Nuri Bank - free German IBAN (potential Fineco alternative?)

Dual branding with Germany’s local card scheme, probably

It is a thing. It’s not just the co-branding, it’s just that Germans are hugely risk averse (and generally don’t like cards, still less foreign cards in any case). Some German firms also (illegally) refuse SEPA payments from outside Germany.

Interesting article here (use Google translate) that projects the death of Giropay)