Prepaid Association Germany
The strong association of the
prepaid industry
Secure Early Bird ticket now!
The #PK2026 will take place on 5 November 2026 at the Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt.
Save €100 by 5 March 2026!
Active for PVD members
Prepaid companies are stronger within the association. Interests are clearly communicated and represented uniformly in public.
The current members of the Prepaid Association of Germany include providers of prepaid payment companies, processing companies, card organisations, providers of loyalty systems and distributors of prepaid payment products in retail.
The PVD represents the interests of its members by actively promoting the further development of the prepaid market. As an industry representative, the PVD is the point of contact for the public, the media, academia and consumers
In addition, the PVD is the point of contact for decision-makers from politics and government agencies. This includes communication with representatives from the government, parliament and the European Commission. The PVD also maintains close contact and lively exchange with supervisory authorities such as BaFin, the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and other authorities such as the BKA.
A matter of honour – voluntary commitment by the PVD
The code of conduct for the issuance, processing and distribution of electronic prepaid products in Germany is available for download in German.
Achieving more together
The PVD works tirelessly to lobby, acts quickly on planned legislation affecting the prepaid industry, informs members about activities, educates the public and more. It pays to be a member of a strong association. The PVD represents the interests of the prepaid industry – including yours.
„Our membership in the Prepaid Association Germany (PVD) reflects our goal of working together with other market participants to further develop and innovate the prepaid industry. We see the PVD as an important platform for knowledge exchange and the promotion of common interests.“
Heinz Kraus
Qartis Solutions
„Aircash recognized the potential and the role of the PVD as the focal point where industry voices, needs and strive for further development are gathered, articulated and communicated not only at the national level, but also at a wider EU level.“
Aircash
„I am delighted to support the PVD on behalf of the IDnow Group. IDnow stands for high security and user-friendliness in digital onboarding processes. I am pleased to be able to contribute this expertise to the association and to advise members on issues relating to the implementation of new digital application processes. We see the impact of increasingly stringent regulations on the industry’s business models as an exciting challenge.“
Uwe Stelzig
IDnow
„The PVD is the leading association representing the interests of the German prepaid industry, with a broad spectrum of members and a large network of experts. We at Funanga AG have joined the PVD in order to actively participate in the association’s work, both in regulatory and market-oriented issues. As an up-and-coming prepaid company with roots in the heart of Berlin, we stand – like no other – for Germany as a hub of innovation with its diverse financial product solutions that are used by almost every citizen on a daily basis. We look forward to the collaboration and the changes we will bring about together with the PVD.“
Jens Bader
Vorstand Funanga AG
„We support the work of the PVD, as regulatory and policy issues in the area of prepaid products are becoming increasingly important. In our view, the PVD mediates in a balanced and transparent manner between the interests of the public, business, politics and supervisory authorities in this context.“
Ulrike Zädow
Sodexo Pass GmbH Deutschland
„The satellite function of the PVD is particularly important to us: it collects information from all key players in the prepaid industry and places it in the right place. Even more important to us is the fact that the PVD actively represents our interests and competently advocates for the prepaid industry.“
Carsten Weber
Lekkerland SE
„The PVD has been successfully and effectively representing the interests of German prepaid providers for many years. It enables its members to play an active role in shaping the industry and, as a strong partner, provides an ideal platform for mutual exchange.“
Patrick Löffler
givve® – eine Marke der PL Gutscheinsysteme GmbH
„The PVD represents the prepaid industry and acts as an important interface between industry, government and regulatory authorities, consumer organisations and the media with the aim of promoting the relevance and benefits of prepaid payments. As a founding member of the PVD, our main focus is on the exchange of information on regulatory issues and close cooperation with distributors, our most important partners. Only by working together can we strengthen the prepaid industry in the long term.“
Udo Müller
paysafe group
History of PVD
The Prepaid Association Germany was founded on 15 June 2011 in Frankfurt am Main. At that time, the association was still operating under the name Prepaid Forum Germany, or PFD for short. In July 2012, it was registered as an association in the Frankfurt am Main Register of Associations. The association quickly positioned itself as the association for the prepaid industry operating in Germany. As a result, the name was changed to Prepaid Association Germany, or PVD for short, in October 2013.
