Banks are suspending their popular service due to insufficient funds in the region.
End of Cash Withdrawals at Shell Stations Starting Next Year
Come July 1, 2025, customers of Shell gas stations in Germany will have to seek alternative methods for cash withdrawal, as reported by the "Cologne City-Anzeiger." This decision follows the discontinuation of cooperation between Shell and the Cash Group—which includes Deutsche Bank, Postbank, Commerzbank, Hypovereinsbank, and their subsidiaries—by the middle of the year. Spokespeople from both Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank have confirmed this development, with Shell announcing plans to inform its customers by the end of May.
Presently, customers of Cash Group banks can withdraw cash for free at approximately 1,300 Shell gas stations nationwide. Particularly in Bavaria, with roughly 50 Shell stations, there are around two dozen within Munich and its vicinity.
The service of cash withdrawals at Shell stations, initially introduced in 2010 for Postbank customers and subsequently expanded to several financial institutions, is a popular choice due to the extended operating hours of gas stations compared to many individual retailers.
Postbank, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, has already introduced an alternative cash withdrawal system called "Cash Code" as of the end of November 2024. Under this system, Postbank customers can electronically withdraw or deposit up to 1,000 euros daily at 12,500 individual retailers, a service planned to be extended to Deutsche Bank customers throughout the year.
While Shell has yet to announce any specific alternatives for cash withdrawals beyond July 2025, several payment solutions may prove beneficial in the interim. These include debit or credit cards for seamless payments, mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay, digital wallets on the Shell app, bank ATMs located near Shell stations, cashback options at retail stores, and prepaid fuel cards offered by some fuel providers.
Customers are advised to check directly with Shell Germany or local news updates for up-to-date information regarding supported payment alternatives closer to the policy change take effect date.
As Shell stations in Germany phase out cash withdrawals starting next year, customers may need to utilize alternative payment methods such as debit or credit cards, mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay, digital wallets on the Shell app, bank ATMs located near Shell stations, cashback options at retail stores, and prepaid fuel cards offered by some fuel providers.
With the introduction of Postbank's "Cash Code" system and plans to extend it to Deutsche Bank customers, customers may also consider using cash withdrawal services at retail stores as a potential alternative.
