In a major expansion, Ukash, Europe's fastest growing and leading online cash payment solution, has announced that its estate in Germany will grow to 20,000 physical sites across the country.
To further develop its availability in Germany and reach a wide range of consumers who wish to shop, pay and play online using cash, Ukash has also launched its online issuing service.
Ukash's expansion in the German market will provide Internet retailers with a reputable solution that will enable consumers to use cash to pay for their internet transactions without revealing sensitive financial information.
With 63% of the overall population using the internet, Germany is emerging as the regional leader for e-commerce in Europe. Ukash's two-pronged growth strategy will enable consumers in Germany to both purchase Ukash vouchers through merchants and via a new channel, its secure website, to facilitate electronic transactions on thousands of global websites.
Mark Chirnside, chief executive officer, Ukash said, "This significant expansion regarding our German operation is the next step towards realising our ambition of making online shopping available to everybody in the world. By making Ukash available at 20,000 physical points - and securely online - we are reaching out to the German market which we know has high internet penetration and a large number of people that want to use safe methods to shop, pay and play online."
E-pay subsidiary Transact Elektronische Zahlungssysteme GmbH will facilitate the availability of Ukash - which can be purchased in €10, €20, €50 and €100 - in supermarkets, petrol stations, call shops, drugstores and lottery kiosks; including in Aral, Esso, Wilh.Erkmann GmbH, Sky Markt and Cigaretten Ostermeier Gmb.
Customers in Germany can also visit the Ukash website, to access a secure interface from which they can transfer money from their online bank account or credit card and turn it into a unique 19-digit Ukash code. Ukash's online issuance solution is managed by Pinshop and allows customers to pay directly from their bank account using Giropay, Sofortuberweisung or by bank transfer and the Ukash voucher is delivered into the customer's secure online account.
Ukash online issuing is already available in Spain with Telepay, Poland with Dotpay and Russia with WebMoney and will be launched across the globe over the coming months.