Apple Pay Goes Live for Sparkasse and Commerzbank Customers in Germany - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Pay Goes Live for Sparkasse and Commerzbank Customers in Germany

Apple Pay came to two additional big banks in Germany today, bringing the digital payment platform to millions more people in the country just over a year since it launched there.

sparkasse apple pay germany
As of this morning, customers of both Sparkasse and Commerzbank can add their Visa and Mastercard credit cards to the Wallet app. The Sparkassen-Karte Basis debit card is also compatible, but support for the Sparkasse giro card is coming later, sometime in 2020.

Apple's mobile payment system allows users to make contactless payments for goods and services in retail stores using their iPhone or Apple Watch.

‌Apple Pay‌ made its long-awaited debut in Germany back in December 2018 with multiple partners immediately jumping on board, but support from Sparkasse and Commerzebank was conspicuously absent on rollout day. The two banks previously said in June 2019 that ‌Apple Pay‌ support was coming later in the year.


Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that ‌Apple Pay‌ would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019. ‌Apple Pay‌ first launched in the United States in October 2014. You can view the full list of ‌Apple Pay‌ countries and regions on Apple's website.

(Via Macerkopf.de)

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: Germany

Popular Stories

apple pay feature dynamic island

Banks and Credit Unions to Team Up Against Apple Pay Fees

Friday September 25, 2026 12:22 pm PDT by
An antitrust lawsuit accusing Apple of blocking tap-to-pay competition is moving forward and will see banks and credit unions able to band together to sue Apple. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White this week certified a class in the lawsuit. It will include any U.S. entities that issued any payment card enabled for Apple Pay and paid Apple a fee for Apple Pay transactions on that payment card. ...
Apple Pay India

Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards

Tuesday September 29, 2026 5:01 pm PDT by
Apple Pay is now available in India, which means customers with an eligible card can add it to the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch for contactless and online payments. To use Apple Pay in India, users will need an Axis Bank credit card on the Visa or Mastercard network. Earlier today, TechCrunch reported that merchants and payment terminals will need to add Apple Pay support, so the...
Apple Pay India

Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today

Tuesday September 29, 2026 12:52 pm PDT by
Apple Pay is set to launch in India later today (Wednesday local time), starting with Axis Bank credit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks, according to TechCrunch. India already has a popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system for digital payments, so the initial rollout of Apple Pay in the country is expected to be limited. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI Bank/SBI Card are not...

Top Rated Comments

RickDEGH Avatar
89 months ago

It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.
Most stores? Come on, man! I live in small city of about 75,000 inhabitants and I use Apple Pay (not even talking of the popular girocard) for most shops and things I buy, except at some Bäckerei, Döner joints, some restaurants and small shops. The situation could be better, but it is not as bleak as you make it seem.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FischerPlötz Avatar
89 months ago

It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.
“EC” works almost everywhere. Maybe you’re still living in 1990. Kidding aside and certainly no offense, I have a much different experience here in Germany and use my Apple Pay with my Deutsche Bank. Just never thought Sparkasse would go this route.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chfilm Avatar
89 months ago

It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.
Also have to disagree, it's getting better - but what's really annoying that especially smaller gastronomy places / hipster cafés and certain restaurants simply refuse to accept cards. Probably money laundering going on, I have no other explanation for it really.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
89 months ago

It's useless anyway since you can't even pay by card in most stores in Germany. They are still living in 1990.
Not true -anymore- from my POV. I‘m close to leaving my wallet at home and only take my phone.... but that’s for Berlin, rural areas may differ...
But you’re right that we still always drag behind... happy that most Apple releases make it in Germany at the same time as in the US by now...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iPhysicist Avatar
89 months ago

Most stores? Come on, man! I live in small city of about 75,000 inhabitants and I use Apple Pay (not even talking of the popular girocard) for most shops and things I buy, except at some Bäckerei, Döner joints, some restaurants and small shops. The situation could be better, but it is not as bleak as you make it seem.
Bakeries will even grunge at Bank notes. They love hard coins.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
89 months ago

@chfilm I have an explanation: costs. I had no explanation until yesterday. Ask our friends, who have shops or checkout the costs at SumUP.
A middle-ground explanation would be taxation. I dunno about the German tax system, but in the UK this was definitely a factor behind certain types of restaurants being very slow on the uptake of card payments compared to other businesses. Much easier to turn a profit when you're paying your workers cash in hand on income that you don't declare or pay tax on.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
10 hours ago
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
11 hours ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
15 hours ago
Apple Event on October 13?
Apple Event on October 13?
16 hours ago
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
18 hours ago
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
18 hours ago
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
20 hours ago
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
20 hours ago
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
21 hours ago
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
22 hours ago
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
22 hours ago
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
23 hours ago
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
1 day ago
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
1 day ago
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping
2 days ago
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
You Can 'Get Ready' for iPhone Duo Pre-Orders on October 12
2 days ago
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
Apple Pay Reportedly Launching in India Today
2 days ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware
2 days ago
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
Apple Shares New Guide for Using iOS 27 Parental Controls
2 days ago
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
2 days ago
Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year
Apple Explains Why It Removed ICE Tracking Apps Last Year
2 days ago
Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models
Amazon Expands $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal to More Models
2 days ago
Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac
Switch Siri AI for ChatGPT on Your Mac
2 days ago
Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway
Apple Says Emergency SOS via Satellite Now Available in Norway
2 days ago
AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?
AppleCare Guide: Is it Worth Paying For?
2 days ago
Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI
Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI
2 days ago
Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often
Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often
2 days ago
Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors
Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors
2 days ago
New Apple TV 4K Hinted at in Support Document
New Apple TV 4K Hinted at in Support Document
2 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors