Girocard acceptance reaches new high in Germany

The German debit card system, Girocard, reached a new peak in acceptance during the first half of 2026. According to data from Euro Kartensysteme GmbH, the number of available payment terminals rose to 1,397,000, marking an 11.1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Transaction volume also grew, with the card being used approximately 4.21 billion times, a 4.0 percent increase from the previous year. Total turnover reached 151.9 billion euros. While total revenue saw a slight increase of 0.8 percent, the average transaction value decreased to 36.12 euros, indicating that consumers are increasingly using the card for smaller, everyday purchases.

Contactless payments have become the standard, accounting for approximately 92 percent of all transactions in June. This includes usage via smartphones and smartwatches through digital wallets. Despite its strong domestic presence, Girocard faces increasing competition from international credit card providers and various debit systems like Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit.