Chaos at the Postbank: branch in Garmisch-Partenkirchen closes!

Chaos at the Postbank: branch in Garmisch-Partenkirchen closes!

The closure of numerous Postbank branches is currently a topic of conversation in Germany. A central point is the branch in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which will finally close its doors on October 7, 2025. However, postal services will remain in the building at the train station, which gives many citizens hope that they will continue to be able to access these services. Nevertheless, residents have to adapt to changes. Customers repeatedly report difficulties, like Monika Klein, who stood in front of closed counters to drop off parcels three times in August. 87-year-old Irmgard Rethore also had a lot of trouble when she had to go to several places to finally hand in her package.

In this regard, Deutsche Post has stated that its partner branches offer extended opening hours and that customer satisfaction is high, but the reality is often different. The frustrating everyday life of many customers shows that such promises do not become reality everywhere. Postbank has announced that it will inform its customers about alternative locations, with the nearest branch being at Bahnhofsplatz 6 in Weilheim. This approach is urgently needed because by closing around 230 branches by 2027, 97 of which are already secure, Postbank is enormously restricting the options for many of its customers.

Dwindling branch networks affect many

The branch closures are part of a Germany-wide trend that, according to Focus, is gaining momentum. Up to 230 of the 550 Postbank branches in Germany are expected to close within the next few years. Large cities such as Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich are also affected, but smaller towns such as Dingolfing, Plattling and Kamp-Lintfort don't exactly have rosy prospects either. In regions with sparse population, many customers have to travel up to 40 kilometers to the nearest branch, which further exacerbates the situation. In total, around 1,000 jobs are threatened by these closures.

The closure of bank branches is not an isolated incident; In 2024, a total of 1,600 bank branches in Germany were closed, which is a record number. Savings banks and cooperative banks are also increasingly considering consolidating their own locations, while Postbank is pursuing a “mobile first” strategy and is increasingly relying on digital services, telephone contact and video advice.

Trust in digital alternatives will become the big question of the future. Although the supply of cash via ATMs remains secure, customers increasingly have to rethink and check alternative banks or services nearby. In this context, cash withdrawals in supermarkets should also be considered with a limit of 200 euros per customer.

In summary, the population must prepare for a profound change in the postal and banking landscape. Postbank is trying its best to inform customers and support them in the transition as their needs and habits gradually change. Find out about your options and next steps regarding branch closures in good time.

For more information you can visit the article Mercury, Focus and North24 read up.