Deutsche Bahn introduces Tink ‘Account Check’

Germany’s national railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) has partnered with payment services and data enrichment platform Tink, introducing its ‘Account Check’ feature for enhanced direct debit setups.

Through the partnership, customers of DB’s “modern mobility sharing systems”, which are run by the subsidiary DB Connect, will be able to seamlessly connect their bank accounts for easier account onboarding.

The mobility sharing systems using Tink’s Account Check include ‘Flinkster’, Germany’s largest car sharing network, and ‘Call a Bike’, which is one of the country’s biggest bike sharing networks.

Among the benefits are increased conversions and ensuring the correct account is charged each time a bike or car is used.

The way ‘Account Check’ works is by instantly verifying account details based on real-time data from an individual’s bank account, following consumer consent.

Clemens Rath, head of product management bike sharing at DB Connect said: “Since we introduced Account Check, only valid direct debit mandates have been generated. Fraudulent direct debit mandates are prevented by validating the data directly with the customer’s bank.

“This underlines our commitment to the highest security standards and enables us to guarantee the integrity of our service.”

“Teaming up with DB Connect is a great example of how we can help businesses provide the best possible onboarding experience, while also supporting DB in helping consumers to minimise carbon emissions,” added Thomas Gmelch, director of payments sales, DACH at Tink.

He said that with account verification completed instantly, failed payments are reduced, protecting against fraud and improving efficiency.

“By making the process faster and more accurate, we can reduce costs and enhance the customer experience,” Gmelch said.

Tink recently confirmed its participation in the European Payments Council’s SEPA Payment Account Access (SPAA) scheme, having been a founding member of the SPAA Multi-stakeholder Group since 2019.

Further listening: Three milestones set to shape European payments in 2024 – listen to Andrew Boyajian, vice president of product for payments and CX at Tink, on the Open Banking Expo Unplugged podcast.