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Germany Bans Paper Checks as of 2028
The Bundesbank, Germany's central bank, will cease operations of the interbank processing system for internal paper checks as of January 1, 2028. The bank will remove the necessary technical infrastructure due to a significant decrease in the use of checks, which has become economically unviable. The cost of processing checks remains high compared to electronic payments, requiring additional verification, document handling, and archival. The ban will take effect on December 31, 2027, and will no longer provide centralized processing for internal checks. This change will primarily affect businesses, cooperatives, and other entities that still use checks for transactions. The Bundesbank recommends these entities to transition to alternative payment methods such as regular and swift SEPA payments, bank cards, and other electronic payment instruments.