Since then, many renowned companies have joined the industry association. Currently, more than 20 companies are members of the PVD. Our goals to this day are to give these companies a voice in the public arena, to inform the public about the interests of the prepaid industry, to represent these interests and to provide information about current and legal developments.
With the Prepaid Congress, which has been held since autumn 2014, the PVD also offers its members, interested parties and the public an excellent opportunity to exchange information about the prepaid industry and important current topics every year. Since mid-2018, the association has been based where decisions are made: in Berlin. From here, the association works tirelessly on behalf of its members and the prepaid industry.
Statutes of the Prepaid Association Germany e. V.
The current statutes in German, as of November 2023, are available for download.
Active participation
The Prepaid Association Germany is committed. It is therefore also listed in the German Bundestag’s lobby register under registration number R001116. The PVD is listed in the European Commission’s transparency register under identification number 4311 5161 3776 – 29.
PVD Executive Board
Planning the financial year, informing members and representing the PVD externally.
The members of the PVD Executive Board manage the association jointly and cooperatively and provide members with regular, timely and comprehensive information on all issues relevant to the PVD in terms of planning, business development, risk exposure and risk management.
Jörg Steinmetz
M&M GmbH – Managing Director
Jörg Steinmetz served for 13 years as authorized signatory (Prokurist) of ICP Transaction Solutions GmbH, where he was responsible for the company’s entire commercial division. Since early 2019, he has been Managing Director of M&M GmbH.
Role in PVD: Executive Board Member, Spokesperson of the Board
Volker Patzak
epay / Director Business Development
As Business Development Director at epay/transct Elektronische Zahlungssysteme GmbH, Volker Patzak is responsible for expanding the prepaid product portfolio. The business administration graduate and customer loyalty expert has been active since 2000 in various positions in the prepaid, payment, and loyalty industries.
Role in PVD: Executive Board Member, Deputy Spokesperson of the Board, Head of the Marketing Working Group
Vincenzo Castaldo
REWE Group Buying GmbH / Senior Category Buyer Value-Added Services
Since 1987, Vincenzo Castaldo has held various positions in retail companies. At REWE Group Buying GmbH, he heads the Value-Added Services division and is responsible, among other things, for product management and the further development of the prepaid category within the REWE Group’s sales divisions in Germany.
In nine additional European countries, including Austria and Italy, he develops the category further together with the local managers of the REWE Group’s regional sales lines.
Role in PVD: Executive Board Member, Head of the Politics Working Group
Georg Wyrwoll
Mayor of the Municipality of Werbach (Baden-Württemberg)
For over a decade and a half, Georg Wyrwoll was responsible for corporate communications and maintaining contacts with authorities, government bodies, and business associations in the field of corporate and state social benefits at one of the leading prepaid issuers. As Mayor of Werbach, a picturesque municipality in the Tauber Valley (Baden-Württemberg), he authentically and passionately represents the advantages of prepaid systems in municipal economic development and public service delivery.
Role in PVD: Executive Board Member, Treasurer, Head of the Politics Working Group
Assessor of the PVD
Nicole Mantow
Nicole Mantow began her career in the telecommunications industry in 1997 after completing her studies in business administration. She has held management positions at Nexi Germany, Evo Payments Germany and PagoNxt, where she gained extensive experience in the areas of payment and digital financial solutions.
Since June 2024, she has been Managing Director at Edenred Germany, where she is responsible for strategic direction and product development. She brings extensive knowledge of payment transactions in regulated companies to her role at PVD.
Bodo Mauss
Bodo Mauss is an authorised signatory at Blackhawk Network Germany GmbH and responsible for One4all and Gutscheingold multi-store gift cards in the DACH region.
He has been an assessor on the PVD board since 2024.
As an expert in card-based customer loyalty and revenue generation, he has more than 17 years of professional experience in the prepaid industry and pioneered the introduction of the Gift Card Mall in the DACH region.
