Prepaid options are great, but youll likely be best prepared for international spending with a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. most?) Lets take a look. 2) access to many airport launges: very useful when I am with my family, That is a very good question, many thanks! One of the first providers is number26. Why TransferWise for international transfers? Why do you think that is? Make a powerful connection to your recipients with fully customized Mastercard and Visa prepaid cards. There are of course more credit cards in Germany than the ones we mention here. A black credit card does not have the same meaning in Germany as in some other countries. Thank you! Open N26 bank account online all you need to know! Is there any disadvantage in Germany of cancelling a card or having multiple credit cards? A credit card allows you to make purchases outside the Eurozone. Hence why I never opened a traditional bank account in Germany and went with more modern N26, where I don't pay anything and get both Maestro and Mastercard cards, free of charge. editorial integrity, Both prepaid cards and gift cards are loaded with a set amount of money. Meaning If I do not put any money in that card, I should not be able to do any transaction but at the same time the charges of that should be like gebuhrenfrei or DKB. Advice #4: How to get a loan with negative Schufa! For example, you can buy prepaid card at the gas station. So take good advantage of your Congrats gift card from $10 at Mastercard Gift Card when shopping on Mastercard Gift Card. 1. Were transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Otherwise, you earn 1.5% cash back on new net retail purchases. However, one cannot pay everywhere with a credit card and sometimes one can find signs stating Card payment possible from Euro 10 in the stores. I look forward to your feedback, in case youll give it a try. Instead of an issuing fee, it has a higher yearly fee. I have been living in Germany for three years now, first as a student and now with a stable job. i have a very good salary which comes directly to my Deutsche Bank. It is only possible when you can provide a credit card for the deposit. Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. However, most other payment platforms now rely on dual-message debit and credit cards, where when you swipe your card, your bank makes a "promise" to the merchant that the money will be there. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. That means about 80% of the stores. To find out more about cookies, read our Cookie policy. I am looking for a credit card with no annual fees, without charges and that allows me to make payments abroad for free..(by abroad I mean anywhere in the world, not just Europe) I think I prefer to have a visa.. as it it the most accepted card online and in stores generally, at least in germany.. The fees are a bit different than with the previous two providers. The transfer has to be made to a BW Bank account with the mentioning of your credit card number. 2. When purchased online. A considerable number of businesses in Germany do not accept credit cards. A MasterCard gift card is typically issued by some bank. Create a Custom Card Pre-designed Gift Cards Save time and choose from 100's of unique designs perfect for all occasions. (Germany) ,Mint MasterCard Credit Card and Capital One UK: 5466: Citibank, MBNA & Chase World MasterCard Credit Cards, 5466 04: Thanks so much. A few specific Mastercard gift cards for international use include the following: Recommendation: Splitting the bank and insurance products. We have decided to describe the best offers in our point of view and answer the questions on their optimal use. Youll also earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase. Applications are subject to credit approval. Will the credit card from gebuhrenfrei be a better option in this case? Do we have to inform the bank in person every time we travel or can we do this online ourselves? We don't want store-specific cards, but rather something good as close to anywhere in Germany as possible. This Girokonto offers the cards you prefer and is free of charge. This is the only card in this comparison that does not have embossing and thus might be identified faster as a prepaid credit card. Also, since December 2015 there has been a EU directive that limits the credit card fee for retailers (interchange fee) to max. I leave in Germany and I have a permanent job contract. The following credit cards have no annual or monthly fee. Such topics are not within our purview, so probably other websites might be able to help you better. But for the next three years, one does not need to pay and card fees anymore. Empowering internationals to settle intolife in Germany more smoothly. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. I have more questions that lead to other areas, is there a possibility I could contact someone about more of these? Hi Tanja, Many thanks. The foreign currency fee is only 2,5%, and cash withdrawals have a 4,95 euro fee per ATM withdrawal. 1. I am currently a resident of Munich, Germany. Someone said that I should check the instalments with my bank, because the guy should receive all the amount (of course) and the instalments should be decided between me and my bank, which for me are breaking news. Get cards from a German store chain, like Saturn, Galleria Kaufhof, Media Markt, or if all else fails, Amazon.de. It is therefore accepted much less in stores. Thank you! Anyway, it is the cards that you can order the easiest way (online identity check) and is also mailed to England. We use "cookies" when you visit our website to provide you the best user experience. