In 2023, there were 266.2 billion real-time payments indicating that the demand for secure transactions has never been higher. As we move towards a more open banking system, there are a host of new payment solutions that offer convenience and efficiency, but they also present new risks.
The Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) is one of many regulations established to address these concerns. PSD2 is a European Union (EU) business initiative to offer smooth payment experiences while helping customers feel safe from online threats.
In this post, learn what PSD2 includes, how it improves security for online payments, and how Matomo supports banks and financial institutions with PSD2 compliance.
What is PSD2?
PSD2 is an EU directive that aims to improve the security of electronic payments across the EU. It enforces strong customer authentication and allows third-party access to consumer accounts with explicit consent.
Its main objectives are:
- Strengthening security and data privacy measures around digital payments.
- Encouraging innovation by allowing third-party providers access to banking data.
- Improving transparency with clear communication regarding fees, terms and conditions associated with payment services.
- Establishing a framework for sharing customer data securely through APIs for PSD2 open banking.
Rationale behind PSD2
PSD2’s primary purpose is to engineer a more integrated and efficient European payment market without compromising the security of online transactions.
The original directive aimed to standardise payment services across EU member states, but as technology evolved, an updated version was needed.
PSD2 is mandatory for various entities within the European Economic Area (EEA), like:
- Banks and credit institutions
- Electronic money institutions or digital banks like Revolut
- Card issuing and acquiring institutions
- Fintech companies
- Multi-national organisations operating in the EU
PSD2 implementation timeline
With several important milestones, PSD2 has reshaped how payment services work in Europe. Here’s a closer look at the pivotal events that paved the way for its launch.
- 2002: The banking industry creates the European Payments Council (EC), which drives the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) initiative to include non-cash payment instruments across European regions.
- 2007: PSD1 goes into effect.
- 2013: EC proposes PSD2 to include protocols for upcoming payment services.
- 2015: The Council of European Union passes PSD2 and gives member states two years to incorporate it.
- 2018: PSD2 goes into effect.
- 2019: The final deadline for all companies within the EU to comply with PSD2’s regulations and rules for strong customer authentication.
PSD2: Key components
PSD2 introduces several key components. Let’s take a look at each one.
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)
The Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under PSD2 outline specific requirements for SCA.
SCA requires multi-factor authentication for online transactions. When customers make a payment online, they need to verify their identity using at least two of the three following elements:
- Knowledge: Something they know (like a password, a code or a secret answer)
- Possession: Something they have (like their phone or card)
- Inherence: Something they are (like biometrics — fingerprints or facial features)
Before SCA, banks verified an individual’s identity only using a password. This dual verification allows only authorised users to complete transactions. SCA implementation reduces fraud and increases the security of electronic payments.
SCA implementation varies for different payment methods. Debit and credit cards use the 3D Secure (3DS) protocol. E-wallets and other local payment measures often have their own SCA-compliant steps.
3DS is an extra step to authenticate a customer’s identity. Most European debit and credit card companies implement it. Also, in case of fraudulent chargebacks, the issuing bank becomes liable due to 3DS, not the business.
However, in SCA, certain transactions are exempt:
- Low-risk transactions: A transaction by an issuer or an acquirer whose fraud level is below a specific threshold. If the acquirer feels that a transaction is low risk, they can request to skip SCA.
- Low-value transactions: Transactions under €30.
- Trusted beneficiaries: Trusted merchants customers choose to safelist.
- Recurring payments: Recurring transactions for a fixed amount are exempt from SCA after the first transaction.
Third-party payment service providers (TPPs) framework
TPPs are entities authorised to access customer banking data and initiate payments. There are three types of TPPs:
Account Information Service Providers (AISPs)
AISPs are services that can view customers’ account details, but only with their permission. For example, a budgeting app might use AISP services to gather transaction data from a user’s bank account, helping them monitor expenses and oversee finances.
Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs)
PISPs enable clients to initiate payments directly from their bank accounts, bypassing the need for conventional payment options such as debit or credit cards. After the customer makes a payment, PISPs immediately contact the merchant to ensure the user can access the online services or products they bought.
Card-Based Payment Instruments (CBPII)
CBPIIs refer to services that issue payment cards linked to customer accounts.
Requirements for TPPs
To operate effectively under PSD2, TPPs must meet several requirements:
Consumer consent: Customers must explicitly authorise TPPs to retrieve their financial data. This way, users can control who can view their information and for what purpose.
Security compliance: TPPs must follow SCA and secure communication guidelines to protect users from fraud and unauthorised access.
API availability: Banks must make their Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) accessible and allow TPPs to connect securely with the bank’s systems. This availability helps in easy integration and lets TPPs access essential data.
