Select your language

In our canteensand cafeterias, you can now make cashless payments at all cash registers using the payment methods listed below. It is no longer necessary to charge your MensaCard for the payment process. However, you must also hold it up to the reader at the cash register to identify yourself as a student or staff member. If you do not place your MensaCard on the reader, we will have to charge the more expensive guest price.

Important: You will still need credit on your MensaCard for self-service vending machines, ice cream machines, and coffee machines.

What is cashless payment? What payment methods are available? We have prepared the most important information for you. You will certainly find the answers to your questions below.

You can find more information here:https://www.stwno.de/en/gastro-en/cashless-payment

The expansion of cashless payment methods has not only been a big topic at the Studentenwerk since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The goal is to ultimately ban cash payments in the Studentenwerk's campus locations.

There are several reasons for this:

  • Work safety for employees is improved because during the pandemic there is no contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
  • The work safety for the employees is improved in general, because it is no longer necessary to empty the cash boxes and carry cash on campus.
  • The Studentenwerk Niederbayern/Oberpfalz is also no longer victim of crime: in 2019 alone, we were broken into several times at several locations. These acts resulted in property and financial damage of more than € 100,000.
  • The costs associated with financial transactions are reduced, as cash deposit and transfer fees are waived, as well as the costs associated with the secure transport of money by an external service provider.

In order that the Studentenwerk can offer all its customers the payment method they individually prefer, there are EC-validators everywhere. You can load your university card without cash, either with an EC card or with all common credit cards, as well as with the cell phone and Pay Pal payment systems. If loading the university card is too complicated for you, you can also pay directly at each cashier with these different payment methods.

Cashless payment is quick and easy - the amount is debited from your account after confirmation (more information below). There are different payment methods, for example via Girocard, credit card or very quickly via the NFC function with the smartphone. If, for example, you do not have enough cash to top up your MensaCard before going to the canteen or cafeteria, you can now choose between several payment methods. But you can also pay directly at NFC checkouts without reloading your MensaCard. In addition to the speed and simplicity of the transaction, cashless payment is also much more hygienic - because you don't know how many hands your cash has already "traveled" through.

The following payment methods are accepted at the top-up machines and at the Studentenwerk cashier's offices in the canteens and/or cafeterias: EC, Girocard, Maestro, MasterCard, Visa, V PAY, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay.

It is imperative that each person place their MensaCard on the reader at the registers, in addition to the card for their chosen cashless payment method (see above). The MensaCard is used to determine the price for students, staff, or visitors. If you do not have your MensaCard with you, the visitor price will unfortunately be charged.

There is a lot of work involved in setting up the top-up machines and cash registers. At present, our cashiers are gradually being equipped with card terminals. An introduction of cashless payment methods has been taking place since August 7, 2020, first in the canteens and cafeterias of the University and the OTH Regensburg. In September, we will also introduce cashless payment methods in our university restaurants and cafeterias in Landshut, Deggendorf and Passau. Other locations will follow gradually.

Since August 7, 2020, the first top-up machines have been installed in the canteens and cafeterias of Regensburg University and OTH. In September, the university restaurants and cafeterias in Landshut, Deggendorf and Passau will follow. We plan to expand to other locations, including Pfarrkirchen and Straubing, if the pandemic situation improves. This expansion will be done gradually, so that you can also choose your priority payment method once the expansion is complete.

Yes and no. Until all card terminals are equipped for cashless payment methods, you can continue to reload your MensaCard with cash at the top-up machines. At the canteen's or cafeteria's registers, you pay as usual without cash with your loaded MensaCard.

Please note: After the top-up machines have been converted to the new payment methods, it will no longer be possible to load your credit with cash.

The EC card is a bank card that allows you to pay without cash and to withdraw money at ATMs. The abbreviation EC stands for "electronic cash". This means that the card can be used like cash most of the time. Since it is a debit card, the amount is immediately deducted from the current account and posted, unlike payment with a credit card.

An EC card is usually provided with a current account by the respective credit institution. The cards are usually made of plastic and can only be used if you enter your own PIN code.

