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Fintiba vs. Expatrio: Which Blocked Account is Better in 2026?

Are you an international student planning to study in Germany? Choosing the right Blocked Account is crucial for your visa approval! In this in-depth comparison of Fintiba vs. Expatrio, we break down everything you need to know:

Do you plan to study or work in Germany? Do you require a German visa and/or residence permit for this purpose? If your answer to both questions is "yes," there is a strong likelihood that you will need a Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) to secure the necessary visa or permit. A blocked account is a special bank account required by German immigration authorities for visa applicants. It proves you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Germany.

Nowadays, students have a choice of quite a few blocked account providers in Germany and abroad. These providers differ in various aspects, including their banking model and security, the scope of additional services and the pricing structure.

This article compares two of those providers: Fintiba and Expatrio.

We have paid partnerships with Fintiba and Expatrio. For more info, please read our disclaimer.

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Further Reading

List of Blocked Account Providers

Expatrio vs. Fintiba: Quick Overview

Are you in a hurry? Here is the quick answer:
 

Both Fintiba and Expatrio are among the most popular German blocked accounts and are recognized by German authorities worldwide. Fintiba is the only online provider with a German bank (Expatrio has an Italian bank), but both providers are highly trusted.

Overview

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#1 in Germany
#2 in Germany
Banking Model
Banking Model
Providers with direct partner banks
Banking Model
Providers with direct partner banks
Partner Bank
Partner Bank
GermanyGerman Bank (FIB Frankfurt International Bank)
Partner Bank
ItalyItalian Bank (UniCredit)
Availability
Availability
Worldwide
Availability
Worldwide
Service for Minors
Service for Minors
Yes
Service for Minors
No
Total Amount for 1 Year
Total Amount for 1 Year
€277.8
Total Amount for 1 Year
€249
4.9|1100+ Google Reviews
Instant Blocking Confirmation
Highest Security Level

Basic Facts

Before we dive into the details, here are basic facts about the two companies.

Fintiba

Fintiba is the #1 blocked account provider on the market, based on the total number of customers. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company was founded in 2016 and has been offering fully online blocked accounts since 2017. It is noteworthy that it has a background in banking.

In addition to Blocked Accounts, Fintiba also offers Health Insurance, Travel Insurance and other services.

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Further Reading

Fintiba Blocked Account

Expatrio

Expatrio is a Berlin-based blocked account provider. Established in 2017, the company has been offering fully online blocked accounts since 2018. It is noteworthy that it has a background in insurance.

In addition to Blocked Accounts, Expatrio also offers Health Insurance, Travel Insurance and other services.

Fintiba and Expatrio in comparison

Overview

Advertising
#1 in Germany
#2 in Germany
Banking Model
Banking Model
Providers with direct partner banks
Banking Model
Providers with direct partner banks
Partner Bank
Partner Bank
GermanyGerman Bank (FIB Frankfurt International Bank)
Partner Bank
ItalyItalian Bank (UniCredit)
Availability
Availability
Worldwide
Availability
Worldwide
Service for Minors
Service for Minors
Yes
Service for Minors
No
Total Amount for 1 Year
Total Amount for 1 Year
€277.8
Total Amount for 1 Year
€249
4.9|1100+ Google Reviews
Instant Blocking Confirmation
Highest Security Level

Blocked Account Fees

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#1 in Germany
#2 in Germany
Initial set-up fee
Initial set-up fee
€159
Initial set-up fee
€89
Monthly Fee
Monthly Fee
€9.9
Monthly Fee
€5
Blocked Account buffer
Blocked Account buffer
No Info
Blocked Account buffer
€100
Total Amount for 1 Year
Total Amount for 1 Year
€277.8
Total Amount for 1 Year
€249
4.9|1100+ Google Reviews
Instant Blocking Confirmation
Highest Security Level
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Further Reading

German Blocked Account Amount

Standard Services

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#1 in Germany
#2 in Germany
Recognition by German authorities worldwide
Recognition by German authorities worldwide
Yes
Recognition by German authorities worldwide
Yes
German IBAN
German IBAN
Yes
German IBAN
Yes
Fully digital application process
Fully digital application process
Yes
Fully digital application process
Yes
English-language support
English-language support
Yes
English-language support
Yes
4.9|1100+ Google Reviews
Instant Blocking Confirmation
Highest Security Level

Bundle Offers

As a student or a professional, you need the following 3 things for your German visa application and your subsequent stay in Germany:

  1. Blocked Account: As proof of finances for your German visa and German residence permit applications;
  2. Travel Health Insurance: Mandatory (almost always) for your visa application. You need it for the first few days/weeks until the regular health insurance gets activated.
  3. Health Insurance: Everyone residing in Germany is obliged to have health insurance. For students: you cannot enroll at your University without it.

Hence, we strongly advise you to book these products right away. You can do that through almost every blocked account provider's bundle offers.

When it comes to Fintiba and Expatrio, both have special “package” offers, which include a Blocked Account, Travel Insurance and Health insurance (specialized in helping internationals).

Insurances

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#1 in Germany
#2 in Germany
Bundle name
Bundle name
Fintiba Plus
Bundle name
Expatrio Value Package
Health Insurance (Statutory)
Health Insurance (Statutory)
Barmer
€146.29-€151.42 per month
#1 Best Service for Students (Focus Money Magazine 16/2024)
Health Insurance (Statutory)
TK
€141.16-€146.29 per month
Health Insurance (Private)
Health Insurance (Private)
Mawista
From €25 per month
Health Insurance (Private)
DR-Walter, Ottonova
from €33/€129 per month
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Free Travel Health Insurance (worth €95.00)
Travel Insurance
Free Travel Health Insurance (worth €95.00)
4.9|1100+ Google Reviews
Instant Blocking Confirmation
Highest Security Level

Our recommendation: Fintiba

The market leader, Fintiba, performs best in our comparison. This is because Fintiba is the only provider that offers the blocked account at a German bank with German deposit protection. Fintiba is also the best provider overall in terms of expertise (years since launch, number of customers) and is one of the best in terms of customer satisfaction.

Why do we recommend Fintiba? 🤔
 

🥇 Market leader with the most extensive experience: more than 300,000 customers since 2017
🏦 Direct connection to German partner bank (FIB Frankfurt International Bank)
🛡️ Fully protected by the German Deposit Protection
🌎 Worldwide availability (with a few exceptions, including the USA)

*Paid partnership with Fintiba. For more info, please read our disclaimer.

Additional Disclaimers

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