Operating area | Germany |
---|---|
Members | 2,000 |
ATMs | 54,000 |
Website | www |
girocard is an interbank network and debit card service connecting virtually all automated teller machines (ATMs) and banks. It is based on standards and agreements developed by the German Banking Industry Committee.
German girocards are commonly co-branded with Mastercard's Maestro/Cirrus or Visa's V Pay logo, allowing cardholders to use them in other European countries.[1][2][3][4][5] As another co-badging option, combined girocard/JCB cards were introduced in 2016.[6]
The Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband (German Savings Banks Association) has announced that upcoming Sparkassen-Cards will also function as full Debit Mastercard or Visa Debit cards in addition to girocards and will have a 16-digit Mastercard/Visa number to pay online.[7] Some banks are phasing out girocards. DKB, for instance, starting in 2023 issues its customers a Visa Debit card and charges extra for a Girocard.[8]