Foto: Felix Noak / stW BERLIN
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The autoload process

No cash. No waiting. No drama.

What is Autoload?

With Autoload, you'll never have to wait in line at the recharge machine again. Simply give us a SEPA mandate, and we'll automatically recharge your MensaCard credit and debit the amount directly from your bank account. You decide when your card needs to be recharged and by how much.

No more annoying queuing at the machines. What's more, you no longer have to worry about running out of credit on your MensaCard – even if you decide to treat yourself to a dessert on the spur of the moment.

With Autoload, credit payments can also be transferred directly to your specified bank account.

As soon as the balance on your MensaCard falls below an amount you have specified (e.g., 5 euros), you will be asked at the checkout whether you want to top up your card. If your remaining balance is sufficient for your current purchase, you can also say no.

If you say yes, your MensaCard will automatically be topped up with a predetermined (and always the same) amount (e.g., 15 euros) and you can pay immediately. We usually debit the top-up amount from your bank account two to three banking days later; in exceptional cases, the debit may take up to a week.

The maximum top-up amount is 50 euros.

You have two options:

1) Have your data entered at the cash register
We only recommend this option if you come to one of our canteens as early as possible in the day when it is not yet very busy. The setup takes a little time because all the data has to be entered manually. We will set up special autoload cash registers in the large cafeterias. Just look for the corresponding sign.

Here's how it works: Simply bring your MensaCard, your ID, and your bank card with you. The data will be entered manually on site. Then you sign once—and autoload is activated immediately.

2) Send in the pre-registration form
Fill out the form on this page. 

Then give us two to three days to transfer the data to our cash register system. After that, please come to one of our cafeterias with your ID, MensaCard, and bank card. We will quickly check whether your bank details and address are correct, you sign once – and from then on, Autoload is set up for you.

When filling out the form, you must enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank records. For example, if your bank card shows a middle name, this must also be entered on the form.

Autoload top-ups are only possible once per day. Therefore, please ensure that the top-up amount you select is high enough. We recommend a minimum of 15 euros.

If you lose your MensaCard, you must have it blocked immediately so that no one can make purchases using your Autoload contract. In this case, please report it immediately to the InfoPoint, at one of our cash registers, or by email to mensacard@stw.berlin.

When you sign up for the autoload contract, you will automatically receive a PIN, which you will need to log in to our MensaCard portal. There you can view all transactions from the last 180 days at any time and also download receipts for individual purchases.
Your bank details will only be used for the autoload process and will not be passed on to third parties. Our general data protection regulations apply.


In principle, all MensaCards are suitable for Autoload, regardless of the price category they are programmed for.

Please note: If the autoload procedure is to be set up on another person's account (e.g. that of your parents), then the account holders themselves must also sign when setting up the autoload contract. 

Please note further: We can only accept bank cards from the SEPA area. Here you will find the list of approved countries:

DE - Germany

AT – Austria

BE – Belgium

BG – Bulgaria

CH – Switzerland

CY – Cyprus

CZ – Czechia

DE – Germany

DK – Denmark

EE – Estonia

ES – Spain

FI – Finland

FR – France

GB – Great Britain (United Kingdom)

GR – Greece

HR – Croatia

HU – Hungary

IE – Ireland

IS – Iceland

IT – Italy

LI – Liechtenstein

LT – Lithuania

LU – Luxembourg

LV – Latvia

MC – Monaco

MT – Malta

NL – Netherlands

NO – Norway

PL – Poland

PT – Portugal

RO – Romania

SE – Sweden

SI – Slovenia

SK – Slovakia

SM – San Marino

 

The autoload process can be canceled at any time. To do so, contact one of our cash desks, send an email to mensacard@stw.berlin, or cancel directly in the MensaCard portal (which is only available in German). 

5 euro starting credit!

From January 26, 2026, and for a limited time only, if you sign up for an Autoload contract, you will receive a one-time credit of €5. This is subject to Autoload being fully set up.

The credit will be credited to your MensaCard when you set up the autoload. You don't have to do anything else*.

*The credit is only available once per bank account and person. Only one autoload contract can be set up per bank card. Existing autoload contracts that are canceled and then re-established are explicitly excluded from the bonus scheme. 

Pre-Register form for Autoload 

Please note: When filling out the form, you must enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account. For example, if your bank card shows a middle name, this must also be entered on the form.

Pre-entry of data for the autoload procedure:

Consent and Protection of data privacy*:
Access to the MensaCard portal (optional)::