Germany's Girocard to gain in‑app payments and travel booking features from 2027

German banks have been forced to allow customers to reclaim illegal fees charged on checking accounts after the Federal Court ruled in 2021 that silent consent is unlawful. Consumer organisations now offer template letters so account holders can seek refunds of several hundred euros per year.

Euro Kartensysteme announced that the German Girocard will be upgraded from 2027 with new capabilities, including in‑app payments, hotel and car‑rental reservations, expanded electronic age verification and a merchant‑whitelisting system backed by strong customer authentication. With roughly 100 million cards in circulation, the Girocard remains Germany’s most common cashless payment method, though it is not a global network.