Re:German cartel office initiates proceedings against PayPal
by hocuspocus on Tuesday January 24, 2023 @10:48AM
(#34505065)
I don't really buy it, the situation in Switzerland is similar but that doesn't stop bigger banks from driving innovation.
For instance if the Cash Group banks came together behind a mobile and online payment solution, the Sparkasse would need to follow suit.
The main problem in Germany is that banks "for the masses" (oversimplified) are "state owned" or cooperatives. Both are organized on a city level. Both are notorious for not cooperating. Plus the state owned banks usually have politicians at the top (E.g. the major of the city the bank is in).
For a system that works across Germany you would need a high level of cooperation.
In the 90s when I was a Sparkasse ("state owned") customer studying in Baden Wurttemberg but having my Bank in Bavaria, I needed to go to Bavaria to get money and account statements every time, the Sparkasse in Baden Wurttemberg would not cooperate with the one in Bavaria.
Not sure, it might be an outcome of federalism which is (was) a way to prevent the 4th Reich.