The best business account for a holding UG / GmbH

In addition, a holding often generates no active profits in the early years or over longer periods and instead serves long-term wealth building. High fixed costs from bank fees can unnecessarily strain liquidity. That is why we at Resolvio looked at which business account best fits the special needs of a holding.

What matters for a holding business account?

For holding companies, efficiency and cost reduction come first. The most important criteria when choosing a bank account are therefore:

• No or very low monthly base fees: Because account activity is low, expensive premium accounts are not worth it.
• A free credit card: A physical or virtual card is a must, but ideally should not cost extra.
• Cheap transfer fees: Typical domestic transactions are often limited to IHK contributions, bank fees, notary/court costs and the tax advisor. A small allowance of free transfers is usually enough.
• Keep foreign-currency fees in view: Most transactions are in euro, but if you use US software tools (SaaS) or the holding saves into a share/ETF depot in a foreign currency (e.g. USD), FX fees can add up quickly.

Business accounts for holdings compared

We compared five popular business-account providers and evaluated their terms against the criteria that matter most for holding companies.

1. Tide – The favorite for zero fixed costs

Tide offers a very attractive model for companies with low transaction volume.

• Monthly fees: €0
• Credit card: Free Mastercard included
• Transfers: 5 transactions per month are free, then a fair €0.20 per transfer. For an average holding, the free allowance is often exactly enough.
• Foreign-currency fees: 1%. A moderate rate if you occasionally pay for US tools.

2. Holvi – The solid free alternative

Holvi also offers an account with no monthly base fee, which makes it very interesting for holdings.

• Monthly fees: €0
• Credit card: Free Mastercard included
• Foreign currency: Card payments in foreign currency cost 1%, transfers 0.50%. International transfers generally cost €1.

3. Vivid (Basic) – Watch the transaction fees

Vivid’s “Basic” plan (the free version does not allow outgoing SEPA transfers) requires a monthly fee.

• Monthly fees: €6.90 per month
• Credit card: Free
• Transfers: Incoming payments are free. Outgoing transfers: only 5 are free – after that a steep €5 per transfer. For holdings that occasionally need to move more money, that is a clear deal-breaker.

4. Finom – Strong features from 7 euros

Finom is aimed more at companies with a bit more operating activity.

• Monthly fees: from €7 per month
• Credit card: Free Visa card
• Transfers: €0.25 per transfer or direct debit.
• Foreign currency: 1% on transfers, but a steep 2.5% on card payments in foreign currency. Less suitable for holdings with USD depots or many US subscriptions.

5. Qonto – The European market leader

Qonto is an excellent account, but the base fee is often oversized for a quiet holding.

• Monthly fees: from €9 per month
• Credit card: Included
• Foreign currency: From €500 volume, 2% fees apply.

Why foreign-currency fees can matter for holdings

Many founders assume their holding only makes domestic (SEPA) transfers. That is usually true for invoices from the tax advisor or the IHK.

But be careful: If the holding uses international tools for administration or invests company assets via a foreign depot (e.g. US shares or special USD ETFs), currency-conversion fees apply. Banks such as Tide or Holvi keep their mark-ups at 1% and 0.50%, while others such as Finom (up to 2.5% on card payments) or Qonto (2%) cost more.

Conclusion: Which business account fits a holding?

For most holding UGs or holding GmbHs, the rule is: minimizing fixed costs comes first.

Providers such as Tide and Holvi are the clear winners. They charge no monthly base fee and include a free Mastercard. Tide stands out because the first 5 transfers each month are completely free – ideal for covering a holding’s typical monthly fixed costs (tax advisor, IHK, etc.) without fees.

If you plan a bit more operating activity in the holding, you can also look at Finom or Qonto, but then you must budget monthly fixed costs of €7 or €9.

Tip from Resolvio: Before opening an account, briefly check whether you expect foreign-currency turnover. If you pay for software in US dollars or plan investments in foreign currencies, choose an account with a foreign-currency mark-up of at most 1%.