Germany credit cards without credit function
Germany credit cards without credit function stood at 29,971 thousand cards in 2025, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Payment statistics table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2023 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Payment statistics table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment card stock | ||||
| Credit cards without credit function | 29,971 | 27,747 | 28,286 | |
| Credit cards with credit function | 6,766 | 7,600 | 6,527 |
Understanding germany credit cards without credit function
Deferred settlement cards issued by resident payment institutions make up this total, capturing cards that require full balance clearance at the close of each billing cycle. Cardholders receive a temporary interest-free repayment interval until the designated settlement date, without the contractual option to revolve unpaid balances over time. This structure sets the measure apart from credit cards with credit function, which allow cardholders to carry debt across billing periods against interest charges. Direct debit cards linked to demand deposit accounts for real-time settlement are likewise excluded from this metric, as are standalone electronic money cards and merchant-specific gift credentials.
Annual reporting reflects an end-of-period inventory rather than a cumulative flow of transactions. Year-on-year comparisons provide an accurate view of net portfolio issuance, account cancellations, and institutional migrations between payment products. Period-to-period movements can reflect contractual conversions by card issuers, such as moving existing accounts between deferred debit and revolving credit arrangements. Analysts should avoid equating the number of cards with payment activity, because cards in circulation include dormant and rarely used plastic alongside actively transacted credentials. Comparing this stock against transaction values requires matching delayed debit turnover specifically rather than aggregate credit scheme volume.
Frequently asked questions
- What distinguishes these cards from standard debit cards?
- Standard debit cards deduct funds from the account immediately at the point of sale, whereas these cards accumulate transactions for settlement in a single lump sum at the close of the billing period.
- Why are these cards separated from cards with credit function?
- Cards in this row do not offer a revolving line of credit that allows cardholders to roll unpaid balances into future periods.
- Does this figure track how frequently cardholders use their cards?
- No, the series measures the total inventory of valid issued cards regardless of whether individual cards are actively used or held dormant.