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Maestro function is gone: can you still use your giro card abroad from July?

2023-04-28T14:14:32.612Z


The Maestro logo on Girocards has so far made it possible to use it to pay abroad – but from July 1st it will no longer apply to new cards. What does this mean for customers?


The Maestro logo on Girocards has so far made it possible to use it to pay abroad – but from July 1st it will no longer apply to new cards.

What does this mean for customers?

For millions of Germans, the Girocard (formerly: EC card) is part of their everyday payment routine.

Whether at a discounter or a hardware store: Instead of looking for the right bills and small change, many like to pay the amount quickly and easily with the card.

Maybe also because they shy away from germs on cash - although these should hardly harm people with a healthy immune system.

From July 1st, newly issued Girocards will lose the Maestro function, with which you can also pay and withdraw money abroad.

The reason for this is that the provider Mastercard is discontinuing the Maestro payment system.

So, in future, will it no longer be possible to pay abroad with the new Girocard?

Maestro-Aus: Can you still use your giro card abroad from July?

Basically, anyone who currently has a Girocard with a Maestro function with an expiration date of 2027 can continue to use it for the time being.

And according to EURO Kartensysteme GmbH,

a joint venture of German banks and savings banks, nothing will change for anyone who will receive a new Girocard from July 1st 

.

The Maestro logo on the Girocard is what is known as a co-badge – and there are a few others too.

The most common include Debit Mastercard, V Pay, Visa or JCB.

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From July 1, 2023, the Maestro payment function will no longer apply to newly issued Girocards.

(icon picture)

© Zoonar/Imago

Maestro-Aus: Girocards should get new foreign payment systems

If expired Girocards are now replaced, they should be equipped with one of the other co-badge variants in the future.

Apart from the logo on the card, nothing will change for customers when paying abroad, the company explains.

“So everyone can continue to pay with the Girocard as usual on vacation or business trips or withdraw money.” Mastercard itself explains the end of the Maestro payment system by saying that the function is not sufficiently designed for online trading.

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The time before the euro: Who still knows these currencies?

Don't miss it: You can find everything to do with money in the money newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.

Maestro-Aus: Can other payment systems do the same?

However, it remains to be seen whether international payments with the new Co-Badge will work without any problems for all customers.

According to the consumer center, for example, V-Pay is primarily designed for the European market, while Maestro can be used worldwide.

In general, it is advisable to have at least one credit card with you in addition to the Girocard and at least a small amount of cash (100 to 200 euros) in case one of the cards is lost.

So that there is generally enough money in the account for the holiday, you should avoid five typical financial mistakes ~ and possibly also think about keeping a household book.

List of rubrics: © Zoonar/Imago

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2023-04-28

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