Agency Report –
Frankfurt – Although Germans have long been known for their love for cash, cashless payments are becoming increasingly popular in the country, with the main debit card, the Girocard, leading the way.
Euro Kartensysteme, the Frankfurt-based company that operates the Girocard system, reported a record 4.04 billion Girocard transactions in the first half of 2025, up 5.3% from the same period last year.
The average transaction amount continues to fall, reaching a new low of €37.28 ($43.63) in the first six months. Total spending via Girocard rose slightly to €150.7 billion, compared with €150.1 billion around a year earlier.
Contactless payments now dominate, accounting for 87.5% of all Girocard transactions in the first half of 2025, up from 85.4% a year ago. Payments can be made with Girocards, credit cards, smartphones, or smartwatches, often without entering a PIN for small amounts.
Germany now has nearly 1.26 million retail payment terminals capable of accepting contactless payments.
