Account garnishment

Bankingab 13 J.

When a creditor has your bank account frozen: you can no longer access your money. Protection in Germany: the P-account (garnishment protection account) – it secures the subsistence minimum.

In an account garnishment (Kontopfändung) in Germany, your bank account is frozen by court order. A creditor has an enforceable title (e.g. an uncontested payment order) and has your account garnished.

What happens:

• Your account is frozen for 4 weeks
• You can't withdraw money, make transfers or pay
• Incoming payments (salary!) are secured for the creditor
• Standing orders and direct debits are not executed (rent!)

Protection – the P-Konto:

• Any current account can be converted into a P-Konto (garnishment protection account) free of charge
• Protects approx. €1,410/month (2026) from garnishment
• Can be increased for maintenance obligations (children)
• Important: convert it BEFORE a threatened garnishment!

What to do if your account is garnished? Go to the bank immediately, apply for a P-Konto, contact a debt counselling service. And: sort out the underlying debt – ignoring it makes everything worse.

Did you know? More than 3 million account garnishments are carried out in Germany every year. Without a P-account, those affected can't even pay their rent or groceries.

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