Apple Pay Support Goes Live for Germany's Sparkasse Debit Girocard

[MacRumors]

Apple Pay support came to Sparkasse's Giro card in Germany today. First spotted by iphone-ticker.de, the debit card, known as the "Sparkassen-Card," can now be stored in Apple's digital Wallet app, just like the bank's credit cards. This means that savings account customers can use the "most popular card in Germany" with Apple Pay.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1298177115100254209

Apple Pay support for a straightforward bank debit card is a first for Germany. The Sparkassen-Karte Basis debit card is has been compatible with Apple Pay since December 2019, but users have to load a balance from their bank account onto that card before they can use it to pay bills or go shopping. With the Sparkasse giro card, users can simply pay for things and the money is taken directly from their bank account.

Apple Pay‌ made its long-awaited debut in Germany back in December 2018 with multiple partners immediately jumping on board, but support from Sparkasse and Commerzebank was conspicuously absent on rollout day. It wasn't until December 2019 that Apple Pay users could add their Visa and Mastercard credit cards to the Wallet app.

‌Apple Pay‌ first launched in the United States in October 2014. Apple's mobile payment system allows users to make contactless payments for goods and services in retail stores using their iPhone or Apple Watch. You can view the full list of ‌Apple Pay‌ countries and regions on Apple's website.

Article Link: Apple Pay Support Goes Live for Germany's Sparkasse Debit Girocard

 

[btrach144]

I love Apple Pay! Just waiting on Kroger to get on board.

 

[bobob]

Herzliche Glückwünsche!

 

[Bug-Creator]

O.k. setup was easy, not sure when I'll get to test it.

 

[zman123]

I just sent an account cancellation letter to them yesterday, because of their bad service. Hoping to the EC-Karten support with other banks in the future.

 

[speedlimiter]

One thing to mention in your article is, that it’s not compatible for online payments or using it with your Mac to make payments which is pretty limiting.

 

[itsmilo]

too little too late, already cancelled and went to a direct bank instead. All their fees for nothing are ridiculous anyway. Some Sparkassen even added a "transaction fee" for contactless payments now.

 

[William Lawes]

I just sent an account cancellation letter to them yesterday, because of their bad service. Hoping to the EC-Karten support with other banks in the future.

bad service? what are you talking about? the Sparkassen-goup is THE bank in Germany. it's the only bank you can rely on, really (and some other small banks). the rest is just shady business (e.g. Deutsche Bank)

 

[GastonM]

Apple Pay in Germany is useless as long as you cannot pay by card anyway at most shops and even restaurants. "Deutsche Gründlichtkeit", but not for digitization.

 

[stammix]

Nice! There still are a lot of debitcard-users in Germany and I don't even know if thats good or bad (or doesn't make any difference).
Maybe there isn't any correlation, but this raises hope to see Apple (Pay) Cash outside the US soonish.

Does anybody know why this is an US-only-thing?

Apple Pay in Germany is useless as long as you cannot pay by card anyway at most shops and even restaurants. "Deutsche Gründlichtkeit", but not for digitization.

well, I don't think so. of cause there still are shops and restaurant without digital payment, but I would say its the other way around. Most shops do, so I don't really remember the last time I pulled out my (real)wallet out of my backpack to pay something. I love to pay fast and without touching any pin-code-terminals.

 

[William Lawes]

too little too late, already cancelled and went to a direct bank instead. All their fees for nothing are ridiculous anyway. Some Sparkassen even added a "transaction fee" for contactless payments now.

what do you mean with "all their fees"? I pay 2€ for my account management fees and for this I have a get a nationwide branch network. I have a Sparkassen branch right on my street corner. there are dozens in Berlin. I love their services.

 

[itsmilo]

bad service? what are you talking about? the Sparkassen-goup is THE bank in Germany. it's the only bank you can rely on, really (and some other small banks). the rest is just shady business (e.g. Deutsche Bank)

lets see:

1. Annual (or monthly) account fees (stupid)
2. Transaction fees for contactless payments
3. It costs like 5 bucks to withdraw money from a Sparkassen ATM with a Sparkassen CREDIT CARD while you can use any other direct bank credit card free of charge
4. With some Sparkassen you have to pay for each additional "Banküberweisung" (money transfer) even though you already pay that damn fee mentioned in #1
5. Horrible App
6. You cannot deposit money to different Sparkassen because for some reason they are not all connected so what I basically had to do was ask my money to put money on my bank account and then hand her the money in cash next time I saw her since I no longer lived in the city my Sparkassen Account was made with
7. There is probably more I cannot think of right now and it might depend on each "Sparkasse" individually. Which already points out another problem. Each Sparkasse doing its own thing over all

 

[Pizzakoerier]

And still no Apple Pay at 3 out of 4 major Belgian banks. Talking about lagging behind.

