Overview

• The number of ATMs in Germany dropped three percent in 2024 to about 49,750, dipping below the 50,000 mark for the first time.
• Bank branches fell by roughly eight percent last year to 17,870 locations, accelerating the reduction of traditional withdrawal points.
• Card transactions climbed eleven percent to nearly 13 billion in 2024, accounting for around 40 percent of all payments.
• Consumers now live an average of 1.4 kilometers from the nearest ATM or bank counter, driving demand for cashback services at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations.
• Bundesbank board member Burkhard Balz is urging German banks to pool resources through shared ATM networks to safeguard nationwide cash access.