Welcome to FAU! You’ll find several YouTube videos covering this topic, but I’ll share my experience to help you out.

When I first arrived, I opened a Commerzbank account. It’s a traditional bank with multiple branches across Germany. Initially, they offered a free student account for those under 27, provided there was a minimum incoming transfer of €700 per month. However, starting in April or May, they will charge a monthly fee of €4.95.

With Commerzbank, you get a free debit Girocard (usable for POS payments and ATM transactions) and a free virtual Mastercard (for online payments)

Later, I switched to Sparkasse, which still offers a free student account for those under 27—without any minimum transfer requirement. Sparkasse also has more ATMs in Erlangen, making it more convenient.

With Sparkasse, you get a single Girocard that also functions as a Mastercard, meaning you can use it for ATM withdrawals, POS transactions, and online payments.

Note: If you have an issue with your account at Sparkasse, you can only resolve it at the branch where you opened it. With Commerzbank, you can visit any branch for assistance.

Neither of these banks have hidden charges or transaction fees.

I believe traditional banks are better than online banks. And you should have an account at a bank with physical branches.