Open P-Konto: Info, tips and tricks

Find here all essential info about P-Konto (Pfändungsschutzkonto)

The garnishment protection account in key points

What you can learn here

The garnishment protection account in key points
Open P-Konto - Which bank is suitable for this?
What is a P account?
How do I open a garnishment protection account?
What amounts can be protected in the garnishment protection account
Garnishment allowance 2022
How can I protect other amounts from seizure?
How can I have the P account converted back to a checking account?
How do I withdraw money from the P account?
Posting processes in the P account
What are the fees for the P account?
How do I switch the P account to another bank?
Negative Schufa! - What now?
P account too much money on it?
Conclusion on the P account: Awkward but better than the other alternatives
Seizure protection accounts at a glance
The 7 best banks to open a garnishment protection account

checking account on a credit basis with garnishment protection
Basic protection: € 1,330.16
What to do? ⇨ Submit conversion application to the bank
Increased allowance with certificate in the case of alimony payments, social benefits for other persons in the household or child benefit What to do? ⇨ Pfändungsschutzkonto Submit certificate to the bank
Individually determined exemption amount with decision/notification for higher income and special cases
What to do? ⇒ Apply with evidence to the enforcement court/enforcement authority
Giro and basic accounts can be converted into a seizure protection account
A reverse conversion is possible
Only one garnishment protection account is permitted per person

Open P-Konto - Which bank is suitable for this?

If you are wondering at which bank you can open a P-Konto and you may have the or other negative Schufa record, you will find in the article Open P-Konto - Which Bank? listed the best providers.

There you will get recommendations at Which bank do you have a P-account with bad creditworthiness or negative Schufa can open. This is Schufa-free accounts, which can be opened even with negative Schufa entries.

Open a P account – which bank? – The 6 best P accounts

What is a P account?

A P-Konto or Pfändungsschutzkonto is an account that protects credit in the amount of €1,330.16 (as of 01/07/2022) per calendar month. The protection can be extended by providing proof. Your entitlement to the protection of a monthly allowance is in the "P-Konto paragraph". §850k ZPO established code of civil procedure.

How do I open a garnishment protection account?

When opening an account, you can directly open your account as Pfändungsschutzkonto. However, it is more advisable to open a normal Girokonto first and then submit a conversion request to the bank. You can get the form from your bank. The bank is not obliged to open a Pfändungsschutzkonto, but must convert a Girokonto into a Pfändungsschutzkonto free of charge.

What amounts can be protected in the garnishment protection account

the garnishment allowances have been held annually since 2021 on July 1st. adjusted (previously the adjustment was only made every second year). The last adjustment took place on July 1st, 2021. The garnishment allowances remain on the P account and may not be confiscated. But even if the exemption limits are exceeded, the money is not immediately seized. Instead, it first goes into a separate pot of money that balances your income if your earnings should fall again. Learn more about too much money on the P account in the article "What happens with too much money in the P account?"

The garnishment exemption amount (basic amount) according to the garnishment table for 2021 - 2023 amounts to 1.330,16 €
Thus, the garnishment allowance was increased by over 70 euros or 6.2% compared to 2021.
Through maintenance obligations increases the garnishment exemption around
- 550 € for the first person to whom maintenance is paid and
- 260 € for each additional person to whom maintenance is paid

Of the Basic amount can without further proof to be protected. If maintenance payments are also made to spouses (including life partners) or children (including stepchildren), these must be proven.

Garnishment allowance 2022

Here you can find an overview of the garnishment allowance as of 01.07.2022

Number of maintenance obligations (e.g. children, spouse)	Garnishment allowance
0	1.402,18 €
1	1.929,94 €
2	2.224,14 €
3	2.518,34 €
4	2.812,54 €
5 and more	3.106,74

If your income is above the protected amount, the portion above that is initially frozen. The money is still in your account, but you no longer have access to it. However, the creditor does not gain access to the frozen money until the frozen portion exceeds the allowance. You can do this in the article What happens with too much money in the P account?“ read. The garnishment allowances are also at low-income credit of great importance. Since the bank cannot access the protected income in case of doubt, it avoids lending. As a result, people on low incomes, who often need credit most urgently, are not allocated a loan. In the article Which bank gives credit for low income? you will find 7 more ways to get money easily and unbureaucratically despite a small income.

P account: 2 salary payments in one month (What happens now?)

In this post you will find easy-to-understand explanations of what happens when you double your salary in one month. This can happen due to a late wage payment from your employer in the following month. You should know the general conditions, since a double salary payment can lead to the seizure of actually protected assets.

How can I protect other amounts from seizure?

In order to have amounts above the basic tax-free allowance protected, certification required by employers, family benefits offices, social service providers, recognized debt and consumer insolvency advice centers or a lawyer.

With a certificate, you can also claim further exemptions. These include, for example, one-off social benefits or increased expenses due to illness.

If the bank does not accept the certificate from the employer, family benefits office, social service provider, recognized debtor and consumer insolvency advice center or a lawyer, the next step is to file an application with the enforcement court.

