Strange, I’m able to open new accounts, change details etc. all in the regular SPK Online Banking. Only recently I opened a Sparbuch online and got an IBAN and reference transfer set up immediately. It’s called “Sparbuch digital”, my Sparkasse doesn’t even offer old fashioned Sparbücher anymore.
Compared to some other online banking solutions I’ve dealt with (I’m looking at you HSBC!), the Sparkasse one is really quite decent. Not everything is bad ;-)
Concerning Apple Pay the last chance is WWDC, although it made no sense to announce some countries now and then announce more countries at WWDC. As I’ve stated before - thanks to information from the source, a manager from S-Payment - Apple Pay most certainly won’t be launching with the Sparkassen and probably won’t be for years to come. That’s just a sad fact that’s becoming more and more clear now.