The $2 billion Service Credit Union in Portsmouth, N.H., has upgraded its girocard, the German debit card.

Members can now make purchases up to their account balance and direct deposit or allotment are no longer required to receive the card, said Service CU, whose 38 branches include 16 on U.S. military installations in Germany.

German merchants often reject major credit and debit cards but widely accept the girocard, which transacts purchases in euros and includes chip and PIN security features, the credit union said.

Service CU was the first American financial institution to introduce chip and PIN technology in Germany, it said, and the first to offer the girocard.

 “Our goal continued to be to make the girocard easier and more convenient for our members whether they live or are traveling in Germany. Allowing them to make purchases up to their account balances is the added convenience we strive to give our members,” said Gordon Simmons, president/CEO of the 161,000-member Service CU.