Credit Cards in Germany

January 2026
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Overview:

Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Credit Card Transactions industry in Germany with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.

Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.

If you're in the Credit Card Transactions industry in Germany, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.

The Credit Card Transactions in Germany report includes:

  • Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
  • Detailed segmentation of international and local products
  • Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
  • Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
  • Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country

This report answers:

  • What is the market size of Credit Card Transactions in Germany?
  • What are the major trends key to understanding Credit Card Transactions in Germany?
  • How has COVID-19, recession and macroeconomic volatility impacted the market?
  • How long will the market take to recover? What are the opportunities now?
  • How will political context and shifting cultural values shape future growth?
  • Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?

Charge Cards in Germany - Category analysis

Charge Cards in Germany - Company Profile

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Travel and entertainment the key focus of charge card spending
Travel-focused issuance and wallet-ready activation
Transaction volumes increase as travel and entertainment spend recovers
Gradual recovery in usage as travel and experiences grow
Tokenised, low-friction online checkout supports regular card use
Wider acceptance via softPOS and growth of virtual corporate cards
Visa leads the network but American Express shows momentum
Volksbank and Amex deliver positive results
Table 1 Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 2 Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 3 Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 6 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 7 Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 8 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 9 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 10 Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 11 Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 12 Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 13 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 14 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 15 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 18 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 19 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 20 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 21 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 22 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 23 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 24 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 25 Forecast Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 27 Forecast Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 28 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 29 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 30 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 31 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 32 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 33 Forecast Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 34 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 35 Forecast Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 36 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Credit Cards in Germany - Category analysis

Credit Cards in Germany - Company Profile

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Credit card usage focuses on e-commerce, travel and subscriptions
Credit cards repositioned toward online payments, travel and subscriptions
Improved access and acceptance boosts credit card transactions
Card usage set to gradually normalise as rates stabilise
Online checkout set to become token-first and low friction
Mobile wallets and softPOS expanding acceptance
Commercial credit providers expand via virtual cards and tighter controls
Speed of issuance and frictionless payments key to success
Table 37 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 38 Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 39 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 40 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 41 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 42 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 43 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 44 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 45 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 46 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 47 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 48 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 49 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 50 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 51 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 52 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 53 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 54 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 55 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 56 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 57 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 58 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 59 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 60 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 61 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 62 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 63 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 64 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 65 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 66 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 67 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 68 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 69 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 70 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 71 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 72 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Debit Cards in Germany - Category analysis

Debit Cards in Germany - Company Profile

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Banks respond to the shift towards Tap to Pay
Banks replace older cards to support Tap to Pay functionality
Shift to contactless payments fuels strong growth in debit card transactions
Everyday debit card use set to deepen as mobile acceptance broadens
Instant payments and “wero” set to broaden pay-by-bank options
Access to mobile wallets set to improve alongside increased security measures
Sparkassen expands access and usage
N26 regains growth momentum with focus on instant digital issuance
Table 73 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 74 Debit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 75 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 76 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 77 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 78 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 79 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 80 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 81 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 82 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 83 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 84 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Pre-Paid Cards in Germany - Category analysis

Pre-Paid Cards in Germany - Company Profile

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Pre-paid cards disappearing from the market
Phasing out of Geldkarte function leads to decline in pre-paid cards in circulation
Transaction volumes decline as consumers switch to other payment methods
Legacy formats keep declining while multi-retailer gift cards set to gain share
Benefit cards could lift open loop volumes, but rollout and design remain uncertain
Digital delivery and acceptance will dictate what survives in the pre-paid market
Public transport demand helps VDV retain its lead as Geldkarte is phased out
Transport retains an important role in card issuance
Table 85 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 86 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 87 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 88 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 89 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 90 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 91 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 92 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 93 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 94 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 95 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 96 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 97 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 98 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 99 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 100 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 101 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 102 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 103 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 104 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 105 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 106 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 107 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 108 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 109 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 110 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 111 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 112 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Store Cards in Germany - Category analysis

Store Cards in Germany - Company Profile

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Store cards disappearing from the market with little hope of a revival in fortunes
Store cards give way to retailer apps and co-branded payment cards
Store cards lose relevance in an increasingly digital world
Store card transactions set for continued decline as retailer apps take the lead
Co-branded, wallet-ready cards become the preferred retailer payment model
Security, new standards and softPOS make app checkouts smoother and greener
Strongest players win through digital engagement, not plastic
Simple rewards, digital receipts and wallet provisioning drive adoption
Table 113 Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 114 Store Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 115 Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 116 Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 117 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 118 Store Cards: Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 119 Forecast Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 120 Forecast Store Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 121 Forecast Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 122 Forecast Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Financial Cards and Payments in Germany - Industry Overview

Financial cards market showing signs of consolidation

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Card portfolios shift toward wallet-ready debit cards as legacy formats fade
Phone-first payments and Tap to Pay broaden acceptance
Partnerships simplify product sets
Focus set to remain on debit cards for everyday purchases
Card holders set to benefit from a simpler and more secure online experience
Sparkassen remains the leading card issuer thanks to wide reach
Hanseatic finds success with streamlined operations and services
Table 123 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 124 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 125 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 126 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 127 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 128 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
Table 129 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 130 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 131 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 132 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 133 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 134 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 135 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 136 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 137 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 138 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 139 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 140 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 141 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 142 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 143 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 144 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 145 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 146 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 147 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 148 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

Summary 1 Research Sources
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The following categories and subcategories are included:

Credit Card Transactions

  • Commercial Credit Card Transactions
    • Average Personal Credit Card Balance
    • Average Personal Credit Card Limit
    • Personal Credit Card Utilisation

Credit Card Transactions

Credit cards allow for purchases against a preapproved line of credit. The account holder has the choice of whether to pay off the entire balance each month or opt for monthly instalments with the balance serving as revolving credit. If the cardholder decides to revolve a balance, the consumer pays interest. Credit cards can include affinity cards, reward cards and types of co-branded cards. Co-branded retailer cards—issued by retailers acting as financial institutions and without usage restrictions—are included in this category. Cards issued by a retailer with usage limited to a specific store within a predefined retail group fall under the store cards definition. Debit cards with an overdraft function are not counted as cards with a credit function. Payments are tracked based on the country of residence / account issuance and include outbound spend while excluding inbound spend.

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This report originates from Passport, our Credit Card Transactions research and analysis database.

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