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Girocard Alemania is a payment method widely used in Germany, with over 20 million cards issued. It's a convenient way to make purchases and pay bills.
To use a Girocard Alemania, you'll need to have a valid account with a German bank, as it's linked to your account number. This means you'll need to have a German bank account to get a Girocard Alemania.
Girocard Alemania cards are accepted at most merchants in Germany, including small shops, restaurants, and online retailers. This makes it a great option for tourists and locals alike.
You can also use your Girocard Alemania to withdraw cash from ATMs in Germany, with a daily withdrawal limit of €500.
What is Girocard in Germany?
Girocard is a debit card used in Germany, and it's always a debit card, never a credit card like VISA.
It's a widely used payment method, with over 100 million cards issued.
Girocard is the most common debit card in Germany, allowing cardholders to withdraw cash at around 60,000 ATMs nationwide.
Payments and cash withdrawals using Girocard are debited directly from your account, unlike credit card payments.
Qué Significa El Anuncio Para Alemania?
The announcement of Girocard's change in Germany is causing quite a stir. This change won't stop Girocard from working in Germany, but it will leave users unable to use their cards abroad, raising concerns about the entire system.
Some banks in Germany are already phasing out Girocard as their primary debit card, opting for Visa and Mastercard instead. Others still offer Girocard but now charge a small monthly or annual fee for it.
It's likely that people will end up with two debit cards: one for use in Germany and another for use abroad, with money being transferred between the two. This is because around 250,000 businesses in Germany still only accept Girocard payments and won't be rushing to switch anytime soon.
¿Qué es la EC-Karte?
The EC-Karte, also known as Girocard, is a debit card used in Germany. It's not a credit card, which means you can't charge purchases to the card and pay later.
You can think of the EC-Karte as a direct link to your bank account. When you use it to pay or withdraw cash, the money is taken straight from your account.
The EC-Karte is associated with your current account, so your money will be deducted from it when you make a payment. This is different from credit cards, which allow you to borrow money for purchases.
With an EC-Karte, you can withdraw cash at ATMs and make cashless payments at point-of-sale terminals across Germany. There are over 60,000 ATMs where you can use your card to get cash.
Benefits and Features
The girocard is an incredibly convenient payment method in Germany, and I'm excited to share its benefits and features with you.
Paying with a girocard is faster than ever, taking only 11 seconds on average, thanks to NFC technology.
You can make contactless payments without even having to enter your PIN, for bills up to 50 euros.
This is a huge time-saver, and it's especially useful in situations where you're in a hurry. I've personally used contactless payments at stores and restaurants, and it's so much quicker than traditional card payments.
With your girocard, you can withdraw cash from around 53,000 ATMs across Germany, making it a very practical option for everyday transactions.
The digital girocard is also available as a mobile payment option, allowing you to make payments with your smartphone.
To use the digital girocard, you'll need a digital girocard and the corresponding app from your bank or savings bank.
Here are some key benefits of using the girocard:
- Just hold it close to the payment terminal and you’re done.
- The payment process is reduced to seconds!
- Amounts up to 50 euros usually without PIN or signature.
- Intuitive and much easier than expected.
The girocard is also becoming increasingly accepted internationally, making it a great option for travelers.
Using Girocard in Germany
In Germany, you can use your girocard to make cash withdrawals at ATMs, with around 53,000 terminals available across the country.
You can also use your girocard to withdraw cash at participating stores, such as supermarkets, petrol stations, and DIY stores, often with a minimum purchase value required.
Most participating stores demand a minimum purchase value as a prerequisite to use the cash withdrawals service, which varies depending on the trader.
Off-ATM Cash Withdrawals
You can use your girocard to withdraw cash at certain stores, such as supermarkets, petrol stations, and DIY stores, free of charge, but only if you make a minimum purchase.
The minimum purchase value varies depending on the store.
Payments
In Germany, you can pay with your girocard by inserting the card into the terminal and entering your PIN. This is the most common way to pay with a girocard.
Girocard payments are easy to handle, safe, and secure for both customers and retailers. You can use your girocard at over 1.1 million terminals in Germany.
Contactless girocard payments are also available, using NFC technology. To make a contactless payment, simply hold your card close to the terminal and the payment will be processed. For bills up to 50 euros, you usually don't even need to enter your PIN.
Paying contactlessly with your girocard takes only 11 seconds on average, according to a speed measurement by the market research institute GfK. This is faster than cash payments and contact-based payments.
To make a contactless payment, look for the wave logo on your card and the terminal. The terminal will beep or light up when your card has been read correctly and show a message when the payment has been successfully processed.
Opening a Girocard Account
Opening a Girocard Account is a straightforward process. You can choose to do it online or in person at a Sparkasse branch.
To open a Girocard account online, you'll need to fill out an online form and choose your desired Girokonto model. You can do this through the Sparkasse website.
You'll also need to verify your identity using your valid passport or ID card. This can be done through a video-identification process.
You can access your Girocard account online or through the Sparkasse app at any time.
If you prefer to open your Girocard account in person, you can visit a Sparkasse branch and have a Sparkassen-Berater or -Beraterin help you fill out the application form.
You'll need to bring your valid passport or ID card to the branch, and if you're a minor, you'll also need to bring the consent of your parents.
You can expect to receive your new Sparkassen-Card a few days after opening your account, along with some information about your new Girokonto.
Here's a summary of the steps to open a Girocard account:
- Beantragen (apply)
- Füllen Sie das Onlineformular aus (fill out the online form) or bring your application form to the branch
- Legitimieren (verify your identity)
- Bringen Sie Ihren gültigen Reisepass oder Personalausweis (bring your valid passport or ID card)
- Sparkassen-Card bekommen (get your new Sparkassen-Card)
Sources
- https://noticiasdelmundo.news/esta-a-punto-de-desaparecer-la-querida-tarjeta-ec-de-alemania-girocard/
- https://www.girocard.eu/english/
- https://www.sparkasse.de/pk/produkte/konten-und-karten/girokonto/konto-eroeffnen.html
- https://n26.com/es-es/blog/abrir-cuenta-bancaria-alemania
- https://www.ventepalemaniapepe.com/la-ec-karte/
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