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Probably you should check your schufa score. And the service standard of American Express is at international average. My husband is in Germany right now and he cant use his credit card anywhere its a U.S. credit card..What can he do? . Show your appreciation to clients, employees and business partners with the gift of choice. 24/7 emergency service in case of loss or theft (+49 (0)89998298610) For your first question, check out N26.com, For your second question, I dont think nationality is a problem. As another co-badging option, combined . Why is this? Can you recommend any? Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. There are more than 20 million cards of each of the two major credit card banks in this country. Chase Sapphire Reserve. There are more than 2,000 banks and even more card models in Germany. 8.4K views View upvotes Answer requested by Shanmuga Sundaram 3 However, you will become a customer of a bank that checks the customer more into detail as a prepaid provider: New: PayCenter offers a full Online current account with MasterCard. Such vouchers are issued by the taxable person, who can calculate the VAT upon transfer. It can be virtual, without credit line for sure. On the other hand, there are people who prefer that not one single bank has a complete overview of the personal finances and out of this reason, they separate the current account and credit card account. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. In addition, the prevalence of credit cards is not that high, because local banks often issue them only hesitantly and with too high fees. I guess that the credit card offering by the Commerzbank is good, but probably not the best (we focus on the best German offerings here ). Buy and personalize a prepaid Gift Card Mastercard. You can use the PayPal Prepaid Mastercard to eat, drink and shop anywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. For the first 12 months after account opening, you earn 3% cash back on new net retail purchases (qualifying purchases less credits, returns, and adjustments) until you have spent $20,000 USD or equivalent. We do not know any German card provider regardless of bank or not-bank that would allow to open an account in your own name and then give the card to somebody else. That right. You can ask your credit card company to recall a payment for up to eight weeks if the amount was false or fraudulent. Commerzbank is 7,9 Euro pro Monat and Deutsche Bank is around 6,5 euro, what do you recommend? If you would like any changes regarding existing cards, please contact your bank directly. Apply for credit line through another person? Through the automatic billing, the customer saves the transfer of the credit card billing amount. The foreign currency fee is only 2,5%, and cash withdrawals have a 4,95 euros fee per ATM withdrawal. The balance on the card might not be enough to cover the amount of the purchase plus a possibly added transaction or conversion fee. Yet a prepaid credit card is a great alternative or supplement for a proper credit card, as it is easy to get, especially for expats, who do not have a credit score yet. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. This recommendation is aimed at people who live here and therefore have an address and credit assessment in Germany. Thanks a lot. We offer prepaid Visa gift cards in a variety of patterns and designs. Having said that, do you think the amex platinum is really convenient considering the price (600 per year)? Report inappropriate content zed1958 (Dan) San Diego. Which gift cards can you use, internationally? Ive tried to order N26 or DKB without luck. The merchant does not allow split tender or partial payments with a prepaid card. The success rate for the account and credit card application is more than 99%. I always travel with two credit cards. A free credit card provides no insurance. Through some Visa credit cards and MasterCard, one can withdraw cash free of charge from an ATM. You will have to pay a one-time issuing fee of 89,90 euros and each recharge of the card carries a fee of 1,25%. Unsupported accounts. If one settles the credit card account on time so not only paying the minimum rate, but the full amount then everything is free for the customer. Recharging via bank transfer has a small fee of 0,95 euros. In Germany, the customer has to pay for almost all credit cards of American Express. However, paying a high annual fee for this is a waste of money, unless the personal feeling of the customer improves as a result. Whether the plastic card is combined with a revolving account on which the credit card debt is accumulated or not. You can top it up with a voucher, SOFORT or a bank transfer. Credit Cards in Germany It is somewhat confusing that the word "credit card (Kreditkarte)" in Germany is used as a synonym for the Visa card or MasterCard. I had applied for a credit card more than a month back with gebuhrenfrei and I got one. Where the change has already been implemented, payment by touching the terminal with the card is totally normal and works. Hello, relocated to Germany and travel around the world a lot. However, the credit limit is only as high as the credit paid in advance. With laser etching and clean styling, Apple Card is designed with the same craftsmanship we bring to all our products. GiftCard Mastercard or VISA prepaid cards I GiftCards.eu Countless wishes. Choose from more than 10 different templates. 0.3.% of sales. Such a provider will probably not exist, because such a practice goes against several German and European regulations. Hi, VIMPay. Do you know which banks offer them? Whether the card is the right one for you, depends on what you want to do with it. