Frankfurt The once free Girocard is becoming obsolete at more and more traditional direct banks in Germany. In future, ING Germany will also charge its customers fees for the Girocard.
From the beginning of March 2022, 0.99 euros per month will be charged, as the institute announced on Wednesday upon request. The first load takes place in April. The Visa payment card, on the other hand, remains free of charge. First of all, the newsletter “Finanzszene” reported. Other direct banks have already followed a similar path.
According to its own information, ING deliberately relies on the Visa debit card. This can be used worldwide and is now accepted by most local retailers, including for mobile payment, the institute justified the step. Current account customers can also withdraw money free of charge at 97 percent of all ATMs in Germany and all euro-area countries from 50 euros.
The Girocard, popular in Germany, will cost money in the future. This applies to new customers from the beginning of April. Existing customers must agree to the change. “Against the background of the BGH ruling, we will also obtain your consent to changes from the past in the course of this,” said the institute. The Karlsruhe judges decided in the spring that banks must obtain the consent of their customers in the event of changes to general terms and conditions.
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The direct bank DKB Bank has also been using the Visa debit card for new customers since November, which is offered free of charge. If new customers also want the giro card, they have to pay 0.99 cents a month for it. From the first half of 2022, the Visa debit card will be issued to more than 4.8 million existing customers, the giro card will remain free of charge for them.
At Consors, the optional Girocard when opening an account has cost 1.00 euros per month per account holder since March 27th. The Visa debit card is free. Comdirect also introduced the free Visa debit card in the spring, but the Girocard can still be booked without additional charges.
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