How we earn our money
We finance our services on how-to-germany.com through affiliate programs.
When a user orders a financial product through our site and their application is approved, we may receive a commission from some providers. It’s important to note that this does not in any way influence our independent ratings and recommendations.
All the products we present on how-to-germany.com are selected for their quality, range of services, and excellent value for money.
Girocard vs. Credit Card
Written by
Janine El-Saghir
Janine El Saghir is an editor at How-to-Germany.com, where she specializes in the practical aspects of daily life and integration for expatriates. With years of...
Reviewed by
Erkan Boga
Erkan Boga is the founder and CEO of qmedia GmbH, the publishing house behind How-to-Germany.com. He established the platform with the clear vision of creating...
Edited by
Sadie Voss
Content Lead & Editor
Sadie Voss is the Lead Editor for How-to-Germany.com. As an expat who carved her own way into Berlin from the United States, Sadie is deeply...
- Girocard: Domestic German debit system linked to a checking account; high acceptance within Germany but limited international and online use without a suitable co-badge.
- Modern debit cards: Visa or Mastercard Debit cards; globally usable, suitable for online payments and mobile wallets, and increasingly replacing or supplementing Girocards.
- Credit cards: Offer charge or revolving payment models with a credit line, broad international acceptance, and possible extras such as rewards or insurance.
- Combination use: Many expats benefit from using a Girocard for local payments and a modern debit or credit card for travel, online shopping, hotel deposits, and emergencies.
- Key networks: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express dominate international card payments in Germany; American Express issues its cards directly.
- Schufa impact: Germany does not use a US-style credit-building system. Routine credit-card spending does not automatically improve your Schufa score. Pay obligations on time and avoid unnecessary applications or excessive credit accounts.
What Is a Girocard?
The Girocard — formerly commonly called the EC card — is Germany’s domestic bank-card system. It differs significantly from the cards many expats know as debit cards or credit cards.
A Girocard is linked directly to a current account, known as a Girokonto. When you pay with it, the transaction is normally deducted from the available account balance without providing a separate credit line.
Domestic Payment Infrastructure
The Girocard operates through a national payment infrastructure managed by the German banking industry. It is separate from the international Visa, Mastercard, and American Express networks and remains widely used for electronic payments within Germany.
Girocard-specific fraud statistics should be distinguished from broader European card-fraud data. Joint reports involving the European Central Bank compare card fraud across countries and payment markets, but detailed statistics for the German Girocard and debit-card system are collected and published by organizations such as EURO Kartensysteme GmbH.
EURO Kartensysteme operates security-management systems for German banks and savings banks and regularly publishes debit-card loss figures. Historically low Girocard losses should not be interpreted as meaning fraud is impossible. Cardholders should still protect their PIN, block lost cards immediately, and review account activity regularly.
Girocards and International Usability
When making a credit card comparison between Girocards, travel cards, and cashback cards, remember that Girocards are primarily designed for domestic use.
They remain useful at German supermarkets, pharmacies, bakeries, local retailers, and ATMs. However, their usability abroad and online depends on whether the card includes a suitable international payment function:
- International acceptance: A pure Girocard generally cannot be used outside Germany. International payments require an additional payment network, known as a co-badge.
- Online shopping limitations: A pure Girocard without a suitable international or online-payment function cannot normally be used like a Visa or Mastercard on websites and apps. Newer co-badged cards may support online payments through their Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard function.
What Is Co-Badging?
Co-badging combines the German Girocard system with an additional international payment network on the same physical card.
Depending on the issuing bank and card generation, customers may be able to:
- Make online purchases through the Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard function
- Pay abroad through the international debit network
- Pay in Germany through the Girocard system
- Use eligible cards for contactless and mobile payments
Traditional Girocard co-badges included Maestro from Mastercard and V Pay from Visa.
Mastercard stopped issuing new Maestro cards in Europe in July 2023. Existing Maestro functions can remain active until the individual physical card expires or is replaced. Germany is therefore in the final stage of the Maestro transition, with most remaining cards expected to disappear through 2027.
