Commerzbank Company Account for GmbH, UG & AG Founders
The business account built for incorporating and running a company in Germany
Open your company account with Commerzbank — deposit your Stammkapital, get EBICS multi-user access, and connect DATEV from day one.
Trusted by thousands of founders, with €100 online bonus and dedicated business advisors at 450+ branches.
Why Commerzbank for your company?
Receive a €100 welcome bonus when you open your company account online. Available for GmbH, UG, and AG.
Deposit your share capital (€25,000 for GmbH, €1 for UG) directly into your Commerzbank founding account. Get the bank confirmation letter for the Handelsregister.
Set up multiple authorized users with individual permissions using EBICS. Perfect for managing directors, accountants, and financial teams.
Connect your Commerzbank company account directly to DATEV for automated bookkeeping. Your Steuerberater can access transactions in real-time.
Which legal entity is right for you?
Choosing the right company form is one of the most important decisions when founding a business in Germany. Here is how the most common structures compare.
GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung)
The most popular company form in Germany. Limited liability protects your personal assets. Ideal for businesses with significant revenue or external investors.
- Minimum share capital (Stammkapital): €25,000 (at least €12,500 must be deposited at founding)
- Notarized articles of association (Gesellschaftervertrag)
- Registration in the Handelsregister (commercial register)
- At least one managing director (Geschäftsführer)
- Corporate tax rate: ~30% (Körperschaftsteuer + Gewerbesteuer)
- Annual financial statements required
UG (haftungsbeschränkt) — Mini-GmbH
The low-cost alternative to a GmbH. Same limited liability protection but with a minimum share capital of just €1. Must retain 25% of annual profits until reaching €25,000.
- Minimum share capital (Stammkapital): €1 (practically, at least €500-1,000 recommended)
- Notarized articles of association (simplified template available)
- Registration in the Handelsregister
- At least one managing director (Geschäftsführer)
- Must retain 25% of annual profits until Stammkapital reaches €25,000
- Can convert to full GmbH once €25,000 is reached
GbR (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts)
The simplest partnership form for two or more founders. No limited liability — all partners are personally liable. Best for low-risk service businesses or testing a business idea.
- No minimum share capital required
- Written partnership agreement recommended (not legally required)
- Registration with the Gewerbeamt (trade office) if commercial
- No Handelsregister registration needed
- All partners are personally and jointly liable
- Simplified accounting (Einnahmenüberschussrechnung) allowed
Company account pricing
All Commerzbank business account models are available for GmbH, UG, AG, and other legal entities. Choose the tier that matches your transaction volume.
KlassikGeschäftskonto
- 10 free cashless transactions per month
- €0.20 per additional cashless transaction
- €2.50 per paper-based transaction
- 1 free Business Girocard
- Business credit card available (€79.90/year)
- HBCI/FinTS and EBICS support
- Corporate Banking App & online banking
- Suitable for newly founded companies
PremiumGeschäftskonto
- Higher free transaction allowance
- €0.20 per additional cashless transaction
- €2.50 per paper-based transaction
- 1 free Business Girocard
- 1 free Business credit card included
- HBCI/FinTS and EBICS support
- Corporate Banking App & online banking
- Recommended for growing companies
PremiumGeschäftskonto Plus
- Highest free transaction allowance
- Cashless transactions included
- €2.50 per paper-based transaction
- 2 free Business Girocards
- 2 free Business credit cards included
- HBCI/FinTS and EBICS support
- Corporate Banking App & online banking
- Best for established companies with high volume
How to found a company in Germany
From drafting your articles of association to getting your Handelsregister entry — here is the typical founding process for a GmbH or UG in Germany.
Draft articles of association
Create your Gesellschaftervertrag (articles of association) with a lawyer or use the simplified UG template. Define share distribution, managing directors, and business purpose.
Notarize at a Notar
All founders and managing directors must appear before a German Notar to sign the articles of association. The Notar will verify identities and notarize the documents.
Open a founding account and deposit Stammkapital
Open a Commerzbank business account designated as a founding account (Gründungskonto). Deposit the required share capital — at least €12,500 for a GmbH or the full amount for a UG.
