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Pre-Paid Cards in Germany

Publisher Euromonitor International
Published Jan 21, 2026
Length 27 Pages
SKU # EP20807598

Description

Transaction volume and the number of pre-paid cards in the market continued to decline in 2025, due in large part to the phasing out of the Geldkarte function. Demand is now focused mainly of gift cards and transport, with consumers mostly turning to credit and debit cards or mobile wallets for everyday purchases, as well as travel and entertainment. On the positive side, there is seen to be potential in the rolling out of Bezahlkarten” (Payment Cards) for use by refugees.

Euromonitor International's Pre-Paid Card Transactions 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: Closed Loop Pre-Paid Card Transactions, Open Loop Pre-Paid Card 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 Pre-Paid Card Transactions 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

27 Pages
Pre-Paid Cards in Germany
Euromonitor International
January 2026
List Of Contents And Tables
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 1 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 2 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 3 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 6 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 7 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 8 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 9 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 10 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 11 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 12 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 13 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 14 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 15 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 18 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 19 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 20 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 21 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 25 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 27 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 28 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
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 29 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 30 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 31 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 32 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 33 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 34 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
MARKET DATA
Table 35 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 36 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 37 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 38 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 39 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 40 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 41 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 42 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 43 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 44 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 45 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 46 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 47 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 48 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 49 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 50 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 51 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 52 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 53 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 54 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 1 Research Sources

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