Immigration to Germany | HEUSER RECHT UND STEUERN
04 • www.heuser.de
Identification
Branch banks commonly
require personal presence of
the company’s representatives,
when they want to open a
bank account. Only few
accept a representation of
a designee. In this case a
notarized power of attorney,
issued by the competent
consular, is mandatory. Some
branch banks, however, have
reacted to the rising demand
for e-Service and offer the
same procedures to prove
identity as direct banks do.
• The Video Ident procedure is generally
the simplest solution. After sending
scans of the application documents
online to the selected bank, the ID
documents will be examined during a
video call via computer or mobile phone.
• The Post Ident procedure, however,
is only marginally suitable for non-
German companies. Particularly, as it is
only possible in branches of Deutsche
Post (German post office) within Germany.
After personally presenting the completed
form for the opening of an account, the
required documents and corresponding
legalisations, Deutsche Post will send a
confirmation of identity to the selected
bank.
• Furthermore, it is possible to confirm
the identification by a trusted third party.
According to Section 7(1) of Money
Laundering Act (GwG), local banks, credit
institutions, lawyers, certified auditors,
tax consultants and notaries are entitled
to verify and certify the identity of a
natural or legal person. After examining
the ID documents, the trustworthy third
party completes the form ‟Determination
of identity, place of residence and tax
identification number” and sends it to
the bank in Germany - along with the
opening documents. Most banks require
a letter in German language or a certified
translation. The signature of the trusted
third party has to be, moreover, verified
by an Apostille or legalisation. This
verification is not necessary for third
parties from France, Switzerland, Greece,
Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy.