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N26 is the only one that has semi useful applications and web interface. My main problem with them is that they're first and foremost a startup, not a bank. So
by a254613e 9y ago
N26 is the only one that has semi useful applications and web interface.
My main problem with them is that they're first and foremost a startup, not a bank. Some issues I've had with them include double transactions, failed scheduled transactions, horrible 9-5 support, unable to unlock card because their web page was down for 24h. On top of that their security practices are horrible[0]
>I mailed them one 4-page form, dropped by the post office for the PostIdent and that was it.
And then you got 4-5 letters over the next couple of weeks. Not to mention that postident itself is a plague.
>I walked in, everything was done in 15 minutes.
And you walked out with a bunch of paperwork, and additional letters sent via post.
I've tried to open or had accounts with the following banks: N26, commerzbank, comdirect, dkb, fidor, ing diba
Dealing with any of them is like traveling back 20 years in time. Comparing it to countries that have it worse is always easy, but that does not mean that banks in Germany are not atrocious.
[0] - https://media.ccc.de/v/33c3-7969-shut_up_and_take_my_money https://media.ccc.de/v/33c3-7969-shut_up_and_take_my_money
- hocuspocus 9y agoN26 is a bank, they have a license. Given their growth I think they didn't do too bad overall, and I've never had a problem using their MasterCard as my main payment method while living in Germany. Granted, I wouldn't have used them as my main bank two years ago, but I think they got there. And while video chat is better than PostIdent, I don't think a trip to your local post office is that bad compared to the alternatives. As for the ton of paper in the mail, you're right, it's annoying, but that's in no way specific to banking, everything is like that in Germany. In short, sure, it could be much better, but it could be much worse too.
- reaperducer 9y agoI think his point was that you made it sounds easier than it really was for some reason. Regarding the second bank you wrote, "and that was it." In reality, you admit that there was tons of paperwork that took days to receive. So, no, that wasn't "it."
- hocuspocus 9y agoPaper != paperwork. I filled out one and only one form. It's an online bank so then of course, you receive some of the stuff in the mail, I don't see how it could be different. I've used banks in five different countries, went through all kinds of identification and second factors that exist on the market, and in Germany today, I don't really see how it could be easier. But please enlighten me.
- denzil_correa 9y ago> My main problem with them is that they're first and foremost a startup, not a bank. N26 has a full banking license. https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/21/number26-is-now-a-true-bank-as-it-now-has-a-full-banking-license/ https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/21/number26-is-now-a-true-ban...
- a254613e 9y agoYeah, I meant that more in the sense that they focus more on new fancy half broken mobile first features than on what makes bank a bank - things like working transactions.