German card payments surge 11% in 2025, reaching 14.5 billion transactions

Germany’s payment landscape saw a marked shift in 2025. The Deutsche Bundesbank reported 14.5 billion card‑payment transactions, an 11 % rise over the previous year, accounting for about 43 % of all non‑bank payments. SEPA‑Instant‑Transfers more than doubled, with a 102 % increase to roughly 680 million transactions, now representing just under 10 % of electronic transfers.

The overall value of all transfer transactions reached around €66 trillion, about 90 % of the total payment value. Meanwhile, the number of point‑of‑sale terminals grew by 11 % to approximately 1.3 million, while cash‑dispensing ATMs fell 3 % to about 48 000 units.