Anyone in Germany who is in debt may be subject to account attachment. The attachment-protected account (P-account) exists to ensure that those affected can continue to use money for rent, food and other essential expenses.
What is a P-account?
A P-account is a standard current account with an additional protective feature. In principle, banks are not permitted to charge higher account maintenance fees for a P-account than for a comparable current account. Anyone with a current account can apply to their bank to have it converted into a P-account. The bank is legally obliged to comply with this request.
Each person may only hold one P-account. Joint accounts cannot be held as P-accounts.
A P-account does not protect against the debts themselves. It merely ensures that those affected can still access the legally protected amount for their living expenses despite an account attachment.
Automatic basic protection
In the event of an account attachment, a statutory basic allowance is automatically protected. Since 1 July 2026, this has amounted to 1,590 euros per calendar month. Under certain conditions – such as maintenance obligations, child benefit or certain social security benefits – the allowance may be increased by means of a certificate.
Application possible even after an attachment
A current account can still be converted into a P-account even if an account attachment is already in place. This ensures that the legally protected minimum subsistence level remains available.
Further information:
https://www.bmjv.de/DE/themen/wirtschaft_finanzen/zwangsvollstreckung/pfaendungsschutzkonto/pfaendungsschutzkonto_node.html
https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/das-pfaendungsschutzkonto-pkonto-31097
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