1. Quick overview
On 16 March 2026, Scalable Capital launched a new instant-access savings account offering 2.5% variable interest per year on unlimited balances. Interest is credited monthly and the rate sits above the European Central Bank (ECB) deposit rate of 2.0%. The account comes with a personal IBAN, daily availability of funds and real-time transfers to the broker settlement account.
- Interest rate: 2.5% p.a. (variable)
- Crediting: monthly
- Availability: daily, with own IBAN and real-time transfers
- No minimum deposit, no cap
- Depot (broker account) required to use the product
Key selling points include no minimum deposit, no upper limit on savings, monthly compound crediting and the ability to open accounts for children. However, there are important caveats: the account requires a broker depot (brokerage account) to be opened and the interest rate is variable.
2. How the account works
The account functions as an instant-access savings (Tagesgeld-style) product integrated with the broker. Money sits in the savings account and can be transferred instantly to the broker settlement account for investment or withdrawal. Because interest is credited monthly, savers benefit from more frequent compound interest compared with annual crediting.
Interest rate and monthly crediting
The 2.5% interest rate is variable, which means it can change with market or policy developments. Monthly interest payments increase compound returns over time: for example, a five-year holding at 50,000 € with monthly crediting can yield roughly 80 € more than the same headline rate credited only annually, all else equal.
Access, IBAN and transfers
Each account receives its own IBAN and offers daily liquidity. Transfers to the broker settlement account are real-time, which is convenient for ETF investors or anyone who wants fast access to cash for trading or allocation. There is no minimum balance required.
3. Deposit protection and account security
Deposit security is a central point to understand. There are two main protection paths depending on how you use the broker offering: a premium protection option and a free/broker-only route that may rely partly on money market funds.
PRIME+ option (paid)
Customers who subscribe to the PRIME+ service (fee: 4.99 €/month) get distribution of their balances across up to five partner banks. This approach provides up to five times the statutory protection (5 x 100,000 €) plus additional voluntary coverage provided by the partner banks, increasing the effective deposit insurance for larger savings balances.
Consumer groups have warned about these differences and recommend careful review: an independent instant-access savings account with direct deposit insurance can be simpler and clearer for customers prioritizing statutory protection without broker ties.
Free users and money market funds
Free-broker users may find parts of their cash parked in money market funds or handled via arrangements that do not always offer full German statutory deposit insurance. That means the apparent safeguarding of balances can differ from a traditional bank account with direct deposit insurance.
4. The small catch — what to watch out for
While the headline 2.5% rate is attractive, there are several practical catches to bear in mind that affect risk and convenience:
- Broker depot required: You must have (or open) a broker account to use the savings product, which ties your cash to the broker relationship.
- Variable interest: The 2.5% rate is not fixed and may change over time.
- Complex protection: Only PRIME+ subscribers get the distributed, extended deposit coverage; free users may see partial protection via money market funds or partner arrangements.
- Activation requirement for existing customers: Existing users keep the old account interest until 31 March 2026; after that they must activate the new savings product to continue receiving the new interest.
These points mean savers should balance higher interest against the operational and security trade-offs of a broker-linked savings account.
5. How it compares and alternative options
Compared with other broker-linked or neobank offers, Scalable’s 2.5% places it ahead of some competitors (for example, a 2% offering from another broker) and slightly above other bank options that advertise around 2.3%. For ETF-focused investors who keep cash buffers in a broker account, this product can be attractive because it yields market-leading interest on flexible cash reserves.
| Feature | This savings account | Independent bank savings |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | 2.5% (variable) | varies (example: 2.3%) |
| Crediting frequency | monthly | depends (monthly/annual) |
| Deposit insurance | distributed via partner banks with PRIME+ or partial protection for free users | direct statutory insurance per bank (100,000 €) |
| Broker required | yes | no |
| Choose based on whether you value higher yield and broker convenience or independent statutory protection. | ||
Who might prefer alternatives
If you prioritize independent deposit insurance without any broker tie, consumer advocates recommend an independent savings account at a bank that provides direct statutory protection. For savers who want simpler protection for larger sums and don’t want to pay a monthly fee, checking other bank offers or an account at a bank that provides clear, single-bank deposit insurance may be better.
6. Bottom line and practical recommendations
This new 2.5% savings offer is market-leading in headline yield, especially attractive for ETF investors and anyone who already uses the broker and wants flexible cash with quick access. Monthly crediting adds a real compound advantage over annual-paying offers.
- Decide whether you are comfortable with a broker-tied account and the depot requirement.
- If you hold large balances, evaluate PRIME+ (paid) to increase deposit coverage across partner banks or keep some savings in an independently insured bank account.
- Note deadlines: existing customers receive old-account interest only until 31 March 2026 and must activate the new account afterward; new customers may benefit from a short start bonus available until 25 March 2026.
- Remember the rate is variable—plan for possible rate changes and don’t assume permanency.
However, consider these practical steps before moving significant sums:
In short: great headline rate and convenient features for broker users, but weigh the depot requirement, protection setup and variable nature against your personal preference for deposit security. If you prefer fully independent statutory protection, look for a traditional savings account without a broker link; if you value quick access to trading cash and slightly higher yield, this offer can be a compelling choice.
