If a creditor has your account garnished, the balance can be frozen at first – including money you need for rent and food. The Pfändungsschutzkonto, or P-Konto, is meant to prevent that. Here is how it works in principle.
What is a P-Konto?
A P-Konto is an ordinary current account with special protection: a monthly basic amount stays available to you even during a garnishment. Since 1 July 2026 this basic allowance is around €1,590 per calendar month (1). The official notice on garnishment thresholds gives €1,587.40 for the underlying amount (2).
How to convert an account
- Any individual can ask their bank to run a current account as a P-Konto (3).
- If the account is already garnished, the conversion must apply from the fourth business day after your request (3).
- According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the conversion itself is free and your existing account fees continue to apply (1).
- Only one P-Konto per person is allowed; you declare this to the bank (3).
Higher protection and carry-over
With maintenance obligations, child benefit (Kindergeld) or certain social benefits, the protection can be higher. The bank then needs a certificate (Bescheinigung), which, for example, the Familienkasse, social benefit agencies, recognised debt advice centres, lawyers or employers can issue (1). Unused allowance can generally be carried over into the following three months, up to four times the monthly allowance in total (1).
Good to know
A P-Konto protects only the balance; it does not remove debts. Recognised debt advice centres can help with debts. If you are looking for or switching a current account, read our guide to bank accounts: open, compare, switch.
We do not give advice or recommend anything; the decision is yours.