How can I have the P account converted back to a checking account?

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has in its Judgment of February 2015 decided that a P account can be converted back into a normal current account upon application. However, there is no right to immediate conversion. Conversion at the end of the month is permitted.

If your contact person at the bank tries to pressure you into canceling your account completely when you cancel the additional service, don't let yourself be spooked. The bank is legally obliged to convert a P account back into a regular checking account. Normally, according to the clarifying judgment of the BGH, the bank should no longer make such attempts. However, the bank may no longer grant you an overdraft facility due to your P-account past.

How do I withdraw money from the P account?

Real credit cards are usually not possible with P accounts. The bank demands this back.

Your P account is a regular one Current account with the following restrictions:

You can't overdraw it (no dispo)
the bank usually does not provide you with a credit card.

If you had a credit card and overdraft facility prior to converting your account to a P account, the bank will likely remove these benefits.

Posting processes in the P account

In some cases, P accounts are checked manually. For example, the cash register clerk calls the garnishment department and gets the release of the available money over the phone. As a result, credits may not be available to you until later. However, banks must not deliberately disadvantage P account customers. If it takes a little longer, the following helps: stay cool. Don't stress yourself unnecessarily, the bank will book the money in 1-2 days!!

What are the fees for the P account?

Short and sweet: The fees for a P account must not be higher than the fees for a regular current account. You have the right to reclaim fees that are higher than the fees for a normal checking account. Likewise, the conversion of your checking account into a P account must be carried out free of charge by the bank.

How do I switch the P account to another bank?

Theoretically, changing the P account is just as possible as with a regular checking account. But beware: If you change banks, this means that you would have to open a P-account at your new bank from the start. Banks are not obliged to do this. They will probably offer you a basic account on worse terms.

Happy is anyone who already has a second checking account at another bank. Then you would first have to close your old P account before you convert your new current account into a P account. According to the legislature, each person may only have one seizure protection account.

Negative Schufa! - What now ?

Situation: "I have received a garnishment notice, I am unhappy with my current bank and I cannot get an account with another bank because of negative Schufa. What can I do?"

Answer: In our list of 7 best banks to open a garnishment protection account you will find banks that open banks for people with poor creditworthiness despite negative credit bureau.

P account too much money on it?

Lawyer — Take the unused amount of the P garnishment protection account with you into the next month

What will happen to the protected credit on the garnishment protection account in the next month or the month after next?

Situation: “I work part time and get about 900 EUR net. I currently have a seizure going on and am faced with the question of whether I can take my unused allowance with me into the next month. Will the bank seize the money in the following month, since I am then above the allowance?"

Answer: You can take the money from month 1 to month 2. In this case, no garnishment will take place. However, if you take it over from month 2 to month 3, the credit is fully attachable. The already mentioned "P-Konto-Paragraph". Section 850k (1) of the Code of Civil Procedure regulates the situation. The facts are here described in more detail.

recommendation: In order to be able to sleep peacefully, it is advisable to withdraw the money from the account at the beginning of the month if possible, but at the latest before the end of the month. Even if it is legally permissible to take credit into the following month (month 1 after month 2), I advise against it for security reasons.

Conclusion on the P account: Awkward but better than the other alternatives

A garnishment protection account is sometimes a bit cumbersome due to the limited options when withdrawing money. The nerves of those affected are often on edge due to the difficult circumstances. The only thing that helps here is staying cool.

After all, the P account protects money up to the exempt amount, which is why it makes a lot of sense in the event of an upcoming seizure.
Due to the restrictions, however, it should only be converted if the seizure is imminent.
Credit cards are only available as a prepaid variant. However, you can withdraw money by debit card as soon as the money has been released (usually 1-2 days after receipt of the money).
The basic allowance can be further increased by dependents.
Only one P account can be maintained per person.
The garnishment protection account must be an individual account (not a joint account).

To open the garnishment protection account you need:

Anti-garnishment account Application that you receive from your bank
identity card.
attachment notice
If necessary, further documents to increase the exemption amount

Once the garnishment has been completed, you can apply to your bank to have your garnishment protection account converted back into a regular current account.

Seizure protection accounts at a glance

Under the linked articles you will find further useful information about garnishment protection accounts at the following banks. If you now ask the question "Can I open a new account despite seizure?’ is going through your head, the linked article may be able to help you. There you will find step-by-step instructions on how to open one Seizure protection account despite debt. You can open your new account directly as P-Konto or create a special Account without Schufa and have this converted into a Pfändungsschutzkonto.

The 7 best banks to open a garnishment protection account

In this table you will find the 7 best banks to open a garnishment protection account. Most banks refuse to open a garnishment protection account directly. Therefore, it is usually necessary to open a regular account first. You can later convert this to a P account. However, you should definitely follow the instructions on this page, otherwise the account conversion may fail. In the worst case, you will then be left without an account. Because (unfortunately!) banks are not obliged to open an account for protection against seizure. The only provider where you can open a seizure protection account directly pay center with the Supreme card.