The order rule: first a 3-6-month expense cushion on Tagesgeld, only then investment talk. Boring — which is exactly why it works.
The Emergency Fund, Not the Mattress
Tagesgeld: interest with instant access; Festgeld: a locked rate for a term. Both protected by the €100,000 guarantee per bank.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
My Tagesgeld holds exactly 3 months of expenses. Everything above works elsewhere: the cushion is not an investment, its job is instant availability.
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Lea recommends:
The bold 4 percent usually lasts 4–6 months for new customers. Look at the existing-customer rate — that is what remains after the honeymoon.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A foreign bank from the comparison — safe? ▾
The 100 000 € guarantee is EU-wide, but payout procedures follow the bank home country. The conservative pick is German protection — 0.2 percent extra rarely justifies it.
Tagesgeld or Festgeld? ▾
Tagesgeld: always accessible, floating rate. Festgeld: locked for a term at a higher fixed rate. The emergency fund belongs in Tagesgeld; surpluses can ladder into Festgeld.
How safe is it? ▾
The €100,000 guarantee is EU law: if a bank fails, the deposit fund repays within days. Larger sums: spread across banks.
Why do rates differ so much? ▾
Banks compete for deposits differently; new customers often get a 4-6-month promo rate. Moving the cushion twice a year is perfectly normal.