Germany Savings Calculator
Project your EUR savings with compound interest. Compare Tagesgeld, Festgeld, and ETF sparplan, including Abgeltungsteuer (25% flat) and Sparerpauschbetrag.
Details
Result
Ending Balance (nach Steuer)
€79,666
Total Deposits
€70,000
Net Interest Earned
€9,666
Effective Net Rate
2.21%
Tagesgeld vs Festgeld vs ETF Sparplan
Tagesgeld (instant-access): 2.0-3.5% at direct banks in 2026 (ING, DKB, Comdirect, Consorsbank, Trade Republic). Rates are variable — set a reminder to refresh them every 6 months. Festgeld (1-3yr term deposit): 2.5-3.5%, locked-in certainty. ETF Sparplan: 10+yr horizon MSCI World / FTSE All-World / S&P 500 have averaged 6-8%/yr nominal — higher expected return, real volatility.
Abgeltungsteuer — 25% flat + Soli + Kirche
Capital income (Zinsen, Dividenden, Kursgewinne) is taxed at a flat 25% Abgeltungsteuer, plus 5.5% Soli (= 26.375%), plus 8-9% Kirchensteuer if you're a church member (up to 27.99%). Banks withhold automatically. The first €1,000 (single) / €2,000 (joint) is shielded by your Sparerpauschbetrag — file a Freistellungsauftrag with each bank to use it.
Einlagensicherung (deposit protection)
EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme: €100,000 per depositor per bank. German banks additionally participate in voluntary Einlagensicherungsfonds (BdB for private banks, BVR for Volksbanken, DSGV for Sparkassen) which protect far more — sometimes into the millions. Spread very large balances across banks to stay within statutory caps; neobanks via platforms like Weltsparen / Raisin are passported into partner-country schemes.
When to prefer an ETF Depot
If your horizon is 10+ years and you can stomach 30-40% paper drawdowns, an ETF Sparplan in a Depot (Trade Republic, Scalable Capital, Flatex, Comdirect, ING) typically beats Festgeld handily after tax. For 1-3 year horizons (house deposit, wedding, emergency fund), Festgeld / Tagesgeld wins because volatility risk outweighs expected return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know, in one place.
Best German savings rates 2026?
Tagesgeld (instant-access): 2.0-3.5% at direct banks (ING, DKB, Comdirect, Trade Republic). Festgeld (term deposits, 1-3y): 2.5-3.5%. Neobanks (N26, Bunq, Revolut) and EU-passported Fido, Klarna, Raisin platform: up to 4.2% — check the home-country deposit guarantee. ETF Weltportfolio long-term: 6-8% historical.
What is Abgeltungsteuer?
25% flat withholding tax on interest, dividends, and capital gains from German accounts. Plus 5.5% Soli = 26.375% effective, or 27.99% with 9% church tax. Banks deduct and pay automatically. Use a Freistellungsauftrag to shield the first €1,000 (single) or €2,000 (joint) Sparerpauschbetrag.
Is my money safe?
EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme covers €100,000 per customer per bank. Germany also has voluntary Einlagensicherungsfonds schemes (BdB, BVR, DSGV) that go well beyond €100k at major banks. Spread large balances across institutions to stay within the statutory €100k per-bank cap.
ETF Sparplan vs Festgeld?
Festgeld is predictable and capital-guaranteed but typically loses to inflation. Long-term (10+ years) ETF Sparplan (MSCI World, FTSE All-World, S&P 500) has historically delivered 6-8%/yr nominal. Accept volatility for growth. Use an Abgeltungsteuer-optimised Depot at Trade Republic, Scalable, Flatex, Comdirect.
What is the Freistellungsauftrag and how do I use it?
An instruction to your bank/broker to exempt capital income up to the Sparerpauschbetrag (€1,000 single / €2,000 joint in 2026) from Abgeltungsteuer at source. You distribute the allowance across multiple institutions — e.g. €500 to Trade Republic, €500 to DKB. Without it, banks withhold 25% + Soli + any Kirche, and you recover via annual tax return (Anlage KAP). Update it early each year and check your annual Steuerbescheinigung shows the shielded amount.
What is a Vorabpauschale on ETFs?
Annual notional tax on accumulating ETFs, introduced 2018. Calculated as ETF value × base rate (Basiszins, set annually by Bundesbank — 2.29% for 2025 basis, likely similar for 2026) × 70% minus distributions. Withheld in January for the prior year. For 30%+ equity ETFs, 30% of the Vorabpauschale is exempt (Teilfreistellung). Works like a small prepayment of tax on later capital gains — not an additional tax. Most ETF investors see a small January withdrawal, then final reconciliation on sale.
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