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. Simply log into your MyPrepaidCenter account to view the remaining balance and transaction history of your card(s). We use cookies for an optimally functioning website, including tracking and social media cookies. The Hanseatic Bank GenialCard is a revolving credit card in Germany with a good reputation. Is this also a case in Comdirect or only DKB? The best known brands are Visa card and MasterCard. I have been able to use a prepaid credit card for renting a car when it had enough money on it, although you should double-check with the rental company beforehand, as it does get rejected at times. thanks. Many places do take credit cards in Germany, but not as many as in the USA. Bad for the customer. There are multiple reasons why owning a credit card has many advantages. We give you the full opportunity to choose what information you would like to share with us, Mastercard VIABUY 3. Take our 3 minute quiz and match with an advisor today. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. Is it possible to make credit limit/overdraft limit to zero in gebuhrenfrei or DKB? Various types of credit cards are also issued in Germany. Thank you for your value tip Here is the link to apply http://www.gebuhrenfrei.com. More than half have already cancelled their account. The billing address you entered at the merchant website is not the same as the one you entered when you created the virtual card in your account. No debt trap or interest rates. Ive applied for comdirect and got my account. The application process takes 3 minutes. Barclay New Visa Card Home equity line of credit (HELOC) calculator. Unlike credit cards, gift cards are usually issued by a retailer or bank. But that is not the subject for our special portal. Prepaid Mastercard Gift Cards sometimes get declined for one of the following reasons: You tried to use it for a recurring bill, subscriptions or reservation, which put a hold on the available funds for up to 30 days. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Germany. I want a credit card like gebuhrenfrei but is it possible that I can set the limit/overdraft to zero? There is no way we can recommend that. Are travel cards still useful even if you dont travel much? It is based on standards and agreements developed by the German Banking Industry Committee.. German girocards are usually co-branded with Mastercard's Maestro/Cirrus or Visa's V Pay logo, allowing cardholders to use them in other European countries. Our vision is that buying prepaid cards online should be easy, fast and convenient. Of course, given that many of Europe's most popular tourist destinations also happen to be hailed for their culinary delights, few of us would likely cook even with a kitchen. I am going to skip it only this month. $100 Mastercard Gift Card (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee) 4.7 (6,984) $10595 Amazon.com Gift Card in a Holiday Gift Box (Various Designs) 4.9 (181,171) $2500 - $2,00000 Airbnb Gift Cards - Email Delivery 4.8 (1,000) $2500 - $50000 FREE delivery Amazon.com Gift Card in a Premium Gift Box 4.9 (21,334) $5000 - $2,00000 . This is due to the security structure Viabuy uses. I checked the one offered by Deutsche Bank and they charge 39 euros per year for it. The premium cards in Germany advertise primarily travel insurance, no FX fees, and sometimes Priority Pass access. With a regular credit card, the potential misuse might cause you more serious financial damage, depending on your cards credit limit. This motivates us to create even more useful sites for interested readers! Just buy the card and activate it to use it anywhere anytime. Hi Sarah! With a credit card loan, one can bridge a financial drought well, as the credit line has already been approved and one can pay back a loan at any time to save the quite expensive interest rates. Moreover, the conditions are better. So, I will pay the full price for the furniture, and the total amount will be directly debited from my account? You attempted to use it in a prohibited country. Get ourFREEguide with 7 actionable hacks to save money while living in Germany. Often, it is ones own feeling that one deserves to have a gold or platinum card. I applied for a credit card from then and got rejected. They are for our teenage grandchildren who moved there over the summer. For deposits you have your own virtual account number. You will receive the code directly by email, so that you can use the credit immediately. Our vision is that buying prepaid cards online should be easy, fast and convenient. One of the best rewards cards for travelers is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. Hi, The Mastercard Gift Card is the ideal gift to give a friend or a loved one. Dundle in Germany We sold our first digital gift card in Germany in 2014. first of all, thanks for this very interesting article, full of useful information. What kind of extra money do I have to pay? Think no foreign transaction fees. I understood it is one of the best and more comprehensive on the market and since I am travelling quite often for my job or for personal reason with my family, I would like to be insured and protected in case of cancellation, reschedule, damage/loss of bags, etc; To online shopping lovers, it's time to save big right now. The Prepaid MasterCard Gift Card allows recipients to make their purchases online without needing a bank account or worrying about overspending. The German head office of AMEX in Frankfurt/M. You can also get a prepaid card at a post office. Alternatively if you are able to transfer money to an account their parent (s) have, you can do that and have the parent (s) select some gift cards in Germany. Every verified German bank account in combination with a virtual VIMpay Mastercard (Standard & Premium) --. Use your Mastercard Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including online. While it sucks, when you get robbed or lose your credit card, a prepaid credit card has the advantage that the balance and possible fraudulent use is capped to the balance on the card. Subject