US/Germany best banking option

[sophyie 0]

The only thing our income did affect was the credit limit for the credit cards. I am a student also, and therefore unemployed. Plus, I'm American with no real working history here in Germany. Consequently, my credit limit was set at 500 Euros. My husband's credit limit is higher since he has a job. The thing is, it doesn't change how much money I can take out of our account using an ATM. That's limited only by how much cash we have on the credit card accounts themselves.

What we had to do was open one joint savings account, with two credit cards linked to it. We have separate credit card numbers, but they are linked to the same account, so we can move money between them really easily. Does this make sense? I'm headed to the States on Tuesday and will see how it works withdrawing money with my card while I'm there.

Best wishes,

Mary

That's interesting- when we inquired about the account, we were not married yet and my husband couldn't open an account (because he didn't have permanent residency in Germany, just a year- to year work permit) and I couldn't because I wasn't employed but a full time student...

Bummer we didn't check it out after getting married, maybe that would've worked. (my husband REALLY wanted that account).

But now I'm all set and ready to go with the Deutsche Bank and my husband is in the US already so he couldn't sign any papers...

Ah well...

[thea 1]

My experience (and I hope I'm not offending anyone here:) Sparkasse s*cks big time.

Don't get me wrong, I've had an account with them for a while- but each of their city branches sees itself as an independent bank, meaning that if I want to cancel my account with the Sparkasse Heidelberg, I'd either have to go to Heidelberg OR have to open an account in the city I'm currently at to have them close my account and then close the new account...

Sorry to ramble- the easiest would be to go to the Sparkasse and just ask them and find out if they have some ideas- doubt it though.

Wow, I almost missed this I see you are also a big fan of Sparkasse Heidelberg!!!! All I can say about Sparkasse is put your money somewhere else. My sister didn't want to believe me either but recently learned that "Sparkasse" is not equal to "Sparkasse" in Germany - she went to visit a friend in Saarbrücken and got money at an ATM. Usually such a transaction should be free if you use a Sparkasse ATM anywhere in Germany. Turns out that apparently Saarland is not Germany... or so the Heidelberg bank wants to make her believe... All the other fees they charge are an insult as well.