BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Retailers in Germany no longer want to pay for customers to withdraw cash while shopping. The German Retail Association (HDE) is calling on banks to waive the fees charged for withdrawals. "Banks are reducing ATMs and branches in many places. Retailers are taking on some of the tasks that customers depend on. That should be worth something. It is unacceptable that banks earn money from a service that they do not offer," said Ulrich Binneboßel, HDE expert for payment transactions, to the German Press Agency.

The German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DGSV) rejected the demand and the criticism when asked. "Merchants offer this service voluntarily. Many of them even advertise it and present the option of receiving cash at the till as a special service for their customers," said a spokesperson. "It is neither possible nor desirable for retailers to take over the function of over 51,000 ATMs across Germany." Withdrawing money in supermarkets supplements the cash supply of banks and savings banks, but does not replace it. The DSGV speaks for the German Banking Industry, the umbrella organization of the major banking associations.

Volume of withdrawals increased to 12.31 billion euros

Withdrawing cash while shopping is offered by many retailers and is popular with consumers. According to a recently published study by the retail research institute EHI, the total volume of withdrawals rose by a good 20 percent to 12.31 billion euros in 2023. As usage increases, so do the fees that retailers have to pay to the banks. According to the EHI, these fees are between 0.1 and 0.2 percent of the amount paid out per Girocard transaction.

Large chain stores such as the supermarket chain Rewe negotiate their conditions individually with the banks. The fees are not predetermined, emphasizes the DSGV. Ulrich Binneboßel from the German Retail Association disagrees, saying that there is no willingness on the part of the banks to reduce the fees. Retailers would therefore have no choice but to accept the costs or discontinue the service. "However, this is difficult for reasons of competition. Cash withdrawals can no longer be dispensed with today."

Survey: For one in four, the path to cash has become longer

Last year, retailers paid 17.23 million euros in fees to the banks. According to Binneboßel, the costs are passed on to the final prices and thus to the customers.

Cash withdrawals pose an additional problem for the companies offering the service. As fewer and fewer people are paying with cash, it can become difficult for retailers to meet demand at times, says EHI payment expert Horst Rüter. Companies may then be forced to buy in cash in order to be able to pay out money to customers.

Consumer advocates complain that access to cash and its acceptance has become more difficult. A survey published in February by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations shows that 26 percent of respondents say that the time it takes to withdraw cash has increased over the past three years - because ATMs have been dismantled and bank branches closed./cr/DP/zb