V Pay has also largely disappeared from new German card issuance. Most major German partner banks now use Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, or another newer international debit solution instead. Existing V Pay cards may nevertheless remain valid until their scheduled expiry or replacement, so V Pay should be regarded as being phased out rather than unavailable in every case.
Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard Are Replacing Older Co-Badges
Banks now commonly provide one of the following combinations:
- A Girocard with a Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard co-badge
- A separate Girocard and international debit card
- Only a Visa or Mastercard Debit card, without a Girocard
Newer co-badged cards can provide substantially broader functionality than older Girocard combinations. The international debit side may include:
- A 16-digit card number
- A card expiry date
- A card-verification code
- International Visa or Mastercard acceptance
- Online payments with the applicable authentication process
Eligible products may therefore support online shopping, NFC contactless payments, and mobile-wallet use. However, these functions are not guaranteed for every Girocard carrying an international logo.
The exact functionality depends on:
- The bank’s technical implementation
- The card generation
- The international co-badge used
- Whether the bank enables online and mobile payments
- Whether the transaction is processed through Girocard or the international debit network
It is therefore inaccurate to say that all newer co-badged Girocards lack online or mobile-payment support. It would also be too broad to say that every co-badged Girocard is fully compatible with every online merchant and mobile wallet.
Modern Debit Cards Are Becoming the Default at Direct Banks
An increasing number of banks have replaced or supplemented Girocards with Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard cards.
These modern debit cards:
- Are linked directly to the checking account or available account balance
- Can normally be used for online purchases
- Can normally be used internationally through the Visa or Mastercard network
- Commonly support Apple Pay and Google Wallet
- May include app controls, cashback, insurance, or other account benefits
Many traditional German banks continue to issue a Girocard together with a Visa or Mastercard Debit card. This provides strong domestic acceptance through Girocard and international or online usability through the debit card.
Direct banks increasingly provide the international debit card as the standard product while making the Girocard an optional paid add-on. Neobanks such as N26 and Revolut do not issue Girocards and instead rely on international debit cards.
Girocard Costs and Fee Structures
A Girocard is no longer automatically free with every German current account.
Common 2026 pricing models include:
- Included in a paid account package: The card has no separately listed charge, but the current account itself has a monthly fee.
- No Girocard available: Some online and mobile banks have removed the card entirely.
- Optional paid add-on: Many direct banks charge separately for a Girocard in addition to the standard Visa or Mastercard Debit card.
- Separate annual card fee: Some banks charge yearly rather than monthly.
Optional Girocard charges at direct banks can range from approximately €0.99 to €2.49 per month, depending on the bank and account model. Providers such as DKB and ING have moved toward making the Girocard an optional paid product rather than the free default card.
Customers should compare the combined costs of:
- ATM withdrawals
- The current account
- The Girocard
- The international debit card
Some banks continue to provide domestic ATM advantages through the Girocard. Using a Visa or Mastercard Debit card from the same bank may follow different withdrawal limits or fee rules.
Apple Pay Supports Many Girocards, but Google Wallet Usually Does Not
Girocards should no longer be described as generally incompatible with mobile payments.
Eligible Girocards from several major German banking groups now support Apple Pay, including cards issued through parts of the:
- Commerzbank and comdirect network
- Deutsche Bank and Postbank network
- Sparkassen network
- Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken network
The Sparkassen introduced Girocard support through Apple Pay in 2020. Other major banks and banking networks have expanded support since then.
Apple Pay functionality still depends on the bank, account, device, and card generation. The digital card may also have different capabilities for:
- Contactless payments in physical shops
- In-app payments
- International transactions through a co-badge
- Online payments in a browser
Google Wallet still does not generally support the Girocard payment network directly. Android users may instead need to use:
- A separate Visa or Mastercard Debit card
- Another Google Wallet-compatible payment card
- The issuing bank’s own Android payment app
Some cooperative banks are also introducing direct Girocard payments on iPhones through their own banking applications. This uses access to the iPhone’s NFC interface and is separate from adding the card to Apple Pay or Apple Wallet.
