The costs of payment methods for consumers are difficult to determine, not recorded in a harmonised manner on an international level and consequently vary significantly from country to country. For this reason, a separate study is necessary for Germany. As part of a representative survey conducted in 2023, households were asked about the costs they incurred when using various means of payment. 

The branches of the Bundesbank supply the economy with euro banknotes and coins, and offers private customers the opportunity to exchange D-Mark banknotes and coins free-of-charge and with no fixed deadline.

Geld hat sich in seiner Erscheinungsform immer wieder gewandelt und mit ihm die Personen und Institutionen, die Geld machen. Doch es gibt einen roten Faden, der sich durch die Geschichte der Geldmacher hindurchzieht: Um als Emittent von Geld dauerhaft zu bestehen, benötigt er vor allem das Vertrauen der Bevölkerung, also von denjenigen, die das Geld täglich nutzen sollen.

Bargeld ist in Deutschland nach wie vor das meistgenutzte Zahlungsmittel, auch wenn die Digitalisierung im Zahlungsverkehr voranschreitet. Dieses Video bietet einen Einblick in unsere Geldbearbeitung.

Cash continues to be the most frequently used means of payment in Germany, although cashless payments are increasing their share. These are the findings of the Bundesbank’s sixth study on payment behaviour in Germany for 2021. Respondents used banknotes and coins to make a total of 58% of their payments for purchases of goods and services, compared with 74% in the Bundesbank’s last major study from 2017. The lower use of cash was mainly due to the increase in online purchases during the coronavirus pandemic.