The number of credit cards issued in Germany amounts to approximately 35 million. In 2023, cardholders carried out nearly 2 million transactions with credit cards. These payment transactions generated a national turnover of roughly 140 billion Euros. 9 out of 10 transactions are performed with debit cards, and the rest with credit cards.
In this part of our ultimate guide on credit cards in Germany, I provide you with an overview of the leading credit card companies operating in Germany: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
These global credit card brands hold dominant positions in the German market and are widely available and accepted nationwide. You can obtain a credit card from these brands through various banks and financial institutions in Germany. Further below, I maintain a list of the major companies that issue credit cards to help you understand the German credit card market and landscape.
Major Brands and Credit Card Issuers in Germany
Only some years ago, German stores rarely accepted credit card payments. But fortunately – for frequent credit card users like me – things have changed. In 2024, almost every store that takes electronic payments also accepts credit cards. Three names usually stand out for credit card issuers: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Visa
Visa is the global leader in credit card networks and is widely accepted across Germany. Recently, it has also become the most popular brand in the country. In 2020, Visa had a 44.5% market share regarding credit cards for everyday purchases and premium cards (e.g., travel insurance or rewards) issued.
Mastercard
Mastercard is in intense competition with Visa in terms of global acceptance. As Germany’s long-term market leader, they have seen their market share drop to 43.8% in 2020 and are now behind Visa. Mastercard and Visa offer a similar range of card types, some of which include price protection and identity theft protection.
American Express
American Express, often called Amex, is known for its premium service and rewards program. It caters to a smaller, premium customer base with a market share of 7.5%. Cardholders appreciate the benefits of the brand: Extensive travel insurance, exclusive event access, and a superior rewards program. However, retailers often have to pay higher fees when accepting Amex payments. Hence, the acceptance rate is lower but has significantly increased. Meanwhile, even typical retailers catering to everyday needs – such as LIDL, ALDI, or Rewe – now accept Amex.
In 2024, all credit cards include advanced security features like fraud protection and contactless payments. The detailed terms regarding payment flexibility, cashback, and travel perks often depend more on the bank that issues the card than the brand.
List of German Banks and Financial Institutions Issuing Credit Cards
Visa and Mastercard credit cards are issued through financial institutions such as banks, while American Express credit cards are directly issued by American Express itself.
The nature of the financial institutions reflects the diversity of the German banking sector. From traditional German banks to digital-first fintech providers, each bank seeks to design specific credit card packages to meet the needs of its customer base.
I spend several hours screening the different bank websites and using online comparison tools to compile the following comprehensive list of companies in Germany and compare the credit cards thoroughly. Please let me know if you find a missing issuer so that I can add it to the list.
Credit Card Providers with Bank Account
The following banks hand out credit cards exclusively to customers already having or opening one of their current accounts:
- 1822direkt: Classic and gold Visa credit cards
- BBBank: Classic and black Visa Card
- comdirect: Basic Visa credit card
- Commerzbank: Various basic and premium options are available, such as Visa and Mastercard credit cards
- Consorsbank: Gold Visa credit card
- Cooperative Banks (Volksbank / Raiffeisenbank / Sparda-Bank): Basic and gold credit cards can be requested through the responsible regional branch
- DKB: Basic Visa credit card
- HypoVereinsbank by UniCredit: Classic and gold Mastercard credit cards
- norisbank: Basic Mastercard credit
- Sparkasse (Savings Bank): Different portfolio of credit cards depending on the regional branch
- TARGOBANK by Crédit Mutuel: Classic, gold, and premium Visa credit cards
Credit Card Providers with or without Bank Account
The following banks offer credit cards to all customers, whether you maintain a current account with them or not:
- Deutsche Bank: Mastercard credit cards, including Standard, Gold, and travel options; Deutsche Bank also issues the Lufthansa Miles and More Credit Card
- Postbank: Basic, Gold, and platinum Mastercard credit card options
- Santander: Portfolio of basic and premium Visa cards; Santander also isses the Amazon credit card
Credit Card Providers without Bank Account
The following financial institutions issue credit cards but cannot provide current accounts:
- Advanzia: Gold “Gebührenfrei” Mastercard credit; Advanzia also issues the Hilton Honors credit card
- American Express: Wide portfolio of premium credit cards with annual base fees ranging from zero to several hundred Euros
- Barclays: Extensive portfolio of basic and premium travel credit cards; Barclays also issues the Eurowings Airlines credit card
- Consors Finanz: Mastercard with extended grace periods
- Hanseatic Bank: Standard and Gold Card; Hanseatic Bank also issues the awa7 credit card with a focus on sustainability
- Klarna: Standard Visa credit card
- mywage: Florin+ Mastercard
- Netkredit24: Mastercard
- Novum Bank: Standard Mastercard “Extra Kreditkarte”
- TF Bank: Gold Mastercard
Banks with Debit Cards Only
The following banks or financial institutions only offer Visa or Mastercard debit cards but do not issue “real” credit cards:
Conclusion
The German market for credit cards is dominated by the big three global players: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. While Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted for in-store and online payments, American Express still has some gaps.
Visa and Mastercard are issued through numerous local banks and financial players in combination with or without a German current account. Some banks and most innovative fintechs do not offer credit cards in Germany with their accounts; they only provide debit cards without credit limit. While this allows them to perform less rigid checks on credit scores and credit histories, customer miss some of the key advantages the best German credit cards can provide.
Your Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards in Germany
Find out everything about credit card types, understand application processes and check our provider comparisons.
