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More than one billion payments with iDEAL

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On King’s Day, Dutch banks and the Dutch Payments Association recorded the billionth payment with iDEAL , at New York Pizza . In 2005, customers of ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank were able to pay with iDEAL for the first time, at a cake shop. Over the following ten years, iDEAL grew into the Netherlands’ most popular online payment method, with a market share of 56%. Today, anyone who uses internet banking in the Netherlands can pay directly with iDEAL, securely and through their own bank.

Table full of cupcakes with pink and blue topping, decorated with small iDEAL logos as snacks at an anniversary party.

iDEAL’s rapid growth and success barely slowed. In 2015, the number of iDEAL payments grew by almost a quarter. The number of online orders for pizzas, cakes, meals and food products rose by 34%, faster than for most other goods and services. “With a share of 48%, iDEAL payments are very important to our chain,” said Philippe Vorst, director of New York Pizza. “Convenience for customers and the safety of our delivery staff are important benefits. Because of all the iDEAL payments, our couriers carry less cash. New York Pizza encourages iDEAL transactions by not charging a fee for them.”

The previous year, EURIB (European Institute for Brand Management) once again named iDEAL one of the Netherlands’ most indispensable brands, alongside leading brands such as HEMA, Albert Heijn and NOS Journaal. Payments with iDEAL could increasingly be made at foreign online shops across more than 50 countries. One in five iDEAL payments was made at an online shop abroad.

Ready for the future

With iDEAL, banks and businesses are strongly supporting the growth of mobile shopping and payments. Customers of almost every Dutch retail bank can now pay securely and easily with iDEAL through their bank’s mobile app. Over the previous year, the number of mobile payments in the Netherlands rose by 53% (in Dutch). “A quarter of all iDEAL payments are already made from a smartphone or tablet. That will only increase as consumers shop, order and pay more often using a mobile device,” said Piet Mallekoote, director of the Dutch Payments Association.

The first successful pilot with iDEAL QR codes was held in April. Donors to the Dutch Heart Foundation who did not have cash could use a special QR code and the iDEAL app on their mobile phone to donate an amount of their choice at the door or in the street. New pilots would begin in June to gain experience in other payment situations. iDEAL QR codes can be used, among other things, to pay printed invoices with iDEAL on a smartphone, settle restaurant bills and pay for orders on delivery.

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