Understanding bank fees in Denmark helps you keep more of your money. Most Danish banks offer free basic accounts, but premium packages, card fees, and international transfer costs vary significantly. This guide compares fees across the major banks so you can choose the right one.
Account Fees
Basic Accounts
The good news: most Danish banks offer free basic accounts. A standard lønkonto (salary account) with betalingsservice (direct debit) typically costs nothing. This is the account where you receive your salary and pay your bills.
Premium Accounts
Banks offer premium packages with extra benefits such as travel insurance, priority customer service, extended card coverage, and additional account features. These are optional and cost between DKK 50 and 150 per month. Most people do not need them.
Bank-by-Bank Comparison
Danske Bank
Danske Bank is Denmark’s largest bank with the most extensive branch network.
- Basic account: Free
- Premium package: DKK 149/month with travel insurance, extended card coverage, and priority service
- Dankort: Free
- Visa/Mastercard: DKK 0–300/year depending on card type
- International transfer: DKK 50–150 per transfer
- ATM at own branches: Free
- ATM at other banks: DKK 20–40 per withdrawal
Nordea
Nordea is a Nordic bank operating across Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
- Basic account: Free
- Nordea Premium: DKK 129/month with travel insurance, priority service, and extended card benefits
- Dankort: Free
- Visa/Mastercard: DKK 0–250/year
- International transfer: DKK 75–200 per transfer
- ATM at own ATMs: Free
- ATM at other banks: DKK 20–40 per withdrawal
Jyske Bank
Jyske Bank is a well-established Danish bank with strong digital services.
- Basic account: Free
- Plus package: DKK 99/month with added benefits
- Dankort: Free
- Visa/Mastercard: DKK 0–200/year
- International transfer: DKK 50–150 per transfer
- ATM at own ATMs: Free
- ATM at other banks: DKK 20–40 per withdrawal
Lunar
Lunar is a digital-only bank with no physical branches and the lowest fees in the market.
- Basic account: Free
- Lunar Plus: DKK 49/month with benefits like cashback and extended card features
- Lunar Pro: DKK 99/month with premium perks
- Dankort: Free
- Visa card: Included with account
- International transfer: DKK 30–100 per transfer (or use integrated Wise)
- ATM withdrawals: Free at most ATMs in Denmark
Arbejdernes Landsbank
Arbejdernes Landsbank is a worker-owned bank known for generally low fees.
- Basic account: Free
- Premium options: Minimal or no premium packages
- Dankort: Free
- Visa/Mastercard: DKK 0–150/year
- International transfer: DKK 50–100 per transfer
- ATM at own ATMs: Free
- ATM at other banks: DKK 20–40 per withdrawal
Sydbank
Sydbank is a regional bank with branches primarily in southern Denmark.
- Basic account: Free
- Premium options: DKK 0–79/month depending on package
- Dankort: Free
- Visa/Mastercard: DKK 0–200/year
- International transfer: DKK 50–150 per transfer
- ATM at own ATMs: Free
- ATM at other banks: DKK 20–40 per withdrawal
ATM Fees
- At your own bank’s ATMs: Free
- At other banks’ ATMs: DKK 20–40 per withdrawal
- Some banks offer shared ATM networks: Check with your bank if they participate
- Tip: Always withdraw from your own bank’s ATMs to avoid fees
Card Fees
- Dankort: Usually free with your bank account. This is your everyday debit card for domestic purchases.
- Visa/Mastercard: DKK 0–300/year depending on the bank and card tier. Premium cards with travel insurance or cashback cost more.
- Contactless: All modern cards support contactless payments at no extra charge.
International Transfer Fees
International transfers from Danish banks typically cost DKK 50–200 per transfer, depending on the bank and destination. Banks also add a margin on the exchange rate.
Cheaper alternative: Use Wise (formerly TransferWise) for international transfers. Wise charges a small transparent fee and uses the real mid-market exchange rate. For regular international transfers, this can save you hundreds of kroner per year compared to bank transfers.
Overdraft Fees
If your account goes negative, banks charge interest on the overdraft:
- Interest rate: Typically 10–15% annually on negative balances
- Some banks charge an additional overdraft fee
- Tip: Avoid overdrafts entirely. Set up a budget account (budgetkonto) to separate bills from spending, and keep an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses.
Comparison Table
| Bank | Basic Account | Premium Account | Dankort | Credit Card | Int’l Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danske Bank | Free | DKK 149/mo | Free | DKK 0–300/yr | DKK 50–150 |
| Nordea | Free | DKK 129/mo | Free | DKK 0–250/yr | DKK 75–200 |
| Jyske Bank | Free | DKK 99/mo | Free | DKK 0–200/yr | DKK 50–150 |
| Lunar | Free | DKK 49–99/mo | Free | Included | DKK 30–100 |
| Arbejdernes Landsbank | Free | Minimal | Free | DKK 0–150/yr | DKK 50–100 |
| Sydbank | Free | DKK 0–79/mo | Free | DKK 0–200/yr | DKK 50–150 |
Tips for Minimising Bank Fees
- Use a basic account if you do not need premium features. Most people are well served by a free basic account with a Dankort.
- Compare total annual cost, not just individual fees. A bank with slightly higher monthly fees might offer cheaper international transfers if you use them regularly.
- Consider Lunar for the lowest overall fees. As a digital-only bank, Lunar has lower overheads and passes the savings on to customers.
- Use Wise for international transfers. Banks charge high margins on currency exchange. Wise is significantly cheaper for sending money abroad.
- Avoid premium packages unless you use the benefits. A DKK 149/month premium package costs DKK 1,788 per year. Make sure you actually use the travel insurance or other perks.
- Withdraw from your own bank’s ATMs. Plan withdrawals to avoid paying DKK 20–40 at other banks’ machines.
- Review your bank fees annually. Banks occasionally change their fee structures. Check once a year that you are still getting the best deal.
- Bundle services for discounts. Some banks offer reduced fees if you hold multiple products such as a mortgage, pension, or insurance with them.