Germany is currently experiencing widespread disruptions in card payments, affecting credit, debit, and Girocards.

The issue, which began early in the morning, is linked to technical problems at First Data, a company owned by the US firm Fiserv.

Despite the inconvenience, cash withdrawals from ATMs remain unaffected.

The German Credit Industry and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) are actively working with payment system operators to resolve the issue.

A cyberattack has been ruled out as the cause.

The disruptions are particularly noticeable in major cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, with many customers resorting to cash payments.

Authorities are striving to restore normal service as soon as possible.