What Is a Girocode?
Many invoices in Germany have a small black-and-white square with lots of tiny dots printed at the bottom or on the side. This is called a Girocode (sometimes also called a QR code for transfers). Companies such as utility providers, doctors, or insurers print this code on the invoice. The code contains all the data needed for the transfer: the recipient's name, the IBAN, the amount, and the payment reference.
When you scan this code with your phone's camera, your banking app fills in all the fields automatically. You will not need to type anything by hand. This saves time and avoids typing mistakes. This guide shows you, step by step, how it works. It is easier than it sounds. You cannot break anything by trying it.
What You Need
- Your smartphone with your bank's banking app
- The printed invoice with the QR code (Girocode)
- A well-lit place, so the camera can see the code clearly
A banking app is a small program on your phone that lets you manage your account. If you do not yet have a banking app set up, you can find current accounts with an app at /girokonten.
How to Scan the QR Code Step by Step
- Open your bank's banking app on your phone. Tap the app icon, usually your bank's logo in colour.
- Log in as you normally would. This might be with a PIN or with your fingerprint.
- Look for the transfers section. It is often called "Transfer" or "Payments" and usually has an icon with an arrow or a banknote.
- Tap on this section.
- Look for the button labelled "Scan QR code" or "Scan invoice". It often looks like a small camera icon or a frame with four corners.
- Tap this button.
- If the app asks for the first time whether it may use your camera, tap "Allow" or "Permit". Without this permission, the app cannot read the code.
- Now hold your phone over the invoice. Make sure the QR code (Girocode) is centred in the camera view.
- Hold the phone steady until the screen shows that the code has been recognised. This usually takes only one or two seconds.
- Now check carefully whether the details on the screen match the invoice: the recipient's name, the IBAN, and the amount.
- If everything matches, tap "Continue" or "Confirm transfer".
- Confirm the payment with your PIN, your fingerprint, or your face, depending on what your app asks for.
- Wait until the app confirms that the transfer was successful. A green checkmark or the word "Successful" usually appears.
Safety Note: Always Check Carefully
Before you confirm the payment, look closely at the recipient's name and the amount on the screen. Compare both with the printed invoice.
This matters because a fake or altered QR code could send your money to the wrong account. Scammers sometimes stick a false code over a genuine one on an invoice. If the name or the amount on the screen does not match the invoice, cancel the payment immediately. Do not confirm it. If in doubt, call the company that sent the invoice. Use a phone number you already knew before, not one from the invoice itself.
Your bank sometimes sends you a code by text message. Never read this code out loud to a stranger on the phone. Your real bank will never ask you to do this.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
The Camera Will Not Focus
Hold the phone a little further away from the invoice, about the width of a hand. Wait a moment for the image to become sharp. Make sure there is good light, for example by moving closer to a window or a lamp.
The QR Code Is Damaged, Too Small, or Printed Unclearly
If the app cannot read the code, enter the details by hand instead. Tap "Enter manually" or "Continue without scanning", if your app offers this. You can also call the company and ask for a new, clearer invoice.
The App Says "Code Not Recognised"
Try again. This time, place the invoice on a table instead of holding it in your hand. Check that the camera lens is clean. A soft cloth is enough to wipe it. If it still does not work, do not worry. You can always enter the transfer by hand instead.
If you are unsure whether a payment really went through, call your bank using the phone number printed on your bank card. Never use a phone number from an email or text message you received about this.