Obtain bank confirmation letter
Commerzbank provides a bank confirmation letter (Bankbestätigung) proving the Stammkapital has been deposited. This document is required for the Handelsregister application.
Register with the Handelsregister
The Notar submits your registration to the local Amtsgericht (district court). Registration typically takes 1-4 weeks. Your company officially exists once entered in the Handelsregister.
Activate your business account
Once the Handelsregister entry is confirmed, your founding account converts to a full business account. Set up EBICS users, connect DATEV, and start operating.
Multi-user access with EBICS
EBICS (Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard) allows multiple authorized users to access your company account with individual permissions — essential for companies with managing directors, financial controllers, and external accountants.
Individual User Permissions
Set granular access levels for each user. Define who can view balances, initiate transfers, approve payments, or manage standing orders independently.
Dual Authorization (Vier-Augen-Prinzip)
Require two signatures for high-value transactions. Configure thresholds so that payments above a certain amount need approval from a second authorized user.
Accountant Access
Grant your Steuerberater or external bookkeeper read-only EBICS access. They can download transaction data directly into DATEV without you needing to export files manually.
Batch Payments
Upload and execute batch payments (Sammelüberweisungen) via EBICS. Process payroll, supplier payments, and recurring invoices efficiently in bulk.
DATEV integration for seamless accounting
DATEV is the most widely used accounting and tax software platform in Germany, used by over 500,000 businesses and their Steuerberater. Commerzbank offers direct integration so your financial data flows automatically.
- Automatic transaction import into DATEV Unternehmen online
- Real-time bank statement synchronization
- Digital payment matching for invoices and receipts
- Direct access for your Steuerberater via DATEV Kanzlei-Rechnungswesen
- Simplified annual financial statements (Jahresabschluss) preparation
- Compatible with DATEV Mittelstand Faktura and DATEV Lohn & Gehalt
Ready to found your company in Germany?
Open your Commerzbank company account today — deposit your Stammkapital, get your bank confirmation letter, and start your business with €100 online bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner found a GmbH or UG in Germany?
Yes! There are no nationality restrictions for founding a GmbH or UG in Germany. You need a valid passport, and non-EU citizens need a valid residence permit that allows self-employment (§ 21 AufenthG). EU citizens can found a company freely. You do not need to be a German citizen or have permanent residency.
How much Stammkapital do I need, and when must it be deposited?
For a GmbH, the minimum Stammkapital is €25,000, of which at least €12,500 (50%) must be deposited before registration. The remaining €12,500 is owed but can be paid later. For a UG (haftungsbeschränkt), the minimum is technically €1, but practically you should deposit at least €500-1,000 to cover founding costs. The full amount must be deposited before Handelsregister registration.
What documents do I need to open a company account at Commerzbank?
You will need: a notarized copy of the articles of association (Gesellschaftervertrag), the list of shareholders (Gesellschafterliste), a valid passport or EU/EEA ID for all managing directors, a current Handelsregisterauszug (or the Notar confirmation if still in progress), the tax identification number (Steuer-ID) of the company, and German address registration (Anmeldung) for all managing directors.
Can I open a founding account before my company is registered?
Yes, this is the standard process. You open a founding account (Gründungskonto) at Commerzbank, deposit the Stammkapital, receive a bank confirmation letter, and then use that letter for your Handelsregister application. The account operates under the company name with "i.G." (in Gründung) until registration is complete.
How does the EBICS multi-user setup work?
After your company account is activated, you can request EBICS access for multiple users. Each user receives individual credentials and can be assigned specific permissions — from view-only access to full payment authorization. You can set up dual authorization (Vier-Augen-Prinzip) requiring two signatures for transactions above a configurable threshold. Contact your Commerzbank business advisor to set up EBICS users.
How long does the entire founding and account opening process take?
The timeline is typically: 1-2 weeks for drafting and notarizing the articles of association, 1-2 business days for opening the founding account and depositing Stammkapital, 1-4 weeks for Handelsregister registration (varies by location), and 1-2 business days for full account activation after registration. Total: approximately 3-7 weeks from start to a fully operational company with a business account.
Ready to found your company in Germany?
Open your Commerzbank company account today — deposit your Stammkapital, get your bank confirmation letter, and start your business with €100 online bonus.
Open Your Company Account Now