The following requirements are necessary to open an online BBVA current account:

• You must be at least 18 years old. 
• You must live in Germany. 
• You will need a smartphone.
• You must be in possession of a valid identification document.

The gross interest rate is calculated annually on balances of up to €500,000, with no minimum amount. Interest is calculated on your account balance at the end of each day and credited monthly in a lump sum on the first business day of the following month, minus applicable tax deductions.

For the first 6 months after you have opened your account, the gross interest rate is 3% p.a. After these first 6 months, the current account balance will earn interest at a rate equal to 25% of the ECB deposit facility rate. The interest rate is adjusted quarterly. The calculation is based on the interest rate for the ECB deposit facility, which is determined on the day before the new quarter.

The interest is calculated by multiplying the account balance at the end of each day by the applicable interest rate.

What is the applicable interest rate?

The actual interest rate is 3% per year. For a year with 365 days, the daily interest is calculated as follows: 3% × 1 / 365.

Example: If the account balance on a given day is €10,000, the daily interest rate is: €10,000 × 3% × 1 / 365 = €0.82

How is the monthly interest calculated and paid out?

The monthly interest is calculated based on the sum of the daily interest for the respective month. Interest is paid out monthly on the first business day of the following month. That means that Once the calendar month is completed, the account balance is calculated at the end of each day of the month and multiplied by the applicable interest rate.

Example: If the account balance in a month with 30 calendar days is €10,000 from the 1st to the 10th day, and €20,000 from the 11th to the 30th day, the following (gross) interest will result: 10 days × (€10,000 × 3% / 365) + 20 days × (€20,000 × 3% / 365) = €41.09. After calculating the gross interest, tax is withheld (according to your terms), and the result is the net interest you receive.

You can find more information in our YouTube video.

You can withdraw your money from your BBVA current account at any time – without restrictions and without notice periods.

How can I withdraw money?

• Through transfer to another account
•  At the ATM with your BBVA debit card

In retail:

• With your BBVA debit card, you can withdraw cash at many of our partner stores when you shop at one of their locations.

Alternatively, you can also make a withdrawal at a retail store using the BBVA App.

What happens to the interest rate?

The interest rate only applies to the amount actually in the account. Once you withdraw money, the interest rate is only applied to the remaining amount.
There are no penalty fees or loss of interest on withdrawals – you keep the interest accrued up to that point.

Tax deductions are applied to the interest credited. There are three mandatory deductions:

• Capital gains tax (withholding tax): 25% of the credited interest.
• Solidarity surcharge: 5.5% of the capital gains tax.
• Church tax (if applicable): 8% or 9% of capital gains tax, depending on the federal state, if the customer belongs to a church.
  

Log in to your BBVA online banking.

• Click on "Menu"
• Choose “Carry out a transaction”
• Enter the requested data under “New transfer”
• Select your current account as the source
• Enter new details or select an existing target account
• Choose “Standing order” as the transfer type

A different method:

• Go to current account
• Show more (three dots)
• New transfer
• Enter the requested data under “New transfer”
• Choose “Standing order” as the transfer type

The default limits for transfers are as follows: 

• SEPA standard transfers:
  €20,000 per transaction and per day,
• SEPA real-time transfers:
  €1,000 per transaction
  €5,000 per day

Important to keep mind: The total amount per day for standard and SEPA instant payments is €20,000. So in one day you could send €19,000 via standard payment and an additional €1,000 via SEPA instant payment, for example.

You can limit your transfer up to the relevant maximum amounts directly in the App. For security reasons, the change is confirmed through biometric authentication (e.g. face ID or fingerprint) or an SMS code.

If you would like to immediately increase your limit to over €20,000 (standard transfer) or over €5,000 (instant transfer), please call us from your verified phone.This way we can make the adjustment directly.

First, you must block your card through one of the following two ways:

• Via your online banking, the BBVA App or by calling +49 69 58 996 454.
• Via online banking or the App, by selecting “Restrict functions” and deactivating the card.

