Bank comparison · Foreign link

Which German banks finance tax non-residents?

Yes — German banks do finance buyers who live abroad. Just not every bank: of more than 650 institutions, 6 to 10 typically come into question for a given case. That is not a rejection, it is a question of selection — and answering it is what we do every day. We reach those lenders through our platform access (Prohyp, Baufinex, Forum, ABACUS, Hyposmart). And you need no German: the conversation, the paperwork and every question run in English, Russian, Spanish or French — the German bank documents I explain to you.

In short

In short

Which banks finance non-residents — and who finds the right one?

From 650+ banks, a small circle of 6 to 10 institutions with international experience fits non-residents. We broker independently.

Why do only 6–10 remain from 650 banks?

Most of the 650 are built for customers resident in Germany; many regional institutions only lend within their own region and direct banks are optimised for standard cases with German income — the ones with international experience remain. It is not about your creditworthiness.

Do non-residents automatically pay more interest?

Usually not — most institutions in this business charge no blanket surcharge; a few justify one with higher processing effort. Insurers can be an option when a later move abroad or an uncertain follow-up financing is foreseeable.

Refinancing your German loan →

Why is the pool of banks smaller for tax non-residents than for residents?

Not because of creditworthiness, but because of each institution's internal scope: many regional institutions are bound to their local service area, and direct banks are optimised for standard cases with German income — neither fits residence abroad structurally. Of the 650+ banks we reach through our platform connections, tax non-residents are left with a circle of 6 to 10 institutions with international experience. This is not legal or tax advice.

The number: 6 to 10 institutions — out of 650+ in reach

For tax non-residents, a small circle of 6 to 10 institutions with international experience applies. Which bank fits in the end depends on the country of residence, the income currency and the property. Details by country of residence on the page Buying property in Germany while living abroad.

Our partner network

650+ banks — the institutions at a glance

Through our platform access (Prohyp, Baufinex, Forum, ABACUS, Hyposmart) we reach more than 650 banks, building societies, development banks and insurers. Eight are profiled in detail in our bank comparison. The list below shows the breadth behind it, grouped by institution type:

Large, regional & direct banks

Nationwide & regional

1822direkt, Badische Beamtenbank (BB Bank), Commerzbank, Consors Finanz, Degussa Bank, Deutsche Bank, DKB, DSL Bank, DZ Hyp, DZ Privatkundenbank, Gladbacher Bank, Hanseatic Bank (subordinated loans only), HypoVereinsbank, ING, Liga Bank, Münchener Hypothekenbank, NordLB, Santander, Sparkasse, Targobank, Volksbank/Raiffeisenbank.

In the bank comparison →
Development banks

State & federal funding

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, Investitions- und Förderbank Hamburg — plus the relevant state development bank by federal state.

By federal state →
Building societies

Bausparen & combined financing

Alte Leipziger Bausparkasse, Bausparkasse Mainz, Bausparkasse Schwäbisch Hall, BHW Bausparkasse.

In the bank comparison →
Insurers & pension funds

Long fixed-rate periods

Allianz, AXA, Barmenia, ERGO, Hannoversche Leben, Höchster Pensionskasse, R+V, Signal Iduna, Universa, Versorgungswerk Zahnärztekammer (VZN), Volkswohl Bund.

In the bank comparison →

For the specific tax non-resident case, though: not every one of the 650+ institutions assesses every constellation the same way — we address your case to the fitting institution from this network, rather than scattering it blindly. The eight profiled in our bank comparison (among them ING, Sparkasse, Volksbank, Commerzbank) each state openly where residence abroad no longer fits their structure.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions on bank selection

Which banks finance tax non-residents?
A small circle of 6 to 10 institutions with international experience. Which bank fits depends on the country of residence, the income currency and the property. Olga Nikushkina knows the right institutions from ongoing brokerage practice.
650+ banks compared — how many are actually approached for non-residents?
Our platform access (Prohyp, Baufinex, Forum, ABACUS, Hyposmart) covers over 650 banks — that is the comparison breadth for all cases. For tax non-residents the circle narrows structurally to the 6–10 institutions above, because most of the 650 are built for customers resident in Germany. Cooperative banks and savings banks are often additionally bound to their local service area, and direct banks are optimised for standard cases with German income. This is not a question of creditworthiness, but of internal scope.
Are insurers an alternative to a classic bank?
Yes, in a specific situation: insurers have a structural interest in long fixed-rate periods and are therefore often a good option when a later move abroad or an uncertain follow-up financing is foreseeable. In return, they tend to assess property quality more conservatively than a bank.
Do I automatically pay higher interest as a tax non-resident?
Usually not. Most institutions active in this segment charge no blanket surcharge. A few justify a surcharge with the higher processing effort. The actual rate range is on the rates page — this page is deliberately about bank selection, not interest rates.
By country of residence

Banks by country of residence

Some lenders do not accept foreign-currency income — others do. Which constellation applies to your country co-decides which banks are in reach.

Country of residenceIncome currency
SwitzerlandCHF
AustriaEuro
NetherlandsEuro
United KingdomGBP
USAUSD
UAE & DubaiAED
Sweden / DenmarkSEK / DKK
NorwayNOK
Country

Switzerland

CHF income.

Banks for residence Switzerland →
Country

Austria

Euro income.

Banks for residence Austria →
Country

Netherlands

Euro income.

Banks for residence Netherlands →
Country

United Kingdom

GBP income possible with specialist banks.

Banks for residence UK →
Country

USA

USD income, FATCA reporting obligations.

Banks for residence USA →
Country

UAE & Dubai

Mostly tax-free income, proof of origin is key.

Banks for residence UAE →
Country

Scandinavia

Income in SEK, DKK or NOK: a smaller pool of banks, workable.

Banks for residence Scandinavia →
Related

By country of residence and topic

Overview

All countries of residence

Switzerland, EU, USA, UK, Asia and more — each with its own bank selection.

All countries of residence →
Overview

Tax non-residents — all topics

Loan-to-value, documents, cross-border commuters.

Tax non-residents — all topics →
Rates

Current mortgage rates

Rate bands and market situation — independent of residence.

Current mortgage rates →
Calculators & funding

Run the numbers and check funding

Calculator

Calculate your budget

How much property is realistically financeable with your equity and income?

Calculate your budget →
Funding

KfW funding

Usually excluded for a pure investment property from abroad — returning for owner-occupation often opens up regular KfW programmes.

KfW funding →
Funding

State funding by federal state

Almost every federal state has its own development bank, often combinable with KfW.

State funding by federal state →

Discuss your case

Non-binding initial consultation free of charge — the bank pays our fee.