The most important credit card companies in Germany are Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Visa and Mastercard issue their credit cards through licensed banks and savings banks, while American Express issues its cards directly.

A credit card is a cashless payment instrument that allows you to make cashless payments and withdraw money from ATMs worldwide, depending on the card issuer.

The amounts paid with the credit card are debited from the specified checking account only once a month, depending on the card type—either in a single payment or in installments. There are also debit and prepaid credit cards.

You can choose between credit cards with or without an annual fee. So-called premium credit cards are more expensive but offer additional benefits such as travel, rental car, or international health insurance, as well as discounts and bonus programs.

Various fees may apply when using a credit card, for example, for cash withdrawals or for use abroad. The terms and conditions vary depending on the card.

Credit card comparison ↗