A Girocard may therefore support Apple Pay, a bank-operated mobile-payment app, or both, while still being unavailable for direct use in Google Wallet.
What Is a Credit Card?
A credit card lets you make purchases through an approved credit line.
Instead of being deducted immediately, eligible transactions are billed later. Depending on the card type, the balance may be:
- Automatically collected in full each month
- Carried forward in installments with interest
- Repaid manually by the payment deadline
International and Online Usability
Credit cards are widely accepted internationally and are commonly used for:
- Flight and hotel bookings
- Hotel and rental-car deposits
- International travel
- Online purchases and subscriptions
Acceptance still depends on the network, country, and merchant. Visa and Mastercard generally have broader acceptance than American Express.
Billing and Credit Lines
Credit cards normally have a billing cycle of approximately one month. Some provide a longer interest-free payment period if the complete balance is settled by the deadline.
Revolving cards allow installment repayment but can charge high interest. Cash withdrawals may also accrue interest immediately, even when purchases receive an interest-free grace period.
Types of Credit Cards in Germany
In Germany, card products generally fall into the following categories:
- Charge cards: The complete statement balance is normally due each month.
- Modern debit cards: Transactions are deducted from the linked balance without a separate credit line.
- Prepaid cards: Funds must be loaded before the card can be used.
- Revolving cards: The user may repay in installments, with interest charged on the remaining balance.
Comparing Girocards and Credit Cards: Key Differences
Girocards and credit cards both allow cashless payments, but they serve different purposes.
A Girocard is primarily a domestic debit instrument. A credit card provides deferred billing or revolving credit and normally has stronger international and online acceptance.
Modern Visa and Mastercard Debit cards sit between these systems: they provide international card-network access while deducting transactions from the linked balance without offering a traditional credit line.
Newer co-badged Girocards can also bridge part of this gap by combining domestic Girocard acceptance with selected online, international, and mobile-payment functions through Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard.
Payment Method and Settlement
- Credit-card expenses: Billed later and either repaid in full or carried in installments, depending on the contract.
- Girocard expenses: Normally deducted directly from the linked current account.
- Modern debit-card expenses: Deducted from the linked account or balance shortly after the transaction.
Domestic vs. International Use
- Credit cards: Generally suitable for worldwide and online payments through Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
- Girocards: Primarily operate within Germany. International use requires a suitable co-badge.
- Modern debit cards: Generally work internationally through the Visa or Mastercard network.
The three main international credit-card networks in Germany are Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
A wide range of banks and financial institutions issue Visa and Mastercard products. American Express distributes its German cards directly.
Online Purchases
- Credit cards: Widely supported for online transactions, subscriptions, and digital services.
- Girocards: A pure Girocard remains restricted. Eligible co-badged cards may support online payments through Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard.
- Modern debit cards: Generally support normal Visa or Mastercard online payments.
Additional Features
- Credit cards: May include travel insurance, cashback, points, discounts, purchase protection, or airport-lounge benefits.
- Girocards: Primarily provide domestic payment and ATM functions, although newer co-badged cards may add digital and international features.
- Modern debit cards: May include app controls, cashback, or insurance through premium account plans.
Billing and Budgeting
- Credit cards: Provide deferred billing but require disciplined repayment to avoid interest and debt.
- Girocards: Support direct budgeting because transactions are charged to the current account.
- Modern debit cards: Offer direct account charging together with international and digital usability.
