German · B1 (Intermediate)
Banking in German: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful German words for banking are das Girokonto (the current account), abheben (to withdraw (cash)) and einzahlen (to deposit). The full German banking phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential German vocabulary for banking, with example sentences and English translations. This is B1 (Intermediate) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning German to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key banking vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| das Girokonto | the current account |
| abheben | to withdraw (cash) |
| einzahlen | to deposit |
| die Überweisung | the bank transfer |
| der Dispositionskredit | the overdraft facility |
| die Schufa | the credit bureau / credit check |
| autorisieren | to authorise |
| der Zinssatz | the interest rate |
| das Darlehen | the loan |
| die Kreditkarte | the credit card |
Example sentences
Ich brauche ein Girokonto für mein Gehalt.
I need a current account for my salary.
Ich möchte 200 Euro abheben.
I would like to withdraw 200 euros.
Ich zahle jeden Monat 100 Euro ein.
I deposit 100 euros every month.
Ich mache eine Überweisung von 500 Euro.
I'm making a bank transfer of 500 euros.
Der Dispokredit kostet 8% Zinsen pro Jahr.
The overdraft facility costs 8% interest per year.
Die Bank prüft Ihre Schufa-Auskunft.
The bank checks your credit report.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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