Large credit institutes and savings banks are increasingly withdrawing from the inner cities. Numerous branches were therefore closed. This change is a significant challenge, especially for seniors. CHIP says how consumers can now get cash.
The walk to the ATM could be significantly longer in the future, the number of ATMs is shrinking steadily in Germany. Many credit institutes and banks are thinning out their branch network and even dismantling the machines.
Deutsche Bank alone wants to close almost 200 Postbank branches by 2023, Commerzbank will part with almost 220 locations in 2022 and the Sparkasse will be giving up a number of businesses in the country.
Why are there fewer and fewer ATMs?
The operation is no longer profitable for the institutes. As industry experts explain, the systems are outdated, which leads to expensive maintenance costs. Money transport companies have also turned the price screw massively. In addition, more and more people are using online transfers and online banking.
To make matters worse, machine-busting robberies are on the rise, which is also driving up insurance fees. As a result, consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to find an ATM in their place of residence.
This is particularly difficult for the elderly. You have to put up with long bus journeys. They therefore often give their bank card and their four-digit PIN to neighbors, relatives and friends, who then provide them with cash. It’s also a lot easier.
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Where can citizens still withdraw cash for free?
On average, consumers can withdraw cash in almost every supermarket. At the checkout, the desired amount is simply paid out in cash when paying.
However, there is an upper limit of 200 euros per customer. In some cases there are also 2 euro coins if there are not enough 5 and 10 euro notes in the register. The service is free.
In addition, customers must shop for a certain amount. The current upper limits are:
- Aldi Süd: from 5 euros purchase value
- Lidl: from 5 euros purchase value
- dm: possible with one purchase
- Edeka: depending on the market between 10 or 20 euros purchase value
- Hagebau: from 20 euros purchase value
- Kaufland: from 10 euros purchase value
- Market purchase: depending on the market, between 10 and 20 euros purchase value
- Müller drugstore: possible with one purchase
- Net brand discount: from 10 euros
- Net market: from 5 euros
- Norma: from 10 euros purchase value
- Obi: from 20 euros purchase value
- Penny: from a purchase value of 10 euros
- Rewe: from 10 euros purchase value
- Rossmann: possible with one purchase
- Toom: from 10 euros purchase value
Postbank customers (and also banks in the Cash Group) can debit up to 1,000 euros at Shell petrol stations. Aral offers direct debits for ING Diba customers.
If you don’t want to do without the classic ATM, you should ask your bank for a debit payment card. In many cases, these cards can be recognized by the V-Pay or Maestro logo.
At the Comdirect, for example, the card is usually free. The advantage is that private customers can withdraw cash at all ATMs throughout Germany under certain conditions.
Credit cards also often offer a certain number of free cash withdrawals each month.
Which association does my bank belong to?
If that is too time-consuming, you should check which association the bank belongs to. If it belongs to an association, cash withdrawals from machines are usually free of charge. In Germany there are, among others:
- The Savings Banks network: Customers of all Savings Banks and District Savings Banks can withdraw cash here.
- With the BankCard ServiceNetz, customers of the Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken can usually withdraw cash free of charge.
- Cash pool: Bankhaus, BBBank, Degussa, National Bank, Santander Consumer Bank, Sparda banks, Targobank and others belong to this association
- Cash-Group: Customers of the banks Deutsche Bank, HypoVereinsbank, Commerzbank and Postbank belong to this group.
In addition, there is also the branch network of ING Diba in Germany.
When do customers have to pay for cash at the machine?
In principle, there are no fees if customers from one ATM network withdraw cash from another network. For example, when a Sparkasse customer withdraws cash from a Targobank machine.
There are also ATMs from Euronet, Reisebank, Cardpoint and IC Cash at train stations and central bus and train stops. Here, too, withdrawal is usually subject to a fee.
The fees are between 1.95 and 9 euros – depending on the bank, the amount of money required and the provider.
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The article also appeared on Focus Online.