 

[syklee26]

Sparkasse.....? That name...

 

[manu chao]

• It costs like 5 bucks to withdraw money from a Sparkassen ATM with a Sparkassen CREDIT CARD while you can use any other direct bank credit card free of charge

Why would anybody (in Germany, with a German bank account) use a credit card at an ATM?

 

[William Lawes]

 

[calstanford]

Welcome to 2014 Germany! Das Internet ist für uns alle Neuland.

 

[Baumi]

Apple Pay in Germany is useless as long as you cannot pay by card anyway at most shops and even restaurants. "Deutsche Gründlichtkeit", but not for digitization.

Maybe it’s different where you live, but in my experience, this has really changed in recent years. I’ve been to a few towns and cities here over the last few months, and there was hardly any place that didn’t accept at least debit cards (which are by far the most common type of card over here). Most also allowed me to use my credit card via Apple Pay. These days, I pretty much only need cash for the farmers‘ market and for that one bakery chain that doesn’t have a card reader.

 

[itsmilo]

Why would anybody (in Germany, with a German bank account) use a credit card at an ATM?

because I can withdraw money from any bank in the whole world without charges when I use my credit (debit) card. If I used my Girocard I would actually have to hunt down a Sparkasse or else pay like 5 Euro „Fremdbanken“ fee. Berlin for example has those „Euronet“ ATMs on like everyone corner. I would hate having to hunt down a Sparkasse to avoid the charge

 

[William Lawes]

lets see:

1. Annual (or monthly) account fees (stupid)
2. Transaction fees for contactless payments
3. It costs like 5 bucks to withdraw money from a Sparkassen ATM with a Sparkassen CREDIT CARD while you can use any other direct bank credit card free of charge
4. With some Sparkassen you have to pay for each additional "Banküberweisung" (money transfer) even though you already pay that damn fee mentioned in #1
5. Horrible App
6. You cannot deposit money to different Sparkassen because for some reason they are not all connected so what I basically had to do was ask my money to put money on my bank account and then hand her the money in cash next time I saw her since I no longer lived in the city my Sparkassen Account was made with
7. There is probably more I cannot think of right now and it might depend on each "Sparkasse" individually. Which already points out another problem. Each Sparkasse doing its own thing over all

Sorry but I cannot confirm your experience.

1. account fees are not stupid, they are the logical consequence of the cost-structure of hundreds of bank branches nationwide and an low-interest environment. if you have no need for a bank branch, that's fine for you. but I hate callcenters and robocall advisors. its the worst.

2. there are no transaction fees for contactless payment? I pay twice a day with my contactless v-pay debit card at the supermarket

3. lol

4. never had to pay any additional fee for a money transfer

5. the app is not horrible? its not so sleek as the app from n26 but I never had any problem with my sparkassen app. the integration of my debit card into apple pay was flawless

6. maybe the sparkassen at more rural regions in Germany are as bad as you describe it. never had such problems

 

[William Lawes]

because I can withdraw money from any bank in the whole world without charges when I use my credit (debit) card. If I used my Girocard I would actually have to hunt down a Sparkasse or else pay like 5 Euro „Fremdbanken“ fee. Berlin for example has those „Euronet“ ATMs on like everyone corner. I would hate having to hunt down a Sparkasse to avoid the charge

lol but there is a Sparkassen on every central corner in the city.
those Euronet ATMs are shady man. think about why they are "free"

 

[-Maxim-]

Before you get all up in arms about the Sparkassen fees: Every local branch has a different fee structure! Some charge for every transaction/Überweisung/card payment, some don't.

I wonder how long it will take Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, comdirect, etc. to implement girocard as well?

 

[itsmilo]

lol but there is a Sparkassen on every central corner in the city.
those Euronet ATMs are shady man. think about why they are "free"

hmmm agree to disagree. Look at my search term and the results haha

My bf has a BWBank Card and every time we happen to run into a Sparkasse it’s like OH YESSS let’s withdraw some money

 

[William Lawes]

hmmm agree to disagree. Look at my search term and the results haha

My bf has a BWBank Card and every time we happen to run into a Sparkasse it’s like OH YESSS let’s withdraw some money

whatever. Im happy that i can use my sparkassen debit card via apple pay.

 

[RickDEGH]

Before you get all up in arms about the Sparkassen fees: Every local branch has a different fee structure! Some charge for every transaction/Überweisung/card payment, some don't.

I wonder how long it will take Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, comdirect, etc. to implement girocard as well?

Here:
Or, you meant in Apple Pay? Yeah, that’d be great, because I know folks who don’t have the debit card (because of the account type they go for - costs extra monthly to get a debit card), plus some Backereis just want only EC-Karte, if they accept card at all.