How often the GeldKarte is in use
In 2010 these electronic purses were loaded 5.5 million times. Over the same period, GeldKarte was used to make nearly 43 million payments at approximately 600,000 acceptance points. The average amount loaded on to the card is 28.41 Euro, while the average payment made with the card is just about 3.02 Euro.
Where the GeldKarte is used
In recent years, the GeldKarte has established itself as a fast and convenient cashless payment system throughout Germany, and has become especially popular for use in machines. Besides the GeldKarte can be used for secure Internet payments.
Parking lots, public transport and Deutsche Post
More than 400 towns and cities in Germany now accept the electronic purse in their parking lots, and passengers travelling by public transport can use the card when they buy tickets on buses and trains, at automatic ticket machines, or at ticket shops.
Since the end of 2001, Deutsche Post has also been encouraging the use of the GeldKarte to make its services more customer-friendly. The card can now be used in the 13,000 German post offices and at approx. 4,000 stamp machines around the country.
At Cigarette machines: payment and proof of age
The German association of tobacco wholesalers and vending machine operators (Bundesverband Deutscher Tabakwarengroßhändler und Automatenaufsteller e.V.) is also backing GeldKarte. Consumers can now buy cigarettes with their chip card at some 450,000 machines around Germany.
Additional functions: the golden chip is multifunctional
One chip, many functions
Approximately 450,000 cigarette vending machines can read account-linked cards for proof of age. The main reason for this development is the new German law for the protection of minors – this legislation is designed to ensure that young people under the age of 16 cannot buy cigarettes from machines.
The microchip on the GeldKarte already carries a special code which will then prevent people under the age of 16 from using it in cigarette machines.
In addition to that about 160,000 websites containing age-restricted content are using "fun SmartPay AVS" to verify their users' age of consent. Furthermore the chip card can today be used for a number of additional applications:
- Ticketing systems:
The card can be used as a paperless electronic ticket in public transport or for events. The "ticket" is not actually issued, but stored on the card. For example, this system is already in operation in Bremen (public transport) and at CHIO Aachen (annual horse riding event "Concours Hippique International Officiel"). - Check-in-check-out systems:
A system used in parking garages. The driver's entry time is recorded on the GeldKarte, and the parking fee is debited automatically to the chip when the driver leaves. - Marketplace functions:
For bonus point systems, such as CityCard systems offered by retailers, which are already in use in towns such as Bonn, Braunschweig, or Gießen. A similar application are tourist cards, including public transport, admission charges, etc. (e.g. EntdeckerCard Nordwest) - Digital signature:
Since late 2005 Germans can submit their tax documents electronically. "ElsterOnline", the electronic tax and revenue office requires a secure digital signature, which can be achieved by using a smart card reader and the golden chip. - Electronic banking:
Microchip and smart card reader also offer a secure "HBCI" (Homebanking Interface): within the so-called "FinTs HBCI" a person can legitimate himself or herself via a digitale signature stored in the chip. FinTs HBCI is a standard of the German Banking Industry Committee (GBIC).