Apple Pay was introduced in Germany on December 11, 2018. With Apple's payment service, the iPhone and Apple Watch can replace debit or credit cards. Simply holding the device up to the terminal triggers the payment process.
Since the introduction of Apple Pay, things have been quiet for the savings banks. The last statement was submitted on December 12, 2018. In it, the German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DSGV) demanded that Apple open up the NFC interface on the iPhone and Apple Watch - in order to be able to offer its own mobile payment service. As everyone can already imagine, such an opening for third-party providers is out of the question. For security reasons, Apple has only set up a read mode, which means that RFID labels can be scanned but data cannot be sent.
Much criticism – no success
The savings banks have caused a lot of commotion with previous statements. The unpleasant side effect was angry customers, some of whom switched to competing banks. Now, however, the issue seems to be gaining momentum again. A spokesperson for the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV) confirmed new negotiations with Apple on Monday. According to the statement, the association is interested in offering improvements and new payment solutions for customers. The association is having very positive discussions with Apple in this regard.
There was no further comment on the launch date of Apple Pay. Observers continue to suspect that the reason for the dispute lies in the license fees demanded by Apple. These are simply too high for the savings bank association. Despite all the criticism, the topic of savings banks vs. Apple remains exciting. Would you like to find out more about Apple Pay? You can find everything you need to know about Apple's payment service here here. (Image: German Savings Banks and Giro Association)