to activation and identity verifications. I am trying to find the answer to this question but there isnt any definite answer I have found yet. Here: Viabuy. Activate Mastercard Debit Card Online One of the easiest ways to activate your card is to use your desktop, laptop or mobile device to log in to your bank's online portal. I am looking for something which I can also use to make transactions online in Germany and in person while travelling abroad. Since 2012 I stay in Ukraine, my account is still valid but Id like to change Gold card with standard card due to high charges and fees. Yvonne was born and raised in Germany and has lived in the United States, France, and Spain. However, Visa does offer some gifts cards that can be used abroad through banks, such as the PNC Bank Visa Gift card. It case of the damage event, one does not contact the credit card company, but an external insurance company. Plus, add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay to spend and save with confidenceright from your phone. American Express is also accepted at major chains, but not at every shop. The old-school German girocard you receive with a traditional German bank account will either not be accepted or cause you very high fees. There have been reports that some (many? and you can control this by using the buttons on the right side of the page. American Express is also accepted in big chain stores, but not in every shop. * Order Your Card Already have a PayPal Prepaid Card account? You can spend, knowing you wont be charged, and you can earn valuable rewards. It will not make any difference to you in price, however, it allows us to keep Simple Germany alive and striving. Click to view all of the codes now. The contactless payment using credit cards will increase in the next years in Germany. Similarly, their acceptance is relatively high in Germany. I am thinking of cancelling this card and applying for another one. Recharging via SEPA bank transfer has a 0,9% fee. Good luck for your business! The Novum Bank offers a no-fee Mastercard with credit limit: you can apply for it online and receive your virtual credit card immediately after the application. live with it, or better Credit Card options with other banks? Due to the insurance conditions through credit card companies, this test often favours the financial sector. Sometimes, it is required to receive a regular income of a certain amount, which must be transferred to the current account. Bon-Kredit Euros 1,000,000 in loans are paid daily! Mastercard via N26 bank is the best card for expats in Germany that is accepted worldwide. Skip to Content MASTERCARD BENEFIT INQUIRIES Your benefits may vary by card type and by issuing financial institution. While purchases in euros are free of charge, there is a 2,75% fee on foreign currency purchases. I am Indian and I got a credit card from Gebhrenfrei within a month or two after coming to Germany. Whether the plastic card is combined with a revolving account on which the credit card debt is accumulated or not. Maybe you could simply talk again to another employee of your bank? I havent owned a credit card before and was thinking of finally applying for one. But in contrast to some other countries, one can still say about us, that we still have a middle class worth mentioning, with assets worth mentioning and therefore might need fewer loans. Mastercard eGift Card (Email Delivery) Mastercard. DKB-Cash Visa Card (2.49 per month) DKB-Cash Visa Card is a serviceable card with lots of optional insurance packages, making it perfect for people who are just getting started with credit cards and want to take the slow approach. For example, the one of Number26 and our article about the use of it on trips abroad: https://www.deutscheskonto.org/en/number26-international/. Santander 1 plus Visa Card Apply for Salander 1 plus Visa Card 4. this post may contain references to products from our partners. Your recipient simply clicks a link to claim their gift and will be provided with a 15-digit Visa card number . While we adhere to strict 3453 posts. Be careful about prepaid cards purchased in the US. In this case, theres no purpose to have a credit card. The Mastercard eGift card can be used for online purchases wherever Mastercard debit or credit cards are accepted in the U.S. For our smart readers we do not recommend going to an average bank, but to one of the three best banks. This is the reason, why we can answer detailed questions. Purchase gift cards in denominations ranging from $10 to $500. Bankrate follows a strict Nowadays, even the prepaid credit cards are available in the supposedly coveted colours for a relatively small fee. Guide to eGift Cards + Top Frequently Asked Questions, What To Try If Your Prepaid Card Is Declined. It really is a pain. For this reason, most branded gift cards are US-bound. Target issued mastercard (gift card) they're the ones with Target't bullseye logo upper left corner. $29.00. These are usually between 1% and 3% at Visa and Mastercard. But is it really worth the money? Pure credit card companies (Kreditkartengesellschaften) are often foreign companies, who have a license in Germany. One obtains the combination of current account and credit card at an Internet bank the easiest way, as it is part of their business model to make money out of the credit card transactions (interchange fees from trading). . The other 2/3 mainly uses the partly free service, at least the interest-free period up to the credit card statement and the date of payment. Recharging via bank transfer is free of charge. