Banks in Schleswig-Holstein scale back ATMs: Deutsche Bank's Husum zone to close by end of June
Some banks in Schleswig-Holstein are reducing their network of ATMs and self-service terminals, affecting customers in Germany's northernmost state. The closures are blamed on the shift to digital payments and a series of ATM bombings.
Closure in Husum
The self-service zone of Deutsche Bank in Husum's city centre will close at the end of June, a bank spokesperson confirmed. The advisory office with staff will remain open, but customers will no longer be able to withdraw cash or print statements there. Deutsche Bank did not disclose the total number of ATMs or self-service terminals it operates in Schleswig-Holstein.
Driving forces: digitalisation and ATM bombings
The bank pointed to the ongoing switch to cashless payments as a key reason.
A recent Bundesbank study on payment behaviour in Germany in 2025 confirmed the shift. The Nord-Ostsee Sparkasse (Nospa), active in the districts of Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Flensburg and the city of Flensburg, also plans three closures this year. One ATM was blown up and will not be replaced; another ATM and a self-service terminal will be decommissioned by the end of the year.We have been observing a trend toward cashless payments for many years, whether via card or digital payment services such as our banking app.
What customers can do
Deutsche Bank and Postbank customers can withdraw cash free of charge at any Cash Group ATM nationwide, which includes Commerzbank and Hypovereinsbank. Cashback services at supermarkets, discounters and other retailers also offer a way to get cash at the till. For day-to-day banking such as transfers or balance enquiries, online and mobile banking are available, along with a telephone customer service. On request, account statements can be sent by post.
Wider trend in the north
The pullback in Schleswig-Holstein mirrors a gradual thinning of physical bank infrastructure across Germany, driven by digital adoption and security concerns. Banks are weighing the cost of maintaining machines against falling demand for cash, while the threat of explosives attacks on ATMs has added urgency to the decision in some locations.
