Is Apple Pay compatible with a checking card?

The payment service of the American tech giant is supposed to simplify cashless transactions considerably. To use Apple Pay, however, a credit card was previously necessary. Can your checking card also be linked to Apple Pay? The short answer is: no.

Apple Pay and Girocard: a popular combination?

Good news for Girocard users: from 2021, the restrictions on payment options via Apple Pay with the Girocard are to be lifted, so that the payment service can be used not only for mobile payments in Germany, but also for online transactions and abroad.However, there is a catch in this regard: until now, the use of Apple Pay is only possible with a Girocard from the Sparkasse. As one of the last major credit institutions in Germany, the Sparkasse has agreed to cooperate with Apple Pay, so that both credit cards and checking cards issued by this bank will work with Apple Pay.

How to set up your checking card with Apple Pay

Search for the Sparkasse in your "Wallet" under the list of cooperating financial institutions and select the option "Sparkassen-Card". You will also need the Sparkassen app to set up the card. Die genaue Vorgehensweise finden Sie auf der Seite der Sparkasse.