Let me tell you the ‘complicated’ process of opening a bank account (current account (Girokonto)) at Sparkasse. You just need your passport and an appointment. That is all you need.
There are many banks in Germany and most of them have a monthly maintenance charge. Unlike India you don't earn a interest on your money. So for a student, it is important to choose a bank with no monthly charges. There are a couple of offline and online banks, with German and English apps and depending on your taste you can choose one.
I wanted to go with N26 online bank but for Indian passport holders they require a residence permit so it was out of the question at that time. The other option was Sparkasse, the SBI of Germany (but better, much better).
In order to open your Zukunfkonto (student account at Sparkasse) you need to visit a local branch with your passport with an appointment. You can get more details on the website (Sparkasse Heidelberg website link below)
You sign the bank related papers and done, you have your account. They will send you your debit card and temporary pin by post. You can use this account to get your monthly payouts from your Blocked account.
