Focus on the most attractive payment method in Germany - girocard
girocard is the most popular payment system among German citizens for purchases in shops and is also increasingly used for e-commerce payments.
The name “girocard” was introduced in 2007 by the German Banking Industry Committee (GBIC) to refer to its ATM network and electronic payment system. The national scheme continues to expand in the domestic market and is becoming increasingly attractive.
It offers many benefits to merchants and consumers, who can use their contact and contactless girocards to make payments in shops and to withdraw cash. With the digital girocard, cardholders can store their favorite card in their smartphone via an app or a phone wallet and make their everyday purchases using contactless mobile payments.
girocard key figures in 2023
- 7.5 billion payment transactions
- 100 million cards issued
- 1 132 000 active terminals
- 84 % of girocard transactions are contactless
Protection & Reliability
In Germany, girocard is used by many retailers who value the efficiency, low cost and security of this payment method. The German Banking Industry Committee (GBIC) ensures that payment solutions supporting girocard meet the security requirements to protect cardholder data. Merchants also emphasize the reliability and high acceptance of consumer payments with girocard.
How to become girocard accredited
Payment terminal providers must ensure that their products fullfill the functional and security requirements defined by GBIC. The “Approval Office” manages the registration process and assesses the compliance of the payment terminals with the girocard specifications based on audits and test reports provided. To become part of the girocard network and use girocard acceptance solutions, POS providers should either connect to existing hosts or build each component of the system (security, host, terminal) in compliance with the girocard–system infrastructure.
Source : girocard, Alex Habermehl
Innovation
With the growing demand for seamless payment experiences, GBIC is working with merchants, fintech companies and payment service providers to offer convenient and reliable solutions for contactless acceptance. As an example, AppPOS (girocard’s version of SoftPOS) enables small and micro merchants to accept contactless cards and mobile wallets via their smartphone without the need for additional hardware. This payment trend is spreading in advanced markets and is now also available in Germany, where the AppPOS technology enables girocard support.
Alcinéo supports payment solution providers in the integration of girocard and advises them on registration and certification.
Visit the girocard website “www.girocard.eu” or the website of EURO Kartensysteme (scheme manager of girocard) “www.eurokartensysteme.de” for more information.
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