Girocards vs. Modern Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards in Germany
| Feature | Girocards | Modern Debit Cards | Credit Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account linkage | Directly linked to a checking account | Directly linked to a checking account or card balance | Separate credit line with later billing |
| Additional benefits | Rare, although newer co-badges may add digital and international functions | Occasional cashback, insurance, or premium-account benefits | Frequently includes insurance, rewards, discounts, or lounge benefits |
| Costs and fees | Included, paid separately, or unavailable depending on the account; optional charges can reach approximately €2.49 per month | Often included with the account, although account and ATM charges may apply | Ranges from no annual fee to high premium-card charges |
| Domestic use | Excellent | Good to excellent, although some smaller merchants prefer Girocard | Good, with occasional acceptance gaps |
| International use | Limited without a suitable co-badge | Full Visa or Mastercard network access | Full Visa, Mastercard, or American Express network access |
| Issued by | Primarily German banks and savings-bank networks | Traditional banks, direct banks, and neobanks | Banks or direct issuers such as American Express |
| Mobile wallets | Apple Pay is supported by many major issuers; bank-operated mobile-payment apps are also available, but Google Wallet generally does not support Girocard directly | Usually compatible with Apple Pay and Google Wallet | Usually compatible with Apple Pay and Google Wallet |
| Online payments | A pure Girocard remains restricted; eligible co-badged cards may support online payments through Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard | Fully supported | Fully supported |
| Payment timing | Direct account debit | Direct or near-immediate account debit | Deferred billing, with possible installment interest |
| Schufa impact | Ordinary Girocard spending does not build a credit score | Ordinary debit-card spending does not build a credit score | Routine spending does not create US-style credit building; the age of credit relationships, recent applications and openings, payment problems, and other credit data may affect the score |
| Note: Card functions, fees, online-payment support, and mobile-wallet compatibility depend on the issuing bank and specific account model. | |||
Girocard: Pros and Cons
- Apple Pay support at many banks: Eligible Girocards from several major German banking groups can be added to Apple Pay.
- Direct account access: Transactions are deducted from the current account.
- Expanded co-badge functionality: Selected Girocards with Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard support online and international payments.
- Strong domestic acceptance: Girocards remain widely accepted by German retailers and service providers.
- Useful ATM access: Some banking networks provide favorable domestic withdrawal conditions through the Girocard.
- Google Wallet limitations: Girocards are generally not supported directly, although banks may provide their own Android payment applications.
- Issuer-dependent digital features: Apple Pay, online payments, and international use depend on the bank and card generation.
- Limited use with a pure Girocard: A card without a suitable international debit function remains unsuitable for many online and foreign transactions.
- Often an optional paid product: Many direct banks charge a monthly fee or no longer issue Girocards.
- Older co-badges are disappearing: Maestro and V Pay are being replaced as cards expire or are renewed.
Modern Debit Cards & Credit Cards: Pros & Cons
- Additional features: Depending on the product, cashback, insurance, rewards, or purchase protection may be included.
- Global usability: Suitable for travel and international online purchases.
- Mobile and contactless payments: Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and NFC are broadly supported.
- Payment flexibility: Credit cards provide deferred billing, while debit cards provide real-time account control.
- Acceptance gaps: Some small German merchants accept Girocard but reject international cards.
- Credit checks: True credit cards normally require a creditworthiness assessment.
- Foreign transaction fees: Not every Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card is free to use abroad.
- Interest risk: Revolving cards can charge high interest on unpaid balances and cash withdrawals.
Why Expats Often Need Both
For many expats, relying on a single type of card is not ideal. Girocards and international debit or credit cards serve different purposes.
- Budgeting and emergency backup
A Girocard or modern debit card can be used for daily account-based spending. A separate credit card may provide deferred payment, hotel or rental-car acceptance, and emergency purchasing power while traveling. - Complementary use
The Girocard remains useful at local retailers and within German banking networks. International debit and credit cards are more suitable for online purchases, subscriptions, mobile wallets, and payments abroad. - Maintaining a healthy Schufa profile
Germany does not use a US-style system in which regular credit-card spending progressively builds a higher score. Paying obligations on time, avoiding payment defaults, and limiting unnecessary applications are more important than actively using a card.
Credit cards and applications can still influence Schufa-related data because the accounts, credit agreements, and application activity may be reported.
Relevant factors can include:
- The age of the oldest banking relationship
- The age of the oldest credit card
- The number of recent applications and openings for bank accounts and credit cards
- Payment defaults and other negative payment information
- The structure and status of existing credit agreements
Routine spending and monthly repayment do not generate automatic “credit-building” points. At the same time, an older, stable credit-card relationship may be assessed differently from repeatedly opening and closing new cards.
