Apple Pay Support Goes Live for Germany's Sparkasse Debit Girocard

Apple Pay support came to Sparkasse's Giro card in Germany today. First spotted by iphone-ticker.de, the debit card, known as the "Sparkassen-Card," can now be stored in Apple's digital Wallet app, just like the bank's credit cards. This means that savings account customers can use the "most popular card in Germany" with ‌Apple Pay‌.


‌Apple Pay‌ support for a straightforward bank debit card is a first for Germany. The Sparkassen-Karte Basis debit card is has been compatible with ‌Apple Pay‌ since December 2019, but users have to load a balance from their bank account onto that card before they can use it to pay bills or go shopping. With the Sparkasse giro card, users can simply pay for things and the money is taken directly from their bank account.

‌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. It wasn't until December 2019 that ‌Apple Pay‌ users could add their Visa and Mastercard credit cards to the Wallet app.

‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ first launched in the United States in October 2014. Apple's mobile payment system allows users to make contactless payments for goods and services in retail stores using their iPhone or Apple Watch. You can view the full list of ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ countries and regions on Apple's website.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: Germany

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

Monday July 22, 2024 4:02 pm PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. New 'Slim' Design Rumors have taken to referring to the new iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 4

Tuesday July 23, 2024 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 18 today, introducing small changes to a number of features throughout the operating system. There are no big additions in this beta, but Apple is continuing to refine existing settings and design choices. Apple plans to continue updating iOS 18 over the next few months, with the update set to be released this fall. We've rounded up all of the changes...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

Monday July 22, 2024 7:22 am PDT by
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo, which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup. As previously rumored, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous ...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...

Top Rated Comments

urgs Avatar
51 months ago

lets see:

[LIST=1]
* Annual (or monthly) account fees (stupid)
* Transaction fees for contactless payments
* It costs like 5 bucks to withdraw money from a Sparkassen ATM with a Sparkassen CREDIT CARD while you can use any other direct bank credit card free of charge
* With some Sparkassen you have to pay for each additional "Banküberweisung" (money transfer) even though you already pay that damn fee mentioned in #1
* Horrible App
* You cannot deposit money to different Sparkassen because for some reason they are not all connected so what I basically had to do was ask my money to put money on my bank account and then hand her the money in cash next time I saw her since I no longer lived in the city my Sparkassen Account was made with
* There is probably more I cannot think of right now and it might depend on each "Sparkasse" individually. Which already points out another problem. Each Sparkasse doing its own thing over all

The Sparkasse is a cooperative bank - to be more explicit - it's a "Körperschaft Öffentlichen Rechts".
That means:
- they were not allowed to make any profit
- they are also not allowed to make money at several financial markets
- they have a social responsibility and support many local projects
- they have collective wage agreements for their employees


That's all for the good of our entire society.
I'm happy to pay some small fees, for not being a part of an anti social system.

Ask yourself, how other banks pay their bills, if they don't call for fees.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
51 months ago
too little too late, already cancelled and went to a direct bank instead. All their fees for nothing are ridiculous anyway. Some Sparkassen even added a "transaction fee" for contactless payments now.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
William Lawes Avatar
51 months ago

too little too late, already cancelled and went to a direct bank instead. All their fees for nothing are ridiculous anyway. Some Sparkassen even added a "transaction fee" for contactless payments now.
what do you mean with "all their fees"? I pay 2€ for my account management fees and for this I have a get a nationwide branch network. I have a Sparkassen branch right on my street corner. there are dozens in Berlin. I love their services.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
51 months ago

bad service? what are you talking about? the Sparkassen-goup is THE bank in Germany. it's the only bank you can rely on, really (and some other small banks). the rest is just shady business (e.g. Deutsche Bank)
lets see:

[LIST=1]
* Annual (or monthly) account fees (stupid)
* Transaction fees for contactless payments
* It costs like 5 bucks to withdraw money from a Sparkassen ATM with a Sparkassen CREDIT CARD while you can use any other direct bank credit card free of charge
* With some Sparkassen you have to pay for each additional "Banküberweisung" (money transfer) even though you already pay that damn fee mentioned in #1
* Horrible App
* You cannot deposit money to different Sparkassen because for some reason they are not all connected so what I basically had to do was ask my money to put money on my bank account and then hand her the money in cash next time I saw her since I no longer lived in the city my Sparkassen Account was made with
* There is probably more I cannot think of right now and it might depend on each "Sparkasse" individually. Which already points out another problem. Each Sparkasse doing its own thing over all
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
William Lawes Avatar
51 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thewayfaerer Avatar
51 months ago

Apple Pay in Germany is useless as long as you cannot pay by card anyway at most shops and even restaurants. "Deutsche Gründlichtkeit", but not for digitization.
I'd say I pay about 90% of the time with apple pay in Germany. Shops, Restaurants, Taxi... can think of just one store where it does not work and this is because it does not accept visa. Which won't be an issue with the giro card anymore.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)