Trade Republic launches zero-fee retirement depot for Germany

Trade Republic has announced a zero-fee model for the new state-subsidized retirement savings depot (Altersvorsorgedepot) in Germany, set to launch on January 1, 2027. The offering aims to replace the Riester-Rente for new contracts. The broker will waive custody and transaction fees for savings plans and will reimburse product costs for over 50 selected ETFs from providers such as BlackRock, DWS, and Vanguard.

This move intensifies competition in the financial sector, following a similar announcement by Scalable Capital. The new retirement model allows savers to benefit from state subsidies of up to 540 euros annually, plus additional child-related bonuses, while investing in ETFs, funds, and bonds.

Regarding existing Riester contracts, current holders benefit from grandfathering protections. They can continue their existing contracts under previous terms or transfer their accumulated capital into the new retirement depot starting in 2027. However, combining old and new subsidy rules is not permitted; switching to the new system irrevocably changes the subsidy framework for the individual.