Financial Institutions Partnering with Girocard for Economical Advancements
In a significant development for loyalty program enthusiasts in Germany, the collaboration between Payback and Sparkasse, announced in November 2023, is now live, allowing Sparkasse customers to collect Payback points using their Girocard. This integration commenced on July 1, 2025.
This partnership enables customers to earn bonus points when they use their Girocard (commonly known as an "EC-Karte" in Germany) for transactions at participating retailers. Initially, the program will be available at regional stores, with plans for broader expansion in the future.
Key points of the partnership include:
- **Announcement and Launch**: The partnership was announced in November 2023 with plans to launch in 2025. It began on July 1, 2025, allowing customers to start earning points. - **Girocard Integration**: The integration allows customers to earn Payback points when using their Girocard for purchases at participating retailers.
Payback, Germany's largest bonus program, has strengthened its position with this partnership, providing Sparkasse customers with additional benefits through the popular loyalty program.
According to Payback CEO Bernhard Brugger, the integration is a "profound integration into cash register systems," not a marketing feature that can be enabled with a click. The collaboration between Payback and Sparkassen was sealed in autumn 2023 and is expected to be fully implemented by 2025.
Over time, Girocard users should be able to collect Payback points at around 12,000 regional traders in Germany. Payback currently has more than 34 million active users in Germany. Only necessary information from Sparkasse will be transmitted to Payback, such as the Payback number and the payment date. No further payment data or personal information will be passed on to Payback, aiming to alleviate concerns about becoming a "transparent customer" due to bonus systems like Payback and Germanycard.
This new offer is voluntary for Sparkasse Girocard holders, and those who wish to use the offer must register for it once. Almost all of the recently 343 Sparkassen are participating in the new offer. Participating Sparkassen can award Payback points for selected financial products and services such as opening a current account.
The partnership will also include major national partners of Payback, including Aral, dm, and Edeka, which will be integrated into the partnership with Sparkassen from autumn. Payback cooperates with 700 companies where customers can collect and redeem discount points. Registration allows users to activate the link easily in online banking or the app. Bonus points will be credited when paying with the Girocard at checkout.
This integration is a significant step forward for both Payback and Sparkasse, offering customers more opportunities to earn bonus points and enhancing the loyalty program experience.
The integration of Girocard into the Payback program now allows Sparkasse customers to earn Payback points at participating retailers, marking a significant step forward for both companies in the realm of business and technology. As part of the partnership, Sparkasse can award Payback points for selected financial products and services, such as opening a current account, providing additional benefits to their customers through the popular loyalty program.
