(de-news.net) – In 2024, the number of ATMs in Germany fell below 50,000, marking a continued decline with a 3-percent-reduction from the previous year. Though cash access remains assured, it has become less convenient, with an average distance of 1.4 kilometers to the nearest ATM or bank counter. This trend is largely attributed to increasing digital payment usage.

In specific, card and smartphone-based transactions rose to approximately 13 billion—a year-on-year increase of 11 percent. Card payments comprised 40 percent of all non-bank transactions, while direct debits grew 3 percent to 9.9 billion, though their market share declined to 31 percent. Bank transfers climbed 4 percent to 7.6 billion transactions, maintaining a 24 percent share. Instant SEPA transfers surged 37 percent, reaching 337 million and accounting for 4.9 percent of all electronically initiated transfers.

In terms of transaction value, bank transfers dominated with 64 trillion euros (90 percent of total volume), followed by direct debits at 5.9 trillion euros (8 percent). Additionally, the number of transfer terminals also fell by 3 percent, totaling 22,500.