Whether at the bank, in the doctor’s office or even at home on the computer, October 2025 brings a number of important changes.
From instant money transfers to new EU border procedures, here is an overview of what to expect this month.
Instant transfers for all bank customers
Starting 9 October, real-time bank transfers will become standard across the eurozone.
Thanks to a new EU regulation, payments can be completed within seconds at any time of day — without extra charges.
Since January, all banks have already been required to accept incoming instant transfers; from October, they must also provide outgoing transactions.
More security in online banking
Also from 9 October, banks must verify that the account holder’s name and IBAN match before processing payments.
Customers will see a traffic light system during online banking:
- Green: full match
- Yellow: close match
- Red: no match
The payer then decides whether to proceed. The aim is to reduce fraud and errors in digital transfers.
Electronic patient record becomes mandatory
From October, all doctors in Germany are required to use the electronic patient record (ePA).
Diagnoses and medical data must be entered digitally, allowing smoother information exchange between practices, hospitals and pharmacies.
End of Windows 10 support
Microsoft will officially end free security updates for Windows 10 on 14 October.
Users who do not upgrade risk security vulnerabilities. Extended Security Updates (ESU) will be available until October 2026 at a cost of around $30 (€27) per year.
New EU entry system for non-EU citizens
On 12 October, the EU will launch a new electronic border system that replaces manual passport stamps for non-EU travelers.
The system will digitally collect biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. A six-month transition phase is planned to help with the rollout.
Time change in late October
On the night of 26 October, clocks will be set back from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m., marking the switch to winter time.
Europeans will gain an extra hour of sleep, as they do every autumn.
Hedge trimming season resumes
From 1 October, garden owners are again allowed to cut hedges and bushes.
The seasonal ban, designed to protect nesting birds, ends in September. Anyone who trims greenery during the closed season risks heavy fines.
