Card payments ecosystem requires 18 extra months for SCA
- EBF hosts workshop on full implementation of PSD2
- Online payments experts underline need for proper transition
BRUSSELS, 20 September 2019 – The European Banking Federation on Friday hosted a workshop on the full implementation of the second EU Payments Services Directive, known as PSD2, which included an expert-led discussion on the Strong Customer Authentication rules that took effect across the EU last Saturday.
A successful implementation of the strong customer authentication requirements for online card payments in Europe can only happen effectively once the entire payments ecosystem, including service providers, banks as well as retailers and merchants, is ready.
The EBF notes the swift response of European Banking Authority to the concerns over certain elements of strong and secure customer authentication under PSD2. The approach under the EBA opinion issued in June, which opened the doors for National Competent Authorities to grant limited additional time, was designed to avoid disruptions in online payments.
EBA’s decision to leave room for national authorities to act by providing limited additional time, particularly in countries where not all participants in the payments chain were ready yet to use the new strong authentication services, was enacted on across Europe, with different approaches in national markets in the EU.
Against that background, the EBF now reiterates its call on the EBA to grant an 18-month extension that applies to the entire EU system for remote card payments.
Says Gijs Boudewijn, Chair of the EBF Payment Systems Committee:
“Based on feedback we received from the national communities we believe that 18 months is a reasonable period for full migration to strong customer authentication. Without such an extension we run the risk that online retailers and their customers will not be able to sell and buy their services and products online.”
Banks remain committed to working closely together with all stakeholders in the payments ecosystem in order to provide a safe and reliable payments infrastructure that works for clients across Europe, online retailers as well as their customers.
A successful implementation of the strong customer authentication requirements for online card payments in Europe can only happen effectively once the entire payments ecosystem, including service providers, banks as well as retailers and merchants, is ready. As EBF we appreciate the swift response of EBA to the concerns over certain elements of strong and secure customer authentication under PSD2.
Media contact:
Nahuel Mercedes, +32 2 508 3711, n.mercedes@ebf.eu
About the EBF:
The European Banking Federation is the voice of the European banking sector, bringing together national banking associations from across Europe. The EBF is committed to a thriving European economy that is underpinned by a stable, secure and inclusive financial ecosystem, and to a flourishing society where financing is available to fund the dreams of citizens, businesses and innovators everywhere. Website: www.ebf.eu Twitter: @EBFeu.