‘Our payment terminal doesn't seem to like Sparkasse cards. Do you have another card?’ – a sentence that everyone has probably heard at some point or even experienced themselves. It's a moment that is not only annoying for customers, but can also cost retailers money. After all, if you don't offer a suitable payment option, you risk customers not completing their purchase. But why do cards get rejected in the first place, and what should start-ups keep in mind to avoid losing customers? That's exactly what we're going to look at today, and we'll give you some practical tips on choosing the right payment methods.
Underestimated and indispensable: the role of the girocard in retail.
The German girocard system is firmly anchored in everyday life. Over 100 million girocards are actively in circulation in this country, and in 2024 alone, 7.9 billion payments were made with them – more than ever before. That corresponds to almost 100 payments per citizen.
However, not every payment service provider automatically accepts girocard. Many international providers attract customers with low rates and quick contract conclusion, but do not participate in the German girocard system. This means that customers cannot use the girocard from their savings bank or other German credit institution/bank and may abandon their purchase. For retailers, especially start-ups, this means that Without girocard acceptance, the largest customer group is excluded.
More choice means fewer hurdles.
When concluding a contract with a payment provider, it is worth taking a close look. The decisive factor is which card types and payment options are specifically activated for your own retail store:
- Girocard: This should definitely be included in the offer. It is usually cheaper than credit card payments.
- Credit cards: Despite higher costs, these still belong in your portfolio. Here, it is important to define which types of cards should be accepted. Visa and Mastercard are usually standard, while American Express and other exotic cards often have to be booked separately.
- Direct debit: This is the cheapest option for merchants, but it carries a higher risk as payments can be rejected retrospectively.
- Payment order: For cards with multiple payment methods, it is advisable to set girocard as the default due to the lower fees.
- Don't forget international customers: If you operate in a tourist-oriented region, you should definitely consider international QR code-based payment methods such as Alipay/WeChat Pay.
A wide range of payment methods not only increases customer satisfaction, but also sales. It is therefore always worthwhile to offer as wide a range as possible – also because the percentage fees for card payments are only incurred when the card is actually used to make a payment.
Diversity in payment methods also pays off online.
In e-commerce, too, payment acceptance determines whether a purchase is made or abandoned. Instead of pure Girocards, the so-called debit card is now the standard – it combines the Girocard with a credit card such as Mastercard or Visa for online payments. Therefore, it is essential to integrate credit card payment acceptance into your own online shop. Wallet solutions such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are also a must today, as cards can be conveniently stored digitally. Innovative payment methods such as Wero, which enables particularly fast and secure payments via smartphone, are also becoming increasingly important and should be considered. Those who rely solely on a solution such as PayPal exclude certain customer groups.
Did you know? With a payment link, you can sell online even without your own web shop. In just a few clicks, a payment page is created in the look and feel of your shop, which can be shared with customers via a link or QR code. No registration is required. The individual link or QR code contains an order overview and a selection of payment methods.
‘Germany pays digitally’ initiative.
To make it easier for retailers to enter the world of digital payments, Sparkasse Nürnberg is participating in the ‘Germany pays digitally’ initiative together with other partners from the financial sector. The aim is to strengthen the digital payment infrastructure in Germany in the long term.
The specific offer:
- Accept cashless payments free of charge for 12 months.
- Promotional period: 16 June 2025 to 15 June 2026.
- Focus on smaller businesses that do not yet offer digital payment methods.
This is an opportunity, especially for start-ups, to discover the advantages of digital POS systems without risk and to offer customers modern payment options.
Further information on the initiative, including the conditions of participation and the offers from Sparkasse Nürnberg, can be found at: www.sparkasse-nuernberg.de/s-pos.
For individual advice, please contact the payment transactions advisory team directly at zv@sparkasse-nuernberg.de.