conversation: User (smr7t8): "I'm moving to Germany with my partner, so he can attend school. I've already cleared this with my employer in the U.S., who has agreed to let me work from Germany. I will be a resident in Germany, not seeking citizenship. What are my best options for paying my bills when I get to Germany? Use my current American credit cards and bank account and pay the additional transaction fees? Are there credit cards that offer good deals for this? Would it be best to open up a bank account at a Germany bank and then just transfer my checks from my American bank account? Any advice would be super appreciated!"
  Self: "Get a 0% foreign currency fee credit card without yearly fee. Best would be one for 0% payments and one for 0% withdrawals (have not seen one that has both and no yearly fee, but it could still exist). Germany often does not accept credit cards, e.g. you may have to buy public transport tickets with cash or a German bank card, or that pack of gum for 49c (cc only accepted for 50c+ or 1€+, or not at all).\n\nYou will probably need a bank account anyway, e.g. for when your credit cards expire and the new ones get lost on the way across the ocean. Btw you have to tell your bank your address in Germany for that :p. Or for paying your bills automatically (phone, Internet, electricity..), or ordering things online (not all sites accept credit cards). You can then simply withdraw money without fees at an ATM and deposit it in your German bank account.\n\nOf course you should get a bank account without yearly or monthly fee. There are many online banks that offer free accounts and let you withdraw without fees at almost any ATM using their German visa debit card. For cash deposits you will have to pay a lot though, so your best choice is probably "comdirect", which lets you use Commerzbank ATMs/tellers(?) to deposit money and which will let you withdraw money from your account once back in the US without fees (the ATMs in the US may charge an additional fee, which you could get refunded, if you were to send the receipt to Germany.. :p).\n\nFor online banking you will need a German mobile phone number to which you will be sent a transaction code, which you have to enter on the website to complete the transaction (although comdirect also offers an app, but they probably still want a phone number?).\n\nIf you want a savings account with decent/best available interest rate, you will have to open another account with an online bank.\n\nIf you don't know when you are going to leave, a month-to-month or prepaid phone plan would probably best, just like Internet plan, electric plan, etc. . Always make sure to ask for the contract length and the cancellation period. A lot of things have longer contracts and Germany will hunt you down for money you owe (jk but it's not like in the US where you  just don't pay and simply have a lower credit score and don't give a shit). Make sure to switch to month-to-month starting 2 years before you leave!\n\nOh yeah and make sure to use price comparison websites. Germans love discounts as in "who asketh receiveth", so switching electric company every year (12 months contract and 1-3 months cancellation period!) and calling your ISP before the contract ends (24 months contract and 3 months cancellation period!) to receive "new customer" conditions again is something you should do if you know how long you are going to be staying and if you are cheapskates. :D\n\nA bit long, sorry. I really felt like you should know all this. Hopefully it helped. Welcome to Germany. :D\n\n\n"
  User (smr7t8): "Thank you so much! Lots of useful information. Are there any specific banks you would recommend that don't have annual fees?"
  Self: "I did recommend comdirect (www.comdirect.de) to be able to deposit money at any Commerzbank branch (differentbank, their accounts have fees). They will give you a Visa debit card that allows you to pay in EUR without fees and to withdraw money in any country (at ATMs with visa logo) without fees (you can even get ATM owner fees refunded, if you keep the receipt).\n\nAll other banks I can think of lack either the one (being able to deposit money without fees) or the other thing (free visa debit card to withdraw for free anywhere)."
  xqd (xqd): "Comdirect will change their fee structure on February 15. From then on, only three deposits per year are free. No ATM fees are refunded anymore and within Germany only CashGroup (Commerzbank, Postbank, Deutsche Bank) ATMs are free (that is already the case). Within the EU you should always use the Girocard from then on at ATMs, since using the Visa Card at ATMs will incur fees.\n\nAt the moment only DKB refunds ATM fees, but that will maybe change as well until April when new Visa Europe rules will come into place. If OP moves to somewhere in eastern Germany, DKB has a few cash deposit ATMs there.\n\nThere is also the Santander 1plus credit card (you need another German bank account for using that). They will also refund ATM fees. The card is free if applied for on some third-party sites.\n\nAnother option if depositing is important is Number26, they allow deposits at many supermarkets. I wouldn't use that as may main account though as there are a few minor features missing."
  Self: "WHAT... that's ridiculous. Thanks for telling me!!\n\nWhat new Visa Europe rules? (link?) Do you know anything about the plans of other banks? (DiBa, Consorsbank,..)"
  xqd (xqd): "[Somewhere in here](https://www.visaeurope.com/media/images/veor_public%20nov2015-73-32038.pdf) (search for "April"). Most important change is that ATMs can charge fees for using Visa cards there. Nobody knows if DKB will still refund those. Nothing announced yet though.\n\nI know nothing about ING Diba. Consorsbank raised their fees in December (1.75% foreign transaction fee now)."
  Self: "hmm ok there are lots of "April" 's :D\n\nI'll probably cancel my comdirect account then and stay with Consorsbank + find a free account to deposit money (Postbank?).\n\nedit: Thanks a lot again :)"
  