Is N26 a real bank?
N26 was a mobile banking platform that offered an account with checking-like services. The German-based neobank shut down its U.S. operation and has been unavailable to U.S. customers since January 11, 2022. If you're looking for a neobank, consider one of these 19 alternatives.
N26 is a real bank with a full banking license. This means that your N26 account is always protected up to €100,000 by the German Deposit Protection Scheme.
Due to differences in the U.S. market (particularly in regards to regulatory schemes for financial providers), N26 partnered with Axos Bank to serve as the provider of its services, insured under FDIC. Unlike in Europe, where they are provided by MasterCard, N26 used Visa cards for U.S. customers.
N26 operates with a full German banking license, and your bank account with a German iBAN is protected up to €100,000, according to EU directives. And with fingerprint identification and advanced 3D Secure technology, you can rest assured you're extra safe when making purchases in stores and online.
The current free account is more limited, but still very good. If you just moved to Germany, N26 is a good bank to start with. You don't need an Anmeldung, and you can do everything in English. The fees are low, and the N26 app is also nice (I love the push notifications and the spaces).
If you haven't set up direct deposit before, getting your salary paid into your N26 account is easy. All you need to do is provide your employer with your N26 International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and they'll transfer your monthly salary to you using the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). What are you waiting for?
Deposit cash using CASH26
To use this function, just open your N26 app while you're in a participating partner store, tap on CASH26 and enter your desired amount. This will generate a code that you can show to the cashier to scan, and your money will be deposited. For this, we charge a deposit fee of 1.5%.
German neobank headquartered in Berlin, Germany, N26, has closed the online bank accounts of over one hundred customers, without prior warning, as a part of anti-fraud measures that went wrong a month ago, in April 14.
Some industry observers have chalked up N26's US failure to reasons like “global banking is hard,” and “the US is a hostile regulatory environment.” These might be contributing factors, but the seeds of N26's US failure were sown right from the very start of its launch in July 2019: 1) Incorrect market assumptions.
From instant payments to guaranteed deposits—N26 offers secure and 100% mobile banking. And those are just some of the reasons why N26 was voted the world's best bank by Forbes. Find them all here! N26 is The Mobile Bank with a full German banking license that offers secure, 100% mobile banking anytime, anywhere.
Does N26 have visa?
Visa and Mastercard are the world's best-known credit cards, and it might seem like they're one and the same.
Your money at N26
And of course, domestic bank transfers to other banks in the same country are free with every N26 bank account as well. Sending money abroad? No problem. We've also made international transfers effortless thanks to Wise (formerly TransferWise), seamlessly integrated into your N26 app.
Does N26 offer credit cards? All N26 bank cards are debit Mastercard cards with contactless NFC technology. Credit cards are not currently offered.
N26 Standard is a free bank account. There are no account maintenance fees or minimum deposit amounts for this online account.
N26 has made the decision to sharpen its focus on its European business and will no longer be available to customers in the US after January 18th, 2022. What will happen next? US customers have been sent a formal notification email to the email address connected to their account.
Make ATM withdrawals worldwide, with no transaction fees
With N26 You, you can withdraw cash for free from ATMs anywhere in the world, and use your N26 You debit card to pay online or in stores in any currency. You'll also benefit from the Mastercard exchange rate, without any markups.
With an N26 account, you can withdraw up to €1,000 per day and set your limit lower at your discretion.
How to find your IBAN. In some countries, like Germany and Spain, IBANs are commonly printed on bank cards and on bank statements. N26 customers from countries using the BIC and IBAN banking system can find these details in the My Account section of their N26 app.
Your N26 Standard, Smart, You or N26 Metal card will be delivered within 3-5 working days. Deliveries take place between 08:00 and 12:00.
Just tap 'Add Money,' in your N26 app, select 'Apple Pay' or 'Google Pay,' and follow the prompts. Again, add between €20 and €150 per top up, up to €450 per month. When you open an N26 account, you can add money via Apple or Google Pay to your account instantly, and start making payments straight away.
What is the difference between N26 and Revolut?
Revolut is an e-money licence business, whereas N26 is an actual bank that can affect the protection of your money. Revolut offers access to cryptocurrency, stocks and commodities. You can't access these with N26. Both treat cash withdrawals differently, with Revolut having a €200 limit.
- Open your N26 app.
- Go to the Cards tab and swipe until you see the card you're activating.
- Tap Card Settings and then Activate.
- Enter the 10-digit number that appears on the front or back of your card and choose your PIN number.
Customers shared their distress online after N26 shut their accounts on April 14 as part of anti-fraud measures that went wrong. Insider interviewed 12 customers, including a Ukrainian refugee who immediately lost access to up to $15,900 (€15,000) after receiving an email.
Because N26 is a regulated financial institution, there are many regulations that we must follow and comply with. This means that we're required to review some of our customers' transactions and account activities periodically—and as a result of these reviews, we may limit access to your N26 account.
