Sofortüberweisung

Sofortüberweisung, today officially called Klarna Sofort, is an online payment method that enables a direct bank transfer in real time. The customer pays directly through their own online banking account, without needing a PayPal account or a credit card. The method is especially widespread in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is ideal for prepayments in online appointment scheduling: the appointment is only confirmed once the money has arrived, reliably and without delay.

What is Klarna Sofort?

The payment method was developed in 2005 by the German company SOFORT GmbH and acquired in 2014 by the Swedish fintech group Klarna. Since then it has been operated under the brand name "Klarna Sofort", but in everyday use the original name "Sofortüberweisung" is still frequently used.

Important: Sofortüberweisung is not a loan and not an installment purchase. It is a genuine bank transfer that is executed in real time. The amount is debited directly from the checking account, similar to a classic bank transfer, only fully automated and within seconds. Klarna Sofort is available in more than 10 European countries and supports almost all banks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland that offer online banking.

Step by step: how to pay with Sofortüberweisung

When a customer chooses Sofortüberweisung as the payment method during online appointment booking, the payment process works as follows:

Choose the payment method: Select "Sofortüberweisung" or the Klarna Sofort logo in the booking form.
Redirect: The browser automatically redirects to the secure Klarna Sofort payment page.
Select the bank: Select your own bank from a list (e.g. Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Volksbank, ING, DKB etc.).
Enter online banking details: Enter the account number/IBAN and PIN (online banking password) on the Klarna page. This data never leaves the encrypted connection.
Confirm the payment: Authorize the transaction with a TAN, push TAN or the bank's own security procedure.
Return and confirmation: After a successful payment, the customer is automatically redirected back to the booking page. The appointment confirmation appears immediately on screen and is sent by email.

Security and data protection

Many users wonder whether it is safe to enter their online banking credentials on an external page. Klarna Sofort is a regulated payment institution and is supervised by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). All connections are SSL/TLS encrypted, and the platform is PCI DSS certified.

No permanent data storage: The online banking credentials are used exclusively for the one-time transaction and are not stored.
Read-only access: Klarna Sofort receives temporary read access to the account to check the balance and initiate the transfer, nothing more.
No further account transactions possible: After the transaction is completed, Klarna no longer has access to the account.
The bank's own security procedure: The TAN confirmation uses the familiar procedure of your own bank (e.g. pushTAN, chipTAN, SMS TAN).

Advantages for customers when booking appointments

No extra account needed: Customers without a PayPal account or credit card can still pay online.
Instant appointment confirmation: The payment is confirmed in real time, so the appointment is securely booked immediately after payment.
Familiar banking environment: Customers know and trust their own bank; no new accounts or apps are needed.
Broad bank coverage: Works with almost all German, Austrian and Swiss banks with online banking.
Transparency: The booking amount is shown directly and clearly, with no hidden fees for the customer.

Advantages for appointment providers

Broader target group: Customers without PayPal or a credit card can also book and pay bindingly.
Instant payment confirmation: Unlike direct debit (1 to 3 days), the payment is final immediately, so the appointment can be confirmed without waiting.
Lower fraud risk: The direct bank connection makes chargebacks more difficult than with credit cards.
No-show reduction: Customers who have paid in advance show up more reliably. Prepayment by Sofortüberweisung is just as binding as any other payment method.

Sofortüberweisung at Appointmind

At Appointmind, Sofortüberweisung is available as a payment method for prepayments via the payment provider Digistore24. Digistore24 is a German e-commerce platform that acts as a reseller and handles the complete payment processing, including invoicing and remitting VAT.

In addition to Sofortüberweisung, Digistore24 offers three further payment methods in the Appointmind booking form:

Appointmind users (appointment providers) can specify in the settings which payment methods are shown to their customers in the booking form. If Sofortüberweisung is enabled, the corresponding logo appears in the payment section, and the booking process remains seamless and professional for the end customer.

Frequently asked questions

My payment was canceled: what happens to the appointment? If the payment is canceled or fails, the appointment is not booked. The time slot remains free and can be booked again, either with a different payment method or with a new attempt via Sofortüberweisung.

Does Sofortüberweisung work with my bank? The method is compatible with almost all German, Austrian and Swiss banks that offer online banking. The Klarna Sofort payment page shows a search field where you can select your own bank. If it is not listed there, one of the other payment methods is available as an alternative.

Will I receive a confirmation after payment? Yes. After a successful payment by Sofortüberweisung, the customer immediately receives an appointment confirmation on screen as well as a confirmation email with all booking details.

Are there additional costs for the customer? No. Choosing Sofortüberweisung as the payment method does not incur any additional fees for the customer; exactly the displayed booking amount is debited.

Pay securely online for appointment bookings with Klarna Sofort / Sofortüberweisung