The Girocard confirmed its leading position as an electronic payment instrument in Germany in the first half of the year.

As the responsible operating company Euro Kartensysteme announced, the number of payment transactions in the first six months increased by 4.7 percent to 2.7 billion compared to the same period in the previous year.

Sales increased by 2.0 percent to 114 billion euros.

Markus Frühauf

Editor in business.

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German banks and savings banks have issued around 100 million girocards, making it the most important debit card in Germany.

This is also used more and more for contactless payment.

According to the operating company, almost two thirds of all Girocard payments were contactless in the first half of the year.

Twelve months earlier, the proportion was 46 percent.

Contactless payment can be made with the Girocard or in digital form using Apple Pay, also on the smartphone.

As a catalyst, the pandemic brought another significant boost to particularly fast and hygienic contactless payment, which is why Euro Card Systems was the reason for the growth.

The average amount for all Girocard payments fell slightly to 42.07 euros. The operating company regards this as evidence that paying with the Girocard has become absolutely normal in everyday life - regardless of the amount. The average receipt for contactless payment increased at the same time to 36.81 euros.

The digital girocard, of which banks and savings banks have now issued four million, is becoming increasingly popular. The digital card enables, for example, contactless payment via smartphone via Apple Pay. According to Euro Kartensysteme, the number of newly issued digital girocards is currently in the six-digit range. Here, too, the pandemic could be viewed as a catalyst. Since July 13th, Sparkasse customers have been able to use the Girocard on the Internet via Apple Pay. The operating company attributes the positive development of the Girocard to its availability in retail outlets. At the end of June there were around 922,000 active terminals, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to the previous year.