutes |
| Account activation after identification | within 1 business day |
| Card delivery by mail | ~5–10 business days |
With successful PostIdent verification, you typically receive your IBAN and full online banking access within a few hours. This lets you immediately add the virtual card to Apple/Google Pay on your smartphone, receive or send transfers (e.g., blocked account, salary, insurance or rent), and handle standing orders even before the physical card arrives.
For a detailed walkthrough of the general process, see our article: How to Open a German Bank Account: Step-by-Step Guide
Who comdirect is good for – and who might look elsewhere
Comdirect is a strong choice if you:
- Want a fee-free account and have regular income or use mobile payments
- Value cash access, both withdrawals and deposits, more than pure neobanks can offer
- Prefer a large, established bank with decades of track record over a startup
- Are comfortable doing your banking entirely online and in German
- Want PostIdent as an identification option
- Want the flexibility to add cards or upgrade your account model later without switching banks
Comdirect might not be the best fit if:
- You need a fully English-language experience. Everything (app, documents, support) is in German only
- Your primary need is frequent non-euro payments or travel abroad. The foreign currency fees make it expensive for regular international use. A dedicated travel account or multi-currency solution would be more cost-effective
- You prioritize a sleek, minimalist app experience. Comdirect’s app is functional and stable, but noticeably less polished than modern neobanks
- You need regular in-person branch banking. The Commerzbank connection helps with cash, but comdirect itself has no branches and isn’t designed for offline banking
- Your cash deposit needs are frequent (more than 3 times per year). The free deposit limit is generous for occasional use but becomes costly for regular cash deposits
Conclusion: A reliable main account with good day-to-day features
Comdirect delivers what a current account needs to deliver in everyday life: reliable transfers, card payments that work, solid mobile banking, and, unusually for a direct bank, practical cash handling through the Commerzbank network and retail partnerships.
The fee structure is transparent and avoidable for most people with regular income. The card options cover common needs without forcing you into premium models. And the infrastructure behind it is established and stable.
Where it falls short is equally clear: the app isn’t the most modern, the language is German-only, and international use outside the eurozone gets expensive. These aren’t hidden flaws, they’re trade-offs of a bank that’s optimized for domestic everyday banking rather than trying to be everything at once.
Summary at a glance:
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✅ Fee-free with realistic conditions | ⚠️ German-only (app, documents, support) |
| ✅ Visa Debit included, optional Girocard and credit card | ⚠️ App design isn’t the most modern |
| ✅ Cash deposits via Commerzbank ATMs and retail | ⚠️ Foreign currency fees for non-euro use |
| ✅ PostIdent available | ⚠️ Free deposit limit (3/year) may not be enough for heavy cash users |
| ✅ Established bank, stable infrastructure | ⚠️ Not a full branch banking experience |
| ✅ Apple Pay, Google Pay, photoTAN |
Optionen vergleichen? Schau dir an, wie die comdirect im Vergleich abschneidet: Dein erstes Girokonto in Deutschland – Warum es „das Beste” nicht gibt
Weitere Finanzthemen? Ein Girokonto ist nur ein Baustein. Unser Finanzguide für dein Leben in Deutschland deckt alles ab – vom Sperrkonto über Versicherungen bis hin zu Sparen und mehr.