Germany pilots futuristic polymer banknote and expands Girocard capabilities

The Bundesdruckerei in Berlin unveiled the prototype "STELLA" banknote, a credit‑card‑sized, polymer‑based cash note designed to be more durable and made from renewable materials. Presented at an international conference in Washington, the note is part of the "EX NIHILO" series that explores how cash might look in future decades, with a potential legal framework for new cash formats slated for 2027.

At the same time, German payment authorities announced a suite of upgrades for the Girocard, the nation’s ubiquitous debit card. Starting in spring 2027, users will be able to make in‑app payments at major retailers, link the card to the Payback loyalty program, and use a whitelisting feature to trust preferred stores, reducing transaction authentication steps. Additional functions will include hotel and car‑rental bookings and electronic age verification for restricted products. Co‑badging with Visa and Mastercard will continue, and the physical card will remain in circulation while digital options expand.