July 27, 2026, 10:52 am | Read time: 4 minutes
The Girocard is set to be expanded with several new features starting in 2027. Planned additions include in-app payments, hotel and car rental bookings, as well as enhanced electronic age verification in retail.
The updates were announced by Christopher Kirsch, Director of Product Development for Girocard at Euro Kartensysteme. The Girocard, commonly referred to as an EC card or money card, aims to establish itself in areas currently dominated by credit cards and international payment services.
Although many banks have switched to debit cards and now offer the Girocard only for an additional monthly fee, it remains the most widely used cashless payment method in Germany, with around 100 million cards issued. Unlike Visa or Mastercard, it is not a globally operated card network but is organized by the German banking industry (savings banks, cooperative banks, and private banks). Therefore, its acceptance infrastructure is primarily domestic.
In-App Payments to Start in Spring 2027
One of the most significant updates involves using the Girocard in merchant apps. According to Kirsch, corresponding in-app payments could be available as early as spring 2027.
Euro Kartensysteme is in talks with several major retail companies. Users will be able to store the Girocard as a payment method in supported apps–for example, for using Payback Pay. Until now, payments there could be made via direct debit or credit card. In the future, the Girocard will also be an option.
Additionally, a so-called merchant whitelisting is planned. Customers will be able to designate frequently used merchants as trustworthy, eliminating the need to approve each payment individually. The initial storage of the Girocard will require strong customer authentication, such as through the banking or authorization app of the respective bank.
According to Euro Kartensysteme, the feature is suitable not only for traditional merchant apps but also for applications like Click & Collect, delivery services, public transportation, and taxi or car-sharing services.
Hotel and Car Rental Reservations Without Credit Card Planned
By early 2027, the Girocard is also expected to be usable for hotel reservations and car rental bookings, according to current plans. This requires a so-called pre-authorization, where an amount for deposits or security is reserved in the account without being immediately debited. This process is mainly used with credit cards and is considered essential for many travel bookings.
The new feature aims to enable hotels and car rental companies to accept the Girocard for reservations. According to Kirsch, savings banks and cooperative banks have already implemented the necessary technical adjustments. Discussions with other parties are ongoing. It is not yet clear in which countries the feature will be available at launch.
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Age Verification Expanded to More Areas
The electronic age verification function via Girocard is also set to be expanded. It has been used at cigarette vending machines since mid-2023. When the digital Girocard is used via a smartphone or smartwatch, age verification is automatically conducted. In the future, this process could also be used for purchasing alcohol at self-checkout counters or vending machines.
This could allow the Girocard to serve as a digital age verification tool in brick-and-mortar retail. According to Euro Kartensysteme, discussions with retail companies are ongoing. A specific launch date has not yet been announced.
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No Higher Costs Planned
Despite the planned expansions, the Girocard is not expected to become significantly more expensive for banks or merchants, according to Kirsch. The existing cost advantages over many credit card solutions are to be maintained.
The physical Girocard will also be retained. While a fully digital use would be possible in principle, there are currently no plans to eliminate the plastic card.