Thomas Meeß
Thomas Meeß has held senior positions in marketing, sales and business development for over 25 years. At Apple, he was Head of EMEIA for 15 years, responsible for the international growth of the Apple Gift Card programme, which he established as the largest of its kind worldwide. Prior to that, he worked as Sales Manager Central Europe at Navman Wireless USA and as Key Account Manager at Creative Labs and Adobe Systems, among other positions
Thomas Meeß has been Managing Director of SINC NOVATION GmbH since November 2023. There, he contributes his passion for innovation, team leadership and sustainable growth
Events and meetings
Weitere Events
5-6 March 2026
21 April 2026
Member Get-together
ZOE Bar in Berlin
22 April 2026
General meeting
Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt
19-21 May 2026
UNITI expo 2026
Messe Stuttgart
5 November 2026
11. Prepaid Congress
Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt
6 November 2026
General meeting
Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt
Further activities
members' meetings
The Prepaid Association of Germany holds general meetings two to three times a year. Invitations are sent out in writing. In spring, the general meeting takes place as part of the Prepaid Congress and is closed to the public.
working groups
The association offers various working groups that enable concrete and effective association work. The majority of members are active in one or more regularly held working groups. Members are informed of the results by email or at general meetings, or receive them for voting. The coordinators of the respective working groups are also active on the board.
round-table discussions
The PVD holds regular round-table discussions with the supervisory authority BaFin and the Federal Ministry of Finance. Regulatory issues are discussed at these meetings.
press relations
The PVD actively engages in press and public relations work.
mailings
Members are regularly informed about current topics in the prepaid market.
information exchange
The association maintains a lively dialogue and close exchange with other associations such as the Trade Association, the GCVA, the BVCNL, IMA Europe and many more.
Prepaid congress
The event for the industry
The Prepaid Congress premiered in autumn 2014. Within just a few years, it has become an important event for issuers, distributors, processors and acceptors of prepaid products. The event features outstanding speakers from politics, business and trade, topical issues, insightful discussions, the influence of politics on innovation and insights into the activities of renowned companies.
The Prepaid Congress is the platform for learning about current legal guidelines from Brussels and their consequences for the industry, as well as innovative developments, all in one day.
In addition to visionary thinking, the exchange of knowledge and experience, awareness of legal changes, potential risks and trends are essential for successful business activities. This is exactly what the Prepaid Congress presents.
The Prepaid Community Night marks the end of the Prepaid Congress. In a stylish atmosphere, it offers space for personal conversations and the cultivation of important contacts.
Save the date
11. Prepaid Congress in Berlin at 5th November 2026 at the Steigenberger Hotel Am Kanzleramt!
PREPAIred – The stage for PVD members
Are you PREPAIreD?
With PREPAIred, the PVD offers members a new series of events where they can present their companies and services. The focus is, of course, on prepaid. Whether use cases, services, special solutions or challenges overcome, the topics are those that industry experts need to successfully run and advance their businesses.
PREPAIreD is a series of events organised by the PVD that enables members to present their companies at a special networking event.
As the host of the PREPAIreD event, you determine the type and size of the event. Would you prefer a conference with 200 participants or a smaller setting with five people, such as a fireside chat? The limited number of participants enhances the exclusive nature of the event. Please note that the financial risk lies with the host.
Ready to host? Contact us. We will be happy to advise and support you.
Our partners
UNITI expo
UNITI expo is Europe’s leading trade fair for the petrol station and car wash industry. The lecture programme, the compact format with three exhibition days and the two-year cycle are precisely tailored to the requirements of the target group. This makes UNITI expo a unique opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to make new contacts and strengthen business relationships. To find out more about UNITI Expo, visit us at:
BrancheVereniging Cadeaukaarten Nederland
The BVCNL is the trade association for the gift card and adventure market in the Netherlands, with 45 members. This includes leading gift card issuers, retailers, service providers and other relevant stakeholders. These parties represent a large part of the market and make the association the voice of the industry. In addition to promoting interests, one of the BVCNL’s core tasks is to serve as a knowledge centre. To learn more about the BVCNL, visit us at:
Gift Card & Voucher Association
The Gift Card & Voucher Association is the trade body representing key players in the £7 billion gift card and prepaid card solutions market.
With over 80 members, including retailers, issuers and suppliers, we provide a platform and infrastructure for members to collaborate, share ideas and stay up to date with a rapidly growing and dynamic industry. To find out more about the Gift Card & Voucher Association, visit us at:
Payments Innovation Forum
The Payments Innovation Forum is a non-profit industry association and the voice of innovation in payments. The forum’s core mission is to promote secure, sustainable innovation in payments by supporting the development of smart, more accessible payment solutions that bring about positive change for the economy and society.
Technical expertise in PVD
