[Osmf-talk] OSMF looking for a bank account

[Matthias-Christian Ott]

Hi,

I'm also a happy GLS Bank customer and can fully recommend them. I never
had to be in their offices and every customer support happens through an
internal messaging system that uses smartcards. A few things have to be
signed on paper or with a German digital signature smartcard for legal
reasons. Many ecological NGOs have a bank account at this bank. They
also received the highest ranking from the German equivalent of Consumer
Reports recently (whatever this is worth).

They also seem to be one of the few banks that try to make ethical
decisions (with the limits of of the banking system) [1].

If you would like to open a bank account in Germany, I would recommend
that open an account at a credit union. Many other banks seem to be
involved questionable business practices. This is also why I would not
recommend to open a bank account with Commerzbank (as suggested by Mark
Szentes-Wanner).

But perhaps it makes more sense to have a look at credit unions and
cooperative banks in the UK.

- Matthias-Christian

[1] https://www.gls.de/privatkunden/english-portrait/

On 2016-08-20 14:09, lars lingner wrote:
> Hello Frederik,
> 
> I'm using an account from GLS Bank for private and business since about
> 5 or 6 years. There is only one issue I'm having: to get cash money, I
> can only use the ATMs from Volksbank for free all others I have to pay a
> fee. And to pay in money I can only use Reisebank.
> 
> I've never been to a GLS branch (there are only 8 in Germany).
> Everything was done via phone, mail or email. One of their slogans is
>> Die GLS Bank ist eine „bargeldlose“ Bank.<
> 
> Besides that they are offering (copy&paste)
> 
> -GGESCHÄFTSKONTO FÜR GEMEINNÜTZIGE VEREINE UND GGMBH
> -GLS SPENDENPORTAL
> -ZAHLUNGSVERKEHR AUSLAND
> 
> Have a look at their webseite [1]. They are not so much in bitcoin or
> other crypto currency I think.
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Lars
> 
> 
> [1]
> https://www.gls.de/gemeinnuetzige-kunden/angebote/girokonto-zahlungsverkehr-karten/ggeschaeftskonto-gemeinnuetzige/uebersicht/
> 
> Am 19.08.2016 um 22:39 schrieb Frederik Ramm:
> [...]
>>
>> Does anyone have a recommendation of which bank I could try and talk to?
>> Ideally one in a country where you don't have to fear for your money, too ;)
>>
>> Bye
>> Frederik
>>
> 
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