Kontist
About Kontist
Contact Kontist — Phone, Customer Service and Complete Guide to the Freelance Neobank Looking to contact Kontist or learn more about this German neobank dedicated to independent workers? You've come to the right place. Kontist is a Berlin-based fintech that has established itself as the go-to banking solution for freelancers and self-employed professionals in Germany. In this comprehensive guide, we cover everything you need to know: how to reach Kontist customer service , offers and pricing, features, security, customer reviews, and a detailed comparison with its main competitors. Whether you want to find the Kontist phone number , understand how to open an account, or evaluate whether this Kontist online bank meets your needs, this guide covers all essential information. Important note: Kontist is a 100% digital neobank. There is no traditional Kontist phone number to dial. All customer support goes through the mobile app and live chat. This characteristic, shared by most neobanks, means that to contact Kontist by phone , you actually need to use the communication channels built into the app. We detail all available contact methods in the customer service section.
1. Background and History of Kontist: From Berlin Startup to the Leading Freelance Neobank The story of Kontist begins in 2016 in Berlin, at the heart of Europe's most dynamic fintech ecosystem. Christopher Plantener, an entrepreneur and veteran of the German fintech sector, founded the company with a clear vision: to create the first neobank specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed workers in Germany. At a time when large traditional banks largely ignored the specific needs of self-employed professionals and existing banking solutions offered no integrated tax management tools, Kontist filled a significant gap in the market. The starting observation was simple: in Germany, freelancers and Selbständige (self-employed workers) represent a significant share of the working population, with more than 4 million people engaged in independent activities. Yet these professionals faced unique banking challenges: the need to separate personal and professional finances, the obligation to set aside tax provisions (income tax, VAT, solidarity surcharge), and the lack of suitable tools at conventional banks like Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, or Sparkasse. The Kontist neobank was designed from day one to solve these specific problems. The early years of development were marked by several key milestones. In 2017, Kontist launched the first version of its mobile app, offering a basic business account with a German IBAN provided by its banking partner Solaris (formerly Solarisbank). This partnership with Solaris SE, a full-service bank regulated by BaFin (the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and the European Central Bank (ECB), gave Kontist the regulatory legitimacy and security essential from the outset. Customer deposits are protected by the German deposit guarantee scheme up to 100,000 euros, exactly as with a traditional bank. In 2018, Kontist completed a significant funding round with Haufe Group, the German leader in business management and accounting solutions for SMEs. This strategic investment went beyond financial backing: it brought Kontist deep expertise in accounting and tax management, which translated into the development of automatic tax calculation tools — a true differentiator for the platform. The flagship feature — real-time tax estimation — allows freelancers to instantly see how much to set aside for their tax obligations with each incoming transaction. The year 2020 marked a turning point with the acquisition of Kontist by the Danish group Ageras, specializing in financial and accounting services for freelancers and small businesses in Northern Europe. This acquisition was part of Ageras's strategy to build a complete financial ecosystem for European independent workers. Kontist, with its 150 employees and rapidly growing user base, became a cornerstone of this ecosystem. Under Ageras's umbrella, Kontist accelerated its feature development and progressively expanded its offering. More recently, Kontist has moved closer to Shine, a French neobank also dedicated to freelancers and independent workers. This partnership, reflected in the "Kontist by Shine" branding, illustrates a consolidation trend in the specialized neobank sector. The two entities now share certain technological and commercial resources while maintaining their respective markets: Kontist for Germany and Shine for France. Today, the Kontist pro bank counts tens of thousands of active users in Germany. It has built a solid reputation based on three