Apple Pay Goes Live for Sparkasse and Commerzbank Customers in Germany

Tuesday December 10, 2019 2:40 AM PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple Pay came to two additional big banks in Germany today, bringing the digital payment platform to millions more people in the country just over a year since it launched there.


As of this morning, customers of both Sparkasse and Commerzbank can add their Visa and Mastercard credit cards to the Wallet app. The Sparkassen-Karte Basis debit card is also compatible, but support for the Sparkasse giro card is coming later, sometime in 2020.

Apple's mobile payment system allows users to make contactless payments for goods and services in retail stores using their iPhone or Apple Watch.

‌Apple Pay‌ made its long-awaited debut in Germany back in December 2018 with multiple partners immediately jumping on board, but support from Sparkasse and Commerzebank was conspicuously absent on rollout day. The two banks previously said in June 2019 that ‌Apple Pay‌ support was coming later in the year.


Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that ‌Apple Pay‌ would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019. ‌Apple Pay‌ first launched in the United States in October 2014. You can view the full list of ‌Apple Pay‌ countries and regions on Apple's website.

(Via Macerkopf.de)

Tags: Apple Pay, Germany
17 comments

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RickDEGH
6 weeks ago


It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.

Most stores? Come on, man! I live in small city of about 75,000 inhabitants and I use Apple Pay (not even talking of the popular girocard) for most shops and things I buy, except at some Bäckerei, Döner joints, some restaurants and small shops. The situation could be better, but it is not as bleak as you make it seem.
Rating: 3 Votes
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FischerPlötz
6 weeks ago


It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.

“EC” works almost everywhere. Maybe you’re still living in 1990. Kidding aside and certainly no offense, I have a much different experience here in Germany and use my Apple Pay with my Deutsche Bank. Just never thought Sparkasse would go this route.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Jandalf
6 weeks ago


It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.

Not true -anymore- from my POV. I‘m close to leaving my wallet at home and only take my phone.... but that’s for Berlin, rural areas may differ...
But you’re right that we still always drag behind... happy that most Apple releases make it in Germany at the same time as in the US by now...
Rating: 2 Votes
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chfilm
6 weeks ago


It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.

Also have to disagree, it's getting better - but what's really annoying that especially smaller gastronomy places / hipster cafés and certain restaurants simply refuse to accept cards. Probably money laundering going on, I have no other explanation for it really.
Rating: 2 Votes
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PR1985
6 weeks ago
[USER=764882]@chfilm[/USER] I have an explanation: costs. I had no explanation until yesterday. Ask our friends, who have shops or checkout the costs at SumUP.
Rating: 1 Votes
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itsmilo
6 weeks ago


It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.


Not that true anymore. The only troubles I am having is with acceptance under a certain limit at restaurants or something like a bakery.

Any retail store or supermarket nowadays accepts credit cards and whatnot
Rating: 1 Votes
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nicho
6 weeks ago


[USER=764882]@chfilm[/USER] I have an explanation: costs. I had no explanation until yesterday. Ask our friends, who have shops or checkout the costs at SumUP.


A middle-ground explanation would be taxation. I dunno about the German tax system, but in the UK this was definitely a factor behind certain types of restaurants being very slow on the uptake of card payments compared to other businesses. Much easier to turn a profit when you're paying your workers cash in hand on income that you don't declare or pay tax on.
Rating: 1 Votes
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iPhysicist
6 weeks ago


Most stores? Come on, man! I live in small city of about 75,000 inhabitants and I use Apple Pay (not even talking of the popular girocard) for most shops and things I buy, except at some Bäckerei, Döner joints, some restaurants and small shops. The situation could be better, but it is not as bleak as you make it seem.

Bakeries will even grunge at Bank notes. They love hard coins.
Rating: 1 Votes
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chfilm
6 weeks ago
Wow! I didn’t expect to live and see this! This and the Mac Pro on the same day... am I in heaven?
Rating: 1 Votes
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GastonM
6 weeks ago
It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.
Rating: 1 Votes
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