Opening a German bank account from abroad

I'm moving to Berlin in a couple weeks, and I imagine I'll be needing a German bank account.

Does anyone have recommendations on which banks I should, or shouldn't, use? Are any of them especially good at working with foreign nationals? When I moved to London it was relatively difficult to set up a bank account without any previous UK addresses, UK work history, or UK credit history -- will I run into similar problems in Germany? What documentation do they want from you before setting up an account?

I'm moving for work, but it'll take a couple months to switch my work contract from the UK to Germany, and I'll be staying in short-stay accommodation at the start as well -- does anyone know if it'll be a problem that I'm officially still working in the UK at the start, and have no permanent Berlin address to use? Also, has anyone set up a German bank account from abroad? If I can set up the account now, from London, and have it ready to go when I get to Berlin, that'd be ideal.

A lot of questions, I know -- but any help or advice you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Nate

Related topic: Tips on opening a bank account in Germany

I'm not sure how successful you'll be at setting up an account from abroad, I think you'll have more luck doing it face-to-face.

Hi
I recently moved to just outside of Berlin from London and originally had the same idea, however I stuggled to open an account in London before moving over, and whilst you might be able to do it online, it really doesn't take too long once you're here. The main advantages I would say there are in waiting until you arrive is you can work out which banks have branches & cashpoints etc are handy for where you live/work. (I've found that other banks cashpoints charge me for withdrawing moeny so it is handy to have your "home" cashpoint somewhere handy). Usually all you will need to open an account is the document you get when you register your residency with the local Council (anmeldebestaetigung) and your passport.
You will find that until your EC (debit) card comes through you'll have to carry a lot of cash as Visa debit cards aren't very widely accepted at all and are generally regarded as credit cards not debit cards.
Good luck with the move!