G+D strengthens portfolio with acquisition in payment and banking sector

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) acquires critical German payment infrastructure: The global SecurityTech company is purchasing the Payments & Banking Services business of Bank-Verlag, a subsidiary of the Association of German Banks (Bundesverband deutscher Banken). This expands G+D's portfolio with central payment and banking services for the German financial industry.

One in four card and internet-based payment transactions in Germany is processed through this infrastructure. By combining technological expertise and market presence, G+D strengthens its role as an innovation driver for the German financial sector. Through this sale, Bank-Verlag's customers and employees gain attractive, long-term growth prospects.

With this acquisition, G+D expands its Financial Platforms segment with a central building block. The end-to-end offering in digital payments and banking will now range from electronic payment systems through digital banking, digital wallets and authentication to transaction authorization. As a leading provider of security technology, G+D combines the necessary experience in payment solutions and authentication with proven expertise in digital security and protection of critical infrastructures.

This enables G+D to operate this payment processing business in a regulatory environment as an owner. The newly acquired business will be integrated into G+D Netcetera, G+D's subsidiary specializing in financial software. Over more than six decades, Bank-Verlag has established itself as an IT service provider for the German financial industry.

G+D is investing a high double-digit million amount in IT modernization (cloud-capable architectures, analytics, fraud prevention) as well as scalable operation of the critical payment infrastructure. G+D aims to sustainably drive growth of the acquired activities and relies on the strong expertise of the acquired teams at the Cologne location. The completion of the merger is still subject to clearance by the antitrust authorities.

"As a SecurityTech company, we connect security technology and payment infrastructure into a trustworthy ecosystem," says G+D Group CEO Ralf Wintergerst. "Through this acquisition, we're expanding this core: G+D offers seamless, secure solutions for the banking industry – end to end, compliant and with an European DNA."

"For the Association of German Banks, this transaction marks the successful conclusion of the strategic and transformation process for Bank-Verlag," explains Heiner Herkenhoff, Managing Director of the Association of German Banks. "Customers gain a partner in G+D with strength, innovative power, and future viability. At the same time, continuity is ensured – both for customers and employees."

Bank-Verlag's "Business Support" division with around 20 employees will remain with the Association of German Banks. The core business of this segment is the creation of forms, publications, and training offerings.