💶 Money Transfers to Germany and Your First Bank Account. How to Avoid SWIFT Fees?

You’ve finally managed to scrape together that large "blocked account" amount required for your visa and residence permit (currently €11,208 annually). Congratulations, you think you’ve passed the hardest part, right? You are wrong.

There is a sneaky enemy waiting for you while transferring the money from Turkey to your blocked account provider in Germany (Expatrio, Fintiba, etc.): traditional banks' SWIFT fees and terrible exchange rates! Many people lose hundreds of Euros to banks just for transferring the money. And when you step foot in Germany, accessing your money may not be as easy as you think. To withdraw the money from the blocked account, you need to open a "Girokonto" (current account) in Germany, and this process is a total labyrinth. In this guide, we explain step-by-step how to transfer your money without losing it to banks, which bank to choose in Germany, and how to unblock your account and get your money. 👇👇👇

💸 1. Sending Money from Turkey to Germany: Stop the Robbery! One of the biggest outcries in chat groups: "I sent €11,000 with Bank X, they charged me a €200 fee, and I lost money on the exchange rate too!" What is the problem? Traditional banks in Turkey usually charge money from three different points during international money transfers (SWIFT):

• Transfer Fee: A fixed fee (e.g., 500 TL).

• Correspondent Bank Charges: Uncertain and high fees (ranging from €50 to €150) charged by intermediary banks while your money is on its way.

• Bad Exchange Rate: Banks don't give you the real market rate; they give you a lower rate they set themselves. This hidden cost is the biggest loss!

✅ Solution: Alternative Transfer Services (e.g., Wise) There is a solution that experienced users in WhatsApp groups keep mentioning: Wise (formerly TransferWise).

• Why is it more advantageous? Wise sends your money like a local transfer, not an international SWIFT transaction. You send TL from your Turkish bank account to Wise's Turkish account, and they send Euros from their German account to your blocked account provider.

• Result: No correspondent bank charges! They calculate the exchange rate from the real market rate (the one you see on Google) and only charge a transparent, low transaction fee. You can transfer 5 to 8 times cheaper than with traditional banks.

• 💡 Tip: Always compare the total cost of Wise and your bank before transferring. You won't believe the difference!

🏦 2. Which Bank in Germany? (Opening a Girokonto) You arrived in Germany; your money in the blocked account is waiting for you. But to withdraw that money, you first need a current account (Girokonto) with a valid IBAN in Germany. A big dilemma begins here: Traditional or Digital?

• 🏛️ Traditional Banks (Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, etc.)

  • Advantage: They have branches; you can find a person to talk to face-to-face. It provides convenience, especially for cash deposits.

  • Disadvantage: They usually charge account maintenance fees. Bureaucracy is slow. Most importantly, most branches won't open an account without an Anmeldung (address registration) document.

• 📱 Digital Banks (N26, Vivid, Tomorrow, etc.)

  • Advantage: Opening an account takes 10 minutes; everything is through the app. They are usually free. Their English support is excellent. And most importantly: Some (e.g., Vivid, certain N26 account types) allow you to open an account with just a passport and a temporary address, without an Anmeldung document!

  • Disadvantage: They have no physical branches. If you have a problem, you can only communicate via the app or chat.

✅ Newcomer's Advice: To avoid dealing with bureaucracy initially and to have an IBAN quickly, start with a reliable digital bank (e.g., N26). You can switch to a traditional bank later if needed.

🔓 3. Unblocking the Account (Activation) Your money is in Germany, and your new bank account (Girokonto) is ready. But you still can't touch your money! Because your blocked account is still "blocked." How does the activation process work?

1. You must notify your blocked account provider (Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, etc.) of your arrival in Germany.

2. Log in to your provider's app or website.

3. You are usually asked to upload the following:

   • A photo of the entry stamp in your passport or a photo of your passport with the visa.

   • The IBAN number of your newly opened German bank account.

   • (Sometimes) Anmeldung document (varies by provider).

4. After uploading and approving the documents, your blocked account becomes "active," usually within 1–3 business days.

And Happy Ending: Your first monthly payment (e.g., €934) and any "buffer money" you deposited when opening the blocked account are transferred to your new bank account (Girokonto). Now you can use your money! 🎉