Consumer protection methods
PSD2 implements various consumer protection measures to increase trust and transparency between consumers and financial institutions. Here’s a closer look at some of these key methods:
- Prohibition of unjustified fees: PSD2 requires banks to clearly communicate any additional charges or fees for international transfers or account maintenance. This ensures consumers are fully aware of the actual costs and charges.
- Timely complaint resolution: PSD2 mandates that payment service providers (PSPs) have a straightforward complaint procedure. If a customer faces any problems, the provider must respond within 15 business days. This requirement encourages consumers to engage more confidently with financial services.
- Refund in case of unauthorised payment: Customers are entitled to a full refund for payments made without their consent.
- Surcharge ban: Additional charges on credit and debit card payments aren’t allowed. Businesses can’t impose extra fees on these payment methods, which increases customers’ purchasing power.
Benefits of PSD2
Businesses — particularly those in banking, fintech, finserv, etc. — stand to benefit from PSD2 in several ways.
Access to customer data
With customer consent, banks can analyse spending patterns to develop tailored financial products that match customer needs, from personalised savings accounts to more relevant loan offerings.
Innovation and cost benefits
PSD2 opened payment processing up to more market competition. New payment companies bring fresh approaches to banking services, making daily transactions more efficient while driving down processing fees across the sector.
Also, banks now work alongside payment technology providers, combining their strengths to create better services. This collaboration brings faster payment options to businesses, helping them stay competitive while reducing operational costs.
Improved customer trust and experience
Due to PSD2 guidelines, modern systems handle transactions quickly without compromising the safety of payment data, creating a balanced approach to digital banking.
Banking customers now have more control over their financial information. Clear processes allow consumers to view and adjust their financial preferences as needed.
Strong security standards form the foundation of these new payment systems. Payment provider platforms must adhere to strict regulations and implement additional protection measures.
Challenges in PSD2 compliance
What challenges can banks and financial institutions face regarding PSD2 compliance? Let’s examine them.
Resource requirements
For many businesses, the new requirements come with a high price tag. PSD2 requires banks and fintechs to build and update their systems so that other providers can access customer data safely. For example, they must develop APIs to allow TPPs to acquire customer data.
Many banks still use older systems that can’t meet PSD2’s added requirements. In addition to the cost of upgrades, complying with PSD2 requires banks to devote resources to training staff and monitoring compliance.
The significant costs required to update legacy systems and IT infrastructure while keeping services running remain challenging.
Risks and penalties
Organisations that fail to comply with PSD2 regulations can face significant penalties.
Additionally, the overlapping requirements of PSD2 and other regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), can create confusion.
Banks need clear agreements with TPPs about who’s responsible when things go wrong. This includes handling data breaches, preventing data misuse and protecting customer information.
Increased competition
Introducing new players in the financial ecosystem, such as AISPs and PISPs, creates competition. Banks must adapt their services to stay competitive while managing compliance costs.
PSD2 aims to protect customers but the stronger authentication requirements can make banking less convenient. Banks must balance security with user experience. Focused time, effort and continuous monitoring are needed for businesses to stay compliant and competitive.
How Matomo can help
Matomo gives banks and financial institutions complete control over their data through privacy-focused web analytics, keeping collected information internal rather than being used for marketing or other purposes.
Its advanced security setup includes access controls, audit logs, SSL encryption, single sign-on and two-factor authentication. This creates a secure environment where sensitive data remains accessible only to authorised staff.
While prioritizing privacy, Matomo provides tools to understand user flow and customer segments, such as session recordings, heatmaps and A/B testing.
Financial institutions particularly benefit from several key features:
- Tools for obtaining explicit consent before processing personal data like this Do Not Track preference
- Insights into how financial institutions integrate TPPs (including API usage, user engagement and potential authentication drop-off points)
- Tracking of failed login attempts or unusual access patterns
- IP anonymization to analyse traffic patterns and detect potential fraud
PSD3: The next step
In recent years, we have seen the rise of innovative payment companies and increasingly clever fraud schemes. This has prompted regulators to propose updates to payment rules.
PSD3’s scope is to adapt to the evolving digital transformation and to better handle these fraud risks. The proposed measures:
- Encourage PSPs to share fraud-related information.
- Make customers aware of the different types of fraud.
- Strengthen customer authentication standards.
- Provide non-bank PSPs restricted access to EU payment systems.
- Enact payment rules in a directly applicable regulation and harmonise and enforce the directive.
Web analytics that respect user privacy
Achieving compliance with PSD2 may be a long road for some businesses. With Matomo, organisations can enjoy peace of mind knowing their data practices align with legal requirements.
Ready to stop worrying over compliance with regulations like PSD2 and take control of your data? Start your 21-day free trial with Matomo.