N26 Savings—for long-term saving with high interest
This is a fixed-term deposit account that helps you achieve longer-term savings goals even faster, thanks to interest rates up to 1.38% p.a. Learn more about N26 Savings.
We offer our accounts in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (not available for residents in the DOM/TOM), Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
It is with sincere gratitude and appreciation that we've made the tough decision to sharpen our focus on our European business. As a result, our product is no longer available to customers in the US.
N26 confirmed in late 2017 that they were going to open up to American customers soon. Initially, they hinted at a 2018 launch, but now, more than 18 months later, on July 11, N26 finally launched in the United States. As of August 22, 2019 you can finally head over to N26's website and sign up.
N26 is the most established and accessible online bank and a favorite amongst expats. Commerzbank is the best branch bank for English speakers and available to all nationatlities. Tomorrow is the only sustainable bank with great features for everyday banking.
The N26 You Mastercard has no embossing: the card details, including the number, CVV code, and 10-digit token are printed on the back. If you upgrade to N26 Business You from N26 Standard or Smart, the monthly fee of €9,90 will be deducted directly from your N26 account every month starting on the date of your upgrade.
Which bank debit card is best?
- Bank of India RuPay Platinum Debit Card.
- Central Bank of India RuPay Platinum Debit Card.
- IDFC First Visa Signature Debit Card.
- SBI Platinum Debit Card.
- Yes Bank Prosperity Platinum Debit Card.
- Axis Burgundy World Debit Card.
- HDFC Women's Advantage Debit Card.
Making an ATM withdrawal couldn't be easier. Just insert your physical card or scan your virtual one over the reader, select the language option, and enter your 4-digit PIN number. Once the PIN is approved, select 'withdrawal' for transaction type, and enter the amount you want to withdraw.
All N26 bank cards are Mastercard debit cards that come with contactless NFC technology—even our bespoke-design metal Mastercard.
N26 is the most established and accessible online bank and a favorite amongst expats. Commerzbank is the best branch bank for English speakers and available to all nationatlities. Tomorrow is the only sustainable bank with great features for everyday banking.
N26 is the better choice if you're looking for a fully-fledged current account from your mobile phone. Revolut is the better choice if you're looking for a flexible spending account next to your main bank account.
What are the benefits of an N26 You account? N26 You is a premium membership bank account that comes with a colorful debit card, travel insurance and cover for flight, luggage and curtailment delays as well as luggage loss. You'll also get exclusive partner deals and free foreign currency ATM withdrawals worldwide.
N26 Standard is a free bank account. There are no account maintenance fees or minimum deposit amounts for this online account.
Does N26 offer credit cards? All N26 bank cards are debit Mastercard cards with contactless NFC technology. Credit cards are not currently offered.
KFW Bankgruppe
KFW funds its business activities through the international capital markets, raising US$85.84 billion in 2016. It is considered by many to be the safest bank in the world. It is present in Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Bonn, and Cologne.
- Berliner Sparkasse — 3€ monthly fee1, or 1€ + 0.30€ per debit card transaction2. 2.50€ per month for a credit card1.
- bunq — Minimum 3€ per month for the card. No other monthly fee.
- Deutsche Bank — 6.90€ monthly fee1.
- Volksbank: 6€ monthly fee + 0.50€ for debit card1.
Is N26 safe?
N26 has been operating with a full German banking license since 2016, and is governed by the same laws and regulations as any other bank. This means that your funds are protected up to €100,000 by the German Deposit Protection Scheme—and that your money and N26 bank account are secure.
How to find your IBAN. In some countries, like Germany and Spain, IBANs are commonly printed on bank cards and on bank statements. N26 customers from countries using the BIC and IBAN banking system can find these details in the My Account section of their N26 app.
N26 earned its banking license in 2016. This distinction lets us provide our 7 million customers with a range of premium financial services, as well as the security you deserve.
N26 has made the decision to sharpen its focus on its European business and will no longer be available to customers in the US after January 18th, 2022. What will happen next? US customers have been sent a formal notification email to the email address connected to their account.
How much does an instant bank transfer cost? Receiving instant bank transfers—also known as SEPA Instant Credit Transfers—is free for all N26 customers. Sending an instant bank transfer is free for all N26 Smart, N26 Business Smart, N26 You, N26 Business You, N26 Metal, and N26 Business Metal customers.
If you do, you can simply register via the N26 WebApp on desktop or the N26 app on your smartphone. It only takes 8 minutes to open a bank account, and there's no paperwork involved. You may start using your account right away once your identity is verified.
- are at least 18 years old.
- are a resident of a supported country.
- own a compatible smartphone.
- hold a supported ID.
- don't already have an account with us.
- are able to verify yourself in one of our supported languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, or French.
We offer our accounts in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (not available for residents in the DOM/TOM), Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Your money at N26
And of course, domestic bank transfers to other banks in the same country are free with every N26 bank account as well. Sending money abroad? No problem. We've also made international transfers effortless thanks to Wise (formerly TransferWise), seamlessly integrated into your N26 app.
