Question 1

Is my money actually protected?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Willkommen Bank is a Swiss financial institution supervised by FINMA, operating across the EU via banking passport. Your deposits benefit from dual protection: up to CHF 100,000 under Swiss deposit protection (esisuisse), plus up to €100,000 under the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme via our EU partner bank. Swiss banking standards, now accessible from Germany.

Question 2

How can Willkommen Bank pay 4.8% when Germany’s best Festgeld caps at 3%?

Accepted Answer

Three reasons, all structural: (1) no branch overhead or legacy IT to fund, (2) wholesale access via Tier-1 European asset management partners into short-term sovereign bonds and regulated money market instruments, (3) a thin operating fee instead of the fat spread traditional banks keep. We’re fully audited, fully regulated, and every rate we pay is transparent.

Question 3

Are Willkommen Bank vaults Festgeld or Tagesgeld?

Accepted Answer

All Willkommen Bank vaults are true Festgeld — your principal is locked for the fixed term (3, 6, or 12 months depending on the tier). What’s different: your accrued interest is spendable every single week via the Willkommen Bank Card. You get Festgeld-high rates with Tagesgeld-like liquidity on the earnings portion. Nothing else in the German market works this way.

Question 4

What’s the difference between the three vault tiers?

Accepted Answer

Standard (3.2%): 3-month Festgeld, from €5,000. Platinum (4.1%): 6-month Festgeld, from €50,000, with a dedicated account manager. Diamond (4.8%): 12-month Festgeld, from €100,000, with priority support. All three compound interest daily and let you spend accrued interest via the Card weekly.

Question 5

What happens when my term ends?

Accepted Answer

At term end you’re in control: roll over at the same rate, top up and upgrade to a higher tier, or transfer the full balance (principal + interest) to your own external bank account in one tap. Transfers are name-matched to your verified identity for safety.

Question 6

Can I withdraw my principal early?

Accepted Answer

Your principal is locked for the term — that’s what makes it Festgeld. What you can do is withdraw your accrued interest to your Willkommen Bank Card every week and spend it freely. If you need access to the principal in an emergency, contact support and we’ll work with you on a case-by-case basis (typically with a small interest adjustment).

Question 7

Do I pay taxes on the interest?

Accepted Answer

Yes — interest income from savings vaults is subject to German capital gains tax (Kapitalertragsteuer) plus solidarity surcharge, with an annual tax-free allowance (Sparerpauschbetrag) of €1,000 per person. Willkommen Bank provides a year-end tax statement (Jahressteuerbescheinigung) you can hand directly to your tax advisor.

Question 8

What if Willkommen Bank fails?

Accepted Answer

Your deposits are protected by two independent schemes: Swiss deposit protection (esisuisse) up to CHF 100,000, and the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to €100,000 via our EU partner bank. In the event of failure, reimbursement is processed within 7 working days through the relevant guarantee fund, regardless of Willkommen Bank’s own solvency.

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