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Financial Cards and Payments in Germany

Publisher Euromonitor International
Published Jan 21, 2026
Length 63 Pages
SKU # EP20808067

Description

Germany’s financial cards market saw a degree of consolidation in 2025 as consumers increasingly turned to their debit cards for everyday purchases, while issuers looked to streamline their operations. In contrast, the use of credit and charge cards was more task specific, focusing on online purchases, travel and subscriptions. Pre-paid and store cards continued to fall out of favour as the focus shifted to apps and co-branded bank cards.

Euromonitor International's Financial Cards and Payments in Germany report establishes the size and structure of the market for ATMs cards, smart cards, credit cards, debit cards, charge cards, pre-paid cards and store cards. It looks at key players in the market (issuers and operators), number of cards in circulation, numbers transactions and value of transactions. It offers strategic analysis of sector forecasts and trends to watch.

Product coverage: Financial Cards in Circulation, Mobile Payments, Transactions.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?
* Get a detailed picture of the Financial Cards and Payments market;
* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
* Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Table of Contents

63 Pages
Financial Cards and Payments in Germany
Euromonitor International
January 2026
List Of Contents And Tables
FINANCIAL CARDS AND PAYMENTS IN GERMANY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Financial cards market showing signs of consolidation
KEY DATA FINDINGS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Card portfolios shift toward wallet-ready debit cards as legacy formats fade
Phone-first payments and Tap to Pay broaden acceptance
Partnerships simplify product sets
WHAT’S NEXT?
Focus set to remain on debit cards for everyday purchases
Card holders set to benefit from a simpler and more secure online experience
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Sparkassen remains the leading card issuer thanks to wide reach
Hanseatic finds success with streamlined operations and services
MARKET INDICATORS
Table 1 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 2 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 3 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 4 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 5 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 6 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
MARKET DATA
Table 7 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 8 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 9 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 10 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 11 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 12 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 13 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 14 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 15 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 18 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 19 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 20 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 21 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 25 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 1 Research Sources
DEBIT CARDS IN GERMANY
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Banks respond to the shift towards Tap to Pay
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Banks replace older cards to support Tap to Pay functionality
Shift to contactless payments fuels strong growth in debit card transactions
WHAT’S NEXT?
Everyday debit card use set to deepen as mobile acceptance broadens
Instant payments and “wero” set to broaden pay-by-bank options
Access to mobile wallets set to improve alongside increased security measures
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Sparkassen expands access and usage
N26 regains growth momentum with focus on instant digital issuance
CATEGORY DATA
Table 27 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 28 Debit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 29 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 30 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 31 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 32 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 33 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 34 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 35 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 36 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 37 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 38 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
CREDIT CARDS IN GERMANY
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Credit card usage focuses on e-commerce, travel and subscriptions
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Credit cards repositioned toward online payments, travel and subscriptions
Improved access and acceptance boosts credit card transactions
WHAT’S NEXT?
Card usage set to gradually normalise as rates stabilise
Online checkout set to become token-first and low friction
Mobile wallets and softPOS expanding acceptance
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Commercial credit providers expand via virtual cards and tighter controls
Speed of issuance and frictionless payments key to success
CATEGORY DATA
Table 39 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 40 Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 41 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 42 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 43 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 44 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 45 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 46 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 47 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 48 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 49 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 50 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 51 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 52 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 53 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 54 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 55 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 56 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 57 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 58 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 59 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 60 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 61 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 62 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 63 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 64 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 65 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 66 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 67 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 68 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 69 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 70 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 71 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 72 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 73 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 74 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
CHARGE CARDS IN GERMANY
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Travel and entertainment the key focus of charge card spending
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Travel-focused issuance and wallet-ready activation
Transaction volumes increase as travel and entertainment spend recovers
WHAT’S NEXT?
Gradual recovery in usage as travel and experiences grow
Tokenised, low-friction online checkout supports regular card use
Wider acceptance via softPOS and growth of virtual corporate cards
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Visa leads the network but American Express shows momentum
Volksbank and Amex deliver positive results
CATEGORY DATA
Table 75 Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 76 Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 77 Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 78 Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 79 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 80 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 81 Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 82 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 83 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 84 Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 85 Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 86 Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 87 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 88 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 89 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 90 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 91 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 92 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 93 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 94 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 95 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 96 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 97 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 98 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 99 Forecast Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 100 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 101 Forecast Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 102 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 103 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 104 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 105 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 106 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 107 Forecast Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 108 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 109 Forecast Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 110 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
PRE-PAID CARDS IN GERMANY
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Pre-paid cards disappearing from the market
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Phasing out of Geldkarte function leads to decline in pre-paid cards in circulation
Transaction volumes decline as consumers switch to other payment methods
WHAT’S NEXT?
Legacy formats keep declining while multi-retailer gift cards set to gain share
Benefit cards could lift open loop volumes, but rollout and design remain uncertain
Digital delivery and acceptance will dictate what survives in the pre-paid market
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Public transport demand helps VDV retain its lead as Geldkarte is phased out
Transport retains an important role in card issuance
CATEGORY DATA
Table 111 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 112 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 113 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 114 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 115 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 116 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 117 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 118 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 119 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 120 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 121 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 122 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 123 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 124 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 125 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 126 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 127 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 128 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 129 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 130 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 131 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 132 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 133 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 134 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 135 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 136 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 137 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 138 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
STORE CARDS IN GERMANY
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Store cards disappearing from the market with little hope of a revival in fortunes
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Store cards give way to retailer apps and co-branded payment cards
Store cards lose relevance in an increasingly digital world
WHAT’S NEXT?
Store card transactions set for continued decline as retailer apps take the lead
Co-branded, wallet-ready cards become the preferred retailer payment model
Security, new standards and softPOS make app checkouts smoother and greener
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Strongest players win through digital engagement, not plastic
Simple rewards, digital receipts and wallet provisioning drive adoption
CATEGORY DATA
Table 139 Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 140 Store Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 141 Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 142 Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 143 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 144 Store Cards: Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 145 Forecast Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 146 Forecast Store Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 147 Forecast Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 148 Forecast Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

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