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers. Withdrawing cash has a set fee of 2,49% regardless of the currency. Deutsche Bank Credit card offerings. My true charge credit card remains safe as a backup, while the prepaid credit card is in my wallet for daily use. Sometimes, the brands disappear after some time from the market. They will check first this is common for insurance companies whether there is a reason that they do not have to pay. I wish you good decisions and a good time in Germany! When you use the card, you'll get 1% Daily Cash back on every purchase. It also comes with an easy and fast online application. 60 XP (Experience Points) upon approval. Commerzbank Prepaid Visa/Mastercard Final Thoughts Quick comparison of the best prepaid credit cards in Germany Also, this is not ideal for booking Hotels outside EU. For instance, which pages visitors go to most often and if they get error messages from web pages. 8. 1) full insurance coverage (rentals cars, trips cancellation, medical accidents, etc). Many customers are willing to pay a higher annual fee for the credit card, if they feel that they get help in an emergency or replacement for damage. When you pay with direct debit, your options for recalling the payment are a lot slimmer. Mastercard. Advice #2: Loan rejected? Statistically, every 80th German is a Euro millionaire which means, has assets of at least 1 million Euro (assets minus debts). I heard that is not possible to choose how many instalments I want to pay with this delivery guy. Log into your MyPrepaidCenter account to check your card details and transaction history at any time. The due date for the payment was a Monday and on the previous Friday I went to the bank asking them to correct the amount to be debited from my account. You can pay with it as often as youd like until the balance reaches zero. Need your expert advise on how should I get a legitimate Credit card, preferably with some credit line. Do you think that the my recent shifting to Germany and salary account in Belgium are reasons for rejection? Germany still remains as one of the most cash-intensive advanced economies on earth. the best debit card for kids and travelers in Germany In general, if you wish to purchase online and keep an eye on your expenses, we advise you to look at the debit cards offered by mobile banks: the majority pertain to the VISA or Mastercard systems and display a number and a security code on the debit card, which make it possibile to pay online. with the Polish PLN-Viabuy Card. But the problem is that particular eshop detects my cards origin and rejects the payment and says that it is not the German one. Just redeem your instant code to receive your Prepaid Mastercard Gift Card and pay securely online at a variety of websites! thank you for prompt response. Whether it is payment cards, gaming credit or mobile phone credit - Dundle has got you covered! That is called a Pre-paid instrument, which is effectively digital cash. In addition to some strong rewards credit cards, Mastercard offers an international prepaid gift card and a prepaid travel card. However, some gift cards can be used at select international locations. 5,000 Miles every year on your account anniversary after you spend $50 or more on purchases within the anniversary year. If you'll be spending a good amount of time in any of those three countries, it may be a good idea to get a Maestro card, but if not, you may not need to. Visa is not widely accepted as there is another local card system (EC) that are the first choice. Is the N26-bank worthwhile for foreigners? This furniture will be delivered at my house and a guy from the store will process the payment in the delivery day with my credit card (Amex), which is coming by mail. You have money questions. Yes, of course. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are the most widely accepted credit cards in Germany. I live in Germany for 1 year and needed to buy furniture. Hi, my name is Stephanie and I am an exchange student from Australia. During the first time, the credit is interest-free, depending on the provider up to 2 months. 2,50 euros) on ATM cash withdrawal in Germany and abroad 1,5% foreign currency fees can only be recharged from the account linked during the registration only German customer service. Bankrate, LLC NMLS ID# 1427381 | NMLS Consumer Access Second question, I have applied for DKB and gebuhrenfrei and got rejected although I have been living in munich since 3 years. American Express is partly still expensive. Thank you for your time and consideration! I have been paying the complete bill monthly. Gregor uses the DKB credit card, especially for payments in foreign currencies, because thee 1.75% foreign transaction fee are automatically reimbursed onto the Giro account at the end of the month. 1 Purchases are subject to credit approval, and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard must be used for payment. Your card benefits. Well so many things happened, that should not have happened, so that I even was invited to the headquarter in Frankfurt to personally meet the board member responsible for service. That is an interesting challenge! , GiftCard iCard Visa. Debit cards are a great way to shop online, as many online stores accept Visa and Mastercard, like other credit cards in Germany. Do you have any tips or opinion on how the DB credit card is? The Mastercard Virtual gift card is sent by email and generally arrives within 15 minutes of your purchase. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. However, one must ensure that the current account disposes of enough money or credit line. Most credit cards on this site provide this integrated feature: Barclaycard, Comdirect, DKB, ING-DiBa, Fidor SmartCard. Mastercard. Simple Germany is a trademark registered in the European Union. Any recommendation?? All N26 bank cards are Mastercard debit cards that come with contactless NFC technologyeven our bespoke-design metal Mastercard. Some smaller businesses only accept cash or electronic payment via our European/national system. Good luck! Money2Go Prepaid Mastercard 5.