Kontist by Shine review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Our verdict
Kontist by Shine suits business users and freelancers who want a free debit card with a virtual option for travel, and the monthly fee of €0 plus €0 free ATM withdrawals keep the running costs low. The 2% currency conversion fee is the trade-off.
Key facts
- Best for
- Business accounts wanting a free Visa debit card with a virtual card for travel.
- Monthly fee
- €0↗
- Currency conversion fee
- 2%↗
- Free ATM withdrawals
- €0↗
- Card type
- Debit↗
- Card network
- Visa↗
- Legal entity
- Shine Germany GmbH↗
- Headquarters
- Germany↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Features
- Virtual card, Travel
- Audience
- Business
- Official website
- kontist.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 2 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
- Elsewhere
- Wikidata
Pros and cons
Pros
- Monthly fee of €0 and free ATM withdrawals of €0 keep account costs low
- Virtual card and travel features suit buying abroad and online subscriptions
- Support runs on email, chat and phone
- Card runs on the visa network as a debit card
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 2% on card spending abroad
- Ranked 151 of 237 brands on currency conversion fee
- The German IBAN accounts sit with banking partner Solaris SE, which holds and manages them under the BaFin and European Central Bank licence
Who it suits
- Business owners and freelancers who want a dedicated spending account
- Anyone paying in several currencies who can absorb the 2% conversion fee
- Travellers who want a virtual card alongside a physical one
Who should look elsewhere
- People who convert currency often and want cheaper conversion, since Bitpanda lists a currency conversion fee of 0%
- Anyone wanting a card tied to a crypto balance rather than a business current account
Where it sits among rivals
On the monthly fee Kontist ranks 1 of 379 brands, a direct result of its €0 charge. Free ATM withdrawals of €0 place it 38 of 104. The 2% conversion fee ranks 151 of 237, so the card is cheap to hold and modest to spend abroad.
Who runs it
Kontist by Shine is operated by Shine Germany GmbH, based in Germany. German IBAN accounts are held and managed by banking partner Solaris SE, which is supervised by the BaFin and the European Central Bank, and Kontist states it holds no banking licence itself. Support runs on email, chat and phone.
How Kontist by Shine compares
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.6
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.1Its currency conversion fee of 0% undercuts the 2% charged here for spending abroad.
9.1 vs 8.9
9.1 vs 8.1
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.9- 9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.6
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.3
Where Kontist by Shine is available
- Available
- Germany
- Licence in Germany
- BaFin and European Central Bank - licence held by banking partner Solaris SE, which holds and manages the German IBAN accounts; Kontist itself states it holds no banking licence, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Kontist by Shine card cost to hold?+
The monthly fee is €0, and free ATM withdrawals come to €0. Both mean the card costs little to run for a business, though the currency conversion fee of 2% applies on spending in other currencies.
What does it cost to spend money abroad?+
Card spending in another currency is charged a 2% currency conversion fee. The card is a debit card on the visa network, and a virtual card is available for travel and online payments.
Who is behind Kontist by Shine?+
The service runs through Shine Germany GmbH, based in Germany. German IBAN accounts are held and managed by banking partner Solaris SE under BaFin and European Central Bank supervision, and Kontist states it holds no banking licence of its own.
How can I get help from the support team?+
Support runs on email, chat and phone, so a question can go to the team by chat, by phone, by email or through the help centre. That mix suits business users who want phone backup during working hours.
Is Kontist by Shine aimed at businesses?+
Yes, the account is listed for a business audience, so it is built around business spending rather than a personal current account. The card itself is a debit card on the visa network.
Can I get a card for online payments and trips?+
The card features include a virtual card and travel support, alongside a physical card. Spending abroad is handled at a 2% currency conversion fee, so the virtual card is worth adding before booking travel.
How does the cost compare with other cards?+
On monthly fee Kontist ranks 1 of 379 brands, and its €0 charge matches what Monzo Flex and Wise list. Where the ranks drop is currency conversion, at 151 of 237 on a 2% fee.
Sources
- kontist.com/imprint checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity
“Shine Germany GmbH (formerly Ageras GmbH), Boxhagener Strasse 77-78, 10245 Berlin, Germany”
- kontist.com/partners checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Licences
- kontist.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Audience, Card type, Features, Currency conversion fee, Monthly fee, Card network, Support channels
“Free monthly cash withdrawals in EUR: 2 (Start), 4 (Plus); additional withdrawals and withdrawals in the Free plan are charged 2 EUR plus tax”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Protection.
Related by the facts
Kontist by Shine
Business accounts wanting a free Visa debit card with a virtual card for travel.