Girocard is the current name of the EC card. It is the most classic bank card and as such is included in almost all current accounts. In everyday language, the Girocard is known as the "EC card" or "transfer card". It is mainly used for cashless payments in stores or to withdraw cash from ATMs. There is no de facto difference between the EC card and the Girocard.

Maestro is a debit payment system, just like Girocard. While Girocard is the payment system of the Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft, Maestro is managed by the credit card company MasterCard. Holders of a bank card with Maestro Co Branding enjoy very good acceptance, even abroad. Maestro allows cashless payment at 15 million acceptance points worldwide and cash withdrawals at 1 million ATMs.

V Pay is the equivalent of Maestro. It is operated by the credit card company Visa and is primarily aimed at European consumers. Unlike Maestro, V Pay is only accepted in European countries, not worldwide. However, V Pay offers a higher level of security: since V Pay stores the card data exclusively on the chip, skimming (data theft from manipulated ATMs) is no longer possible. People who often travel abroad should get a credit card in addition to the Girocard.

A debit payment system is the common framework for cashless payments and cash withdrawals in Germany. The term "debit" here means that the debit card is directly connected to the personal current account. If the debit card is used for a card payment or cash withdrawal, the amount is deducted from the cardholder's account within a few business days.

A debit card is therefore only available in conjunction with a current account. The terms "debit card", "girocard", "debit card" and "EC card" all refer to the same card product.

Debit cards are synonymous with a high level of security. A Girocard is directly linked to a current account. Each transaction must be confirmed by the cardholder by entering his/her four-digit secret code (PIN). Never keep your PIN code near your debit card!

Unlike the Girocard, a classic credit card, such as MasterCard and Visa, does not immediately debit the current account. The cardholder receives a credit card statement at the end of the month with all transactions. The amount is finally debited from the account as a total amount. Unlike Maestro and V Pay, Visa and MasterCard credit cards guarantee worldwide acceptance.

If a debit or credit card bears the wave symbol, the cardholder can pay without contact. This works through the Near Field Communication (NFC) transmission standard. The use of this technology is possible thanks to the NFC chip integrated in the respective card (for more information on NFC, see below).

PayPal is easy to use. At www.paypal.com, you can open a free PayPal account. To do so, you need to specify your bank account or credit card as the payment source. PayPal transactions are completed very quickly. After choosing PayPal as a payment method at the top-up terminal or at the cash desk, PayPal immediately informs the Studentenwerk and transfers the amount to be paid. The amount is withdrawn from the payment source registered in your PayPal account.

Please note: At the moment, only Google Pay can be combined with Pay Pal as a payment source. So if you want to pay with Pay Pal at our store, you have to set it up in the Google Pay app first (see below for details).

Google Pay and Apple Pay are quick and easy ways to pay via a smartphone application. Download the Google Pay application. For Apple Pay, select "Wallet & Apple Pay" in your iPhone settings and enable "Allow payments on Mac". You can then set a payment method, such as your credit card. Wherever you see the Goolge Pay and Apple Pay symbols, you can now quickly and easily pay without cash with your smartphone. Just bring your smartphone close to the card reader.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a proximity technology that allows data to be transmitted over short distances. A smartphone equipped with an NFC chip can, for example, be used to pay without cash.

Go to the settings of your smartphone. Then click on the "Wireless and networks" menu item - here you may have to click on the "More" item to make the NFC function visible. You can also enable NFC in the quick functions of your smartphone - by swiping down on the top edge of the screen - you will eventually have to go to the second page. On iOS devices, you can find more information in the settings under "Wallet".

With mobile payment, you pay directly with your smartphone at the cashier terminal. As with contactless payment, the data is transmitted via Near Field Communication (NFC). Once the NFC function has been configured on the smartphone, you simply hold the smartphone in front of an NFC terminal. The payment process is completed in just a few seconds.

No personal data is stored on the MensaCard. Only the card number, the current balance and a code indicating whether it is a student, staff or visitor card are recorded. No other information about your financial transactions is recorded.

If you have problems paying with your MensaCard, please contact the MensaCard office or your university's information desk. You can find more information on this page:https://www.stwno.de/en/gastro-en/mensa-campuscard-en