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In the realm of mobile payments, Germany's cooperative banks are finding themselves playing catch-up to their Norwegian counterparts. While NFC payment options are available, the integration is relatively fragmented compared to the unified system offered by Norway's Vipps.
German cooperative banks, such as Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken and several Sparkassen banks, primarily support NFC payments through established mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. These wallets integrate with existing debit and credit cards issued by these banks. However, the experience is card-based or smartphone-wallet-based rather than a unified QR or NFC payment app that directly integrates multiple banks.
In contrast, Vipps in Norway is a nationwide, unified mobile payment solution owned by a consortium of banks. It combines peer-to-peer, merchant payments, and NFC capabilities in a single app. Users can link their bank accounts directly, transfer funds peer-to-peer, and make point-of-sale NFC/contactless payments using QR codes or tap technology. Vipps has achieved high adoption and seamless integration across retail, banks, and consumers, simplifying payments without relying heavily on third-party wallets like Apple or Google Pay.
The German market is characterized by multiple fragmented solutions, slower adoption of integrated open banking payments, and reliance on global wallets rather than a unified national payment platform. Challenges include a lack of standardization and slower innovation uptake compared to Nordic countries.
As of mid-2025, the development and years of persistence for the cooperative banks to offer their own NFC payment is uncertain in terms of cost-benefit. The cooperative banks can only offer ApplePay for credit or debit cards to their 30 million customers. Convincing these customers to give up their familiar ApplePay usage could prove to be a significant challenge.
On the horizon, however, there are potential solutions. Wero, a central platform with a wallet function, is the greatest chance for a serious challenge to Apple. Wero currently enables real-time peer-to-peer payments and plans to offer stationary retail and e-commerce payments with NFC payments at checkout terminals in 2026.
The Payment Exchange 2025, Germany's largest payment conference, will discuss these topics and more on March 12 and 13, 2025, in Berlin. Attendees can expect insightful discussions on the future of mobile payments in Germany and Europe.
Lukas Homrich, a freelance journalist and member of the dreimaldrei journalists' bureau, will be reporting on economic and financial topics, particularly philosophizing about business models. His recent focus has been on the market for mobile payments and the potential for a unified national payment platform in Germany.
In summary, while Germany's cooperative banks offer NFC payment options primarily through established card wallets, they lack a consolidated third-party NFC payment app like Vipps in Norway. The German market is characterized by multiple fragmented solutions, slower adoption of integrated open banking payments, and reliance on global wallets rather than a unified national payment platform.
The banking and finance sector in Germany, particularly the cooperative banks, are yet to introduce a unified mobile payment solution comparable to Norway's Vipps, relying mainly on established wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay for NFC payments. Conversely, Finland's Payment Exchange 2025 conference aims to discuss potential solutions for a unified national payment platform in Germany, with platforms like Wero offering real-time peer-to-peer payments and plans for NFC retail and e-commerce integrations by 2026. Technology plays a crucial role in this development, as it could spur innovation and standardization in the German business landscape, streamlining mobile payments for both retailers and consumers.
