I applied to open an N26 account, and after completing all the necessary documentation they then told me I had to install their app to activate the account. Forget it.

Instead I opened an account with Wise, and have never once been forced to use their app. One occasion where some ID verification process pushed me towards the app online, I spoke with support and everything was sorted without it. Wise.com, just need a web browser and a phone number, zero phone app dependency.

Just be careful. I locked myself out from my bank when I installed a second phone that did not have sim card yet and had the app in my old phone.

It requires a sim card and cannot be used from multiple phones. So they put you to this endless face scan loop and then lock you out.