girocard leads in Germany for low fees, but non-co-badge cards face issues at terminals supporting only Visa/Mastercard.
The girocard is now the most popular cashless payment method in Germany. Not only is it widely accepted by consumers, but it also offers merchants and vending machine operators up to 50% lower transaction fees than international credit card systems. This makes it the ideal solution for vending machine operators with many small transactions due to its low costs.
Most banks are pursuing the strategy of combining their girocards with a Visa or Mastercard debit function even after the end of Maestro. However, some private and direct banks are taking a different approach: they are focussing on girocards without a co-badge and are deliberately pursuing a two-card strategy. These cards only have the girocard function and do not work at terminals without native girocard support.
It becomes a real challenge for ATM operators if their terminals only support international systems such as Visa or Mastercard. Customers with girocards without a co-badge cannot pay at these machines - resulting in lost sales and dissatisfied customers!
That's why direct girocard support is the better choice!
Direct girocard support has numerous advantages:
- Greater customer potential: many consumers in Germany use girocards exclusively. Especially if your bank no longer offers a co-badge, native girocard support ensures that all customers are served - ATMs that only accept international systems run the risk of losing customers.
- Lower transaction costs: Compared to international credit card systems, girocard transaction fees are usually less than half. This means higher profits for operators, especially for frequent small amounts.
Why vending machine operators need to act now
It is crucial for vending machine operators to utilize the advantages of the girocard and equip their terminals accordingly. Those who rely on international payment systems risk not only higher costs, but also excluding customers who only have a girocard without a co-badge.
Native support of the girocard is therefore not only future-proof but also a cost-efficient solution for modern vending machine operation!
KarL4 - the solution for modern payment challenges!
One example of a future-proof payment strategy is SECO's KarL4. In contrast to many market leaders who only focus on international payment systems, SECO focuses on direct support for the girocard. This allows vending machine operators to ensure that they serve all girocard users while benefiting from significantly lower transaction fees.
SECO delivers a solution that sustainably increases both customer satisfaction and profitability.