There is no universal rule that every person must hold no more than one or two credit cards. However, expats should avoid applying for several cards in a short period or maintaining unnecessary credit facilities. For most people, retaining a small number of useful, long-standing accounts is simpler and less risky than frequently changing products.
Opening and actively using several credit cards is not the German equivalent of building a US credit score.
Multiple recent bank-account or credit-card applications and openings can affect Schufa’s assessment. Carrying revolving debt can also become expensive even when payments are made on time.
Choose only cards you genuinely need, repay every bill by the deadline, avoid unnecessary applications, and regularly check that your stored Schufa information is correct.
Conclusion
Germany’s payment system can surprise newcomers accustomed to credit-card-centered markets. Girocards remain important for domestic payments, but pure Girocards are less versatile for online and international use.
Newer co-badged products have reduced this gap. Eligible Girocards with Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard may support online purchases, international transactions, NFC payments, and mobile-wallet functions. The precise capabilities still depend on the issuing bank and card.
Apple Pay is now supported for eligible Girocards by several major banking groups. Google Wallet does not generally support the Girocard system directly, although Android users may have access to their bank’s own payment application. Some banks are also introducing direct iPhone payments through their own apps outside Apple Pay.
The economic model is also changing. Many direct banks now issue Visa or Mastercard Debit cards as their standard product and offer the Girocard only as a paid optional add-on, with monthly charges that can reach approximately €2.49. Other digital banks have removed Girocards entirely.
Both Maestro and V Pay are in the final phase of replacement. New Maestro issuance ended in July 2023, while V Pay has largely disappeared from new German card portfolios. Existing cards may continue working until their expiry or replacement.
Modern debit and credit cards fill the remaining international and online gaps. The most useful combination depends on your needs: a Girocard may still be valuable for German shops and domestic ATM access, while a Visa or Mastercard Debit or true credit card is better for travel, online purchases, mobile wallets, deposits, and emergencies.
Do not choose or repeatedly apply for credit cards solely to “build credit.” Germany’s Schufa system does not reward routine card spending in the same way as US credit scoring. Stable financial relationships may matter, but recent applications, new accounts, payment problems, and the broader structure of your credit obligations can also influence the assessment.
Focus on paying every obligation on time, maintaining only useful accounts, avoiding unnecessary revolving debt, and checking your Schufa data for errors.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
To receive a Girocard, you need to open a German bank account (current account, Girokonto) with a traditional bank, a savings bank (Sparkasse), or a digital bank. The Girocard is often issued automatically as part of the account package. While some banks provide it for free, others may charge a monthly fee. Note that many neobanks (like N26 or Revolut) do not offer Girocards but instead issue modern Visa or Mastercard debit cards.
Girocards are primarily designed for domestic use within Germany. Unless your Girocard includes a co-badge for international use, it typically won’t work outside Germany. For worldwide transactions, modern debit cards (e.g., Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit) or true credit cards are more reliable.
Girocards are considered very secure and are backed by strict regulatory standards set by the German Banking Industry Committee (Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft). Every transaction typically requires a personal identification number (PIN), which adds a strong layer of protection against unauthorized use.
Like credit cards, Girocards also rely on chip-and-PIN technology, and many now support contactless payments without risk. According to data published by the European Central Bank, fraud levels for Girocards are among the lowest in the EU, thanks to their domestic-only infrastructure and real-time account verification.
However, international credit cards may offer better protection in cross-border or online transactions, as they often include features such as chargeback rights and insurance against fraud.
For online purchases, especially with international retailers or platforms, credit cards and modern debit cards (such as Visa or Mastercard) are far more reliable than Girocards. While some German websites accept Girocards, many do not, especially if they rely on global payment processors.
Some smaller retailers and restaurants prefer the Girocard system due to lower transaction fees and local infrastructure. While credit card acceptance is growing, especially in urban areas, it remains a limited practice in Germany.