C24 Bank Review 2026
Free Smart account, BaFin-supervised, fully digital
C24 Bank GmbH is the digital direct bank of the CHECK24 Group. You open the account in minutes via video identification, and your cards usually arrive within a week. This guide explains how the bank works, how the German deposit insurance protects your money, and how C24 compares to DKB, ING, or N26.
Key Takeaways
- Smart account is free with no minimum incoming-payment requirement. Higher tiers (Plus, Max) add features for a monthly fee.
- BaFin-licensed bank with its own banking license under § 32 KWG. Based in Munich, owned by the CHECK24 Group.
- Deposits protected up to 100,000 EUR per person and per bank through the Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken (EdB) under EinSiG.
- Mastercard Debit issued free; compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Savings account rates are variable and published on c24bank.de.
- Account opening in 10 minutes via video ID in German (limited English support). Cards usually arrive within five business days.
- Transparency note: On 24 November 2025 BaFin appointed a special commissioner at C24 Bank over deficiencies in anti-money-laundering procedures. The banking licence and the 100,000 EUR deposit insurance remain fully in force; the measure targets internal compliance processes. Details below.
Who is C24 Bank?
C24 Bank GmbH is a fully digital direct bank based in Munich and owned by the CHECK24 Group, Germany's largest comparison portal. It holds a full banking license under § 32 KWG and is supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank. Your deposits are statutorily protected up to 100,000 EUR per person and per bank through the Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken (EdB) under the Einlagensicherungsgesetz (EinSiG).
Compared with pure smartphone banks like N26 or Revolut, C24 leverages the CHECK24 infrastructure for account switching and downstream products like loans, insurance, or DSL. There are no physical branches; everything runs through the C24 app or the web banking portal.
The C24 account tiers at a glance
C24 offers three account tiers. Terms reflect May 2026 — for the current published prices, check the Preis-Leistungs-Verzeichnis on c24bank.de.
C24 Smart
No minimum income. Entry-level account for most private customers.
- Free Mastercard Debit
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
- SEPA Instant transfers
- Savings account included
C24 Plus
For frequent travellers and active users.
- Reduced foreign withdrawal fees
- Multiple sub-accounts (Pockets)
- Cash deposits supported
C24 Max
Full package with travel and insurance bundle.
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Travel health insurance
- Partner priority benefits
We do not publish fixed prices because C24 may adjust them. The binding source is the Preis-Leistungs-Verzeichnis on c24bank.de — freely accessible under § 11 ZKG.
Deposit insurance at C24 Bank
Statutory protection of 100,000 EUR per person and per bank
Like all banks authorised in Germany, C24 Bank GmbH is supervised by BaFin under § 6 KWG. In the event of insolvency, statutory deposit insurance under the Einlagensicherungsgesetz (EinSiG) kicks in: deposits are protected up to 100,000 EUR per person and per bank. The carrier of this protection is the Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken (EdB).
What is protected
- Balances on the checking account
- Balances on the savings account
- Fixed-term and overnight deposits
Additional notes
- Voluntary deposit-insurance fund may apply on top
- BaFin-verifiable status
- Independent of currency held
You can verify C24 Bank's current status on bafin.de and on c24bank.de. Stiftung Warentest listed the C24 Smart account among the 12 genuinely free checking accounts out of 725 tested in April 2026 (Finanztest 4/2026).
BaFin supervision 2025: what customers should know
Special commissioner since 24 November 2025 — facts without panic
We recommend C24 Bank as an affiliate partner, so you should also hear the rest of the story. On 24 November 2025 BaFin ordered measures against C24 Bank GmbH: appointment of a special commissioner, increased own-funds requirements and concrete instructions to address organisational deficiencies. The reason cited by BaFin: serious deficiencies in anti-money- laundering, especially in the suspicious-activity reporting process.
The legal basis is § 25a Abs. 2 KWG, § 6 Abs. 1 and 8 plus § 51 Abs. 2 GwG, and § 45c KWG. In 2024 BaFin already fined the bank 1.25 million EUR for delayed money-laundering suspicious- activity reports. The current order is final and remains in force as of May 2026.
What is unchanged
- Banking licence under § 32 KWG: active, not withdrawn
- 100,000 EUR deposit insurance (EinSiG) fully in force
- Account, cards and transfers operate normally
- BaFin and Bundesbank supervision continues regularly
What the measure targets
- Internal compliance processes of the bank
- Suspicious-activity reports and disclosure duties
- Risk-management structures
- Additional regulatory burden on the bank
The official notice is published on bafin.de. We will update this note as soon as BaFin lifts or amends the measure.
How to open a C24 account
Account opening is fully digital through the C24 app or web portal. You need a valid ID card or passport and a registered German address. Under § 10 GwG (Anti-Money-Laundering Act), identity verification via video ID is mandatory.
- Complete the online application. Personal details, address, account tier.
- Run the video ID. Via smartphone or webcam with valid ID. Duration: 5–10 minutes.
- Receive your access. Login details by email; PIN by post.
- Activate the Mastercard Debit. Card usually arrives within five business days.
- Use account switching (optional). C24 transfers standing orders and direct debits under § 22 ZKG.
Important for expats
C24 requires German language and a valid Anmeldung. If you don't yet have an Anmeldung, it's often easier to start with N26 or Revolut and switch to C24 later. If you have a negative Schufa, you have the legal right to a Basiskonto at any bank under §§ 31–46 ZKG — that right exists independently of C24.
Go directly to C24 Bank
If you decide to open a C24 account, you can apply directly via CHECK24. We receive a commission if you use this link — the terms for you are identical to applying directly on c24bank.de.
Disclosure: affiliate link via the CHECK24 comparison platform. No extra cost for you.
Frequently asked questions
Who is behind C24 Bank?▼
C24 Bank GmbH is the digital direct bank of the CHECK24 Group. It holds a full BaFin banking license under § 32 KWG and participates in the statutory deposit-insurance scheme. Headquartered in Munich.
Is my money safe at C24 Bank?▼
Yes. Deposits are protected up to 100,000 EUR per person and per bank by EinSiG, administered by the Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken (EdB). C24 Bank is supervised by BaFin under § 6 KWG and by the Bundesbank.
What does the C24 account cost?▼
The Smart account has no monthly fee and no minimum incoming-payment requirement. Plus and Max tiers add features for a monthly fee. Current pricing is published in the Preis-Leistungs-Verzeichnis on c24bank.de.
What interest does the C24 savings account pay?▼
The rate on the C24 Sparkonto is variable and adjusted in line with market conditions. The current rate is published on c24bank.de/sparkonto and can change at any time.
How safe is C24 Bank after the BaFin measure of November 2025?▼
On 24 November 2025 BaFin appointed a special commissioner at C24 Bank and increased own- funds requirements over deficiencies in anti-money-laundering procedures (legal basis: § 25a KWG, § 6 GwG). The banking licence remains active and the statutory deposit insurance of 100,000 EUR per person under EinSiG continues to apply in full. The measure addresses internal compliance processes at the bank, not your account access or the safety of your deposits. The official BaFin notice is published on bafin.de.