No more cash: Shell petrol stations in Germany stop service!

No more cash: Shell petrol stations in Germany stop service!

From June 30, 2025, cash service will be discontinued at around 1300 Shell petrol stations in Germany. This applies in particular to the Cash Group customers, which include banks such as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and Postbank. So far, customers have been able to withdraw up to 1000 euros in cash here, often even without having to buy, but partially against fees. The attitude of the service is considered to be particularly disadvantageous for many people, especially for Vorarlberger, who are often on the move in Germany, vienna.at .

After the end of the cash service, cash at these petrol stations will only be available as an change as part of the payment process. This is done in a context in which many banks plan to close around half of their branches by the end of 2026. The number of ATMs in Germany has also dropped significantly in recent years, from 59,000 in 2018 to only 51,000 in 2023.

changes in cash supply

With the end of the collaboration between the Cash Group and Shell, access to cash is becoming increasingly difficult, especially in rural regions. In these areas, many customers have to fall back on alternative solutions. Commerzbank also abolished its free checking account on May 1, 2025, which further exacerbates the problem. Banks therefore develop new alternatives to ensure cash supply, often in cooperation with retailers, such as Biallo.de reported.

A Shell study from 2023 illustrates the changing payment behavior. 68% of Generation Z prefer cashless payments, while 93% of the over 58-year-olds also want digital pay. Shell reacts to these trends by investing in digital payment methods and introducing the "SmartPay" system that enables cashless payments at the petrol pump.

Availability of cash reference points

A current analysis for the accessibility of cash reference points shows that Germany is divided into around 3.6 million grid cells. The average distance to an ATM is 1.4 kilometers, while the distance to a cash bakery with cashback is 1.7 kilometers. 95.3% of the population live a maximum of five kilometers from one with a whereabouts. In urban regions, these distances are often shorter, while in rural areas on average two kilometers to the next cash reference point have to be covered, such as the Bundesbank explained in your monthly report.

The trend towards fewer ATMs and the increasing desire for cash supply makes it clear that access to cash is increasingly perceived as difficult for many citizens. The proportion of the population, which regarded access as complicated, rose from 6% in 2021 to 15% in 2023. These developments illustrate the need to find solutions that meet the needs of the various population groups.