Cash Withdrawals at ATMs Soon Impossible? Digital Payments Gaining Popularity in Germany: These Are the Reasons
The number of available ATMs in Germany is decreasing for various reasons.
The termination of partnerships will impact the accessibility of cash, especially in rural areas.
There are fewer and fewer ATMs in Germany where clients can withdraw cash. Several reasons are behind this trend: police statistics increasingly report incidents of ATMs being blown up, many branches that previously offered counter services are being closed for efficiency reasons, and digital payments are becoming more popular.
Today, it is possible to withdraw cash at supermarket checkouts. This service was also available at gas stations until now, but it will soon be restricted. Several banks from the “Cash Group” network – including Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Hypovereinsbank, and Postbank – will no longer cooperate with Shell gas stations. This was reported by the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”, citing internal sources.
Up to 1,000 Euros: Cash Service at Gas Stations Ends
According to the report by “Ksta,” the cooperation ends on June 30. A total of 1,300 out of 2,000 Shell gas stations will no longer offer this service, although they were previously part of the partnership. Compared to stores, the main advantage for clients at Shell stations was that there was no minimum purchase requirement. This allowed for withdrawals of up to 1,000 euros – soon, this will no longer be possible.
The mentioned reduction in cash withdrawal options, further worsened by the end of cooperation between banks and Shell stations, is particularly problematic in rural areas. There, gas stations were often the only practical option for withdrawing money.
Banks are reacting differently to this change. For example, Postbank – which is also affected by the termination – will offer cash withdrawals via a barcode generated in the Postbank app starting in autumn 2024. More than 12,500 stores across the country are participating in this program.
No More Cash at Shell Stations
Deutsche Bank is currently developing a similar product that is expected to be available by the end of 2025. In this case as well, the bank’s app plays a central role.
In addition to the already mentioned problem in rural areas, there is another important factor: the age structure of the population in Germany. The country is aging, and although many elderly people are adapting to new technologies, a large number still do not own a smartphone. This poses a simple obstacle to using banking apps.
So, those living in rural areas and without a smartphone are likely to be dissatisfied with the development – because there are fewer and fewer options for withdrawing cash in Germany.
(FR.de)
