Currence publishes 2012 Annual Report

Number of iDEAL payments rises again (+25%)
Focus on transition to European payments in 2013

Use of the online payment method iDEAL rose sharply again in 2012. The number of transactions increased by more than 25% to a total value of €8.8 billion. People in the Netherlands chose to pay with iDEAL 117 million times. At the same time, fewer paper Acceptgiros are being processed, according to Currence’s annual report (PDF, in Dutch) .

Important role for payment institutions in international iDEAL payments

Increasing numbers of Dutch consumers use iDEAL for purchases from foreign webshops. They made no fewer than 21 million iDEAL payments to foreign websites, almost 18% of all iDEAL payments. Currence also observes that specialised payment institutions, known as Collecting Payment Service Providers