If you decide to deactivate your card, you can reactivate it at any time without having to apply for a new debit card. If you block the card instead, we will automatically send you a new card.
Please remember to always report a case of theft to the police.

On a PC, go to: Log in > Login details > Restore login details > I forgot my password > Continue and follow the instructions. In the app, click on "Forgot your password?" and follow the instructions.

To create a new password, make sure you have the following on hand:

• Your BBVA username.
• Your mobile phone to receive the security code via SMS.
• The PIN of your BBVA debit card to confirm the action.

A garnishment protection account (P-account) is a current account with special protection. In the event of a garnishment, you will still have a monthly allowance that you can continue to use. You can convert any account we offer into a P-account.

You can find further information about this here:

The most important information at a glance:

1. Basic allowance: By default, you have €1,560 available per month. The amount changes every year on June 1.
2. Deviation in the case of alimony garnishment: The exemption amount may be lower if alimony is garnished.
3. No access for creditors: The exemption amount remains protected and is not sent on to the creditor.
4. Report to Schufa: We communicate to Schufa Holding AG that your account has been converted into a P-account.

Here we explain how you can convert your BBVA account into a P-account.

Please note: We are unable to offer you specific advice on garnishments and bankruptcies. For this reason, please contact a suitable agency (e.g. a debt counseling service) if necessary. 

If you need information about the garnishment protection account, please take a look here. 

To convert an account into a P-account (garnishment protection account), please use this form.

Send it back to us completed and signed (a photo or a PDF of a scan) via “My Messages.”  

It may take up to 4 business days for us to process your application. To avoid delays, please do not contact us in the meantime. You will receive a message from us as soon as your account has been converted.

By the way: You can also have an existing P-account converted back. Please take a look here for more information.

Please note: We are unable to offer you specific advice on garnishments and bankruptcies. For this reason, please contact a suitable agency (e.g. a debt counseling service) if necessary. 

Please note: We are unable to offer you specific advice on garnishments and bankruptcies. For this reason, please contact a suitable agency (e.g. a debt counseling service) if necessary. 

If your account has been subjected to garnishment, access to your balance is either not possible or only possible to a limited extent. First, read the message you received in your inbox under “My Messages” in the BBVA app. There you will also find additional general information. You can also look here:

where we have provided a brief list of different options for you.

1. Option 1: Send the BBVA account creditor a transfer order: We can transfer the amount owed to the creditor. This is the fastest way to unlock your account. The prerequisite is that you have enough credit in your account.

- For this purpose, fill out this form
- Send it back to us filled out and signed (a photo or a PDF of a scan) via "My Messages."

Processing can take approximately 5 business days. To avoid delays, please do not contact us in the meantime. You will receive a message from us as soon as your account is useable again.

Option 2: Pay the claim from another account: You can also settle the claim from another bank account in consultation with your creditor. The creditor must inform us in writing that the garnishment has been lifted. We only accept communications directly from the creditor; we cannot accept documents from you personally. 

The address is: BBVA German branch, Garnishments Department, Neue Mainzer Straße 28 60311 Frankfurt am Main

If your account is still blocked despite payment, this is either because
- we have not yet received any documents from the creditor or
- the processing time (up to 5 business days) has not yet passed.

Option 3 : Convert your account into a P-account: A third option is to convert your account into a P-account (garnishment protection account). You can find further information on this here.

If you don’t pursue any of the three options: If you do not take action within one month after receiving the garnishment notice, we will have to pay out any balance in your account to the creditor in the amount of the claim. Once payment is complete, your account will be unlocked.

You can also have a BBVA garnishment-protected account converted back into a regular account. Please note the relevant information on this form.

Send it back to us completed and signed (a photo or a PDF of a scan) via "My Messages." 

Please note: We are unable to offer you specific advice on garnishments and bankruptcies. For this reason, please contact a suitable agency (e.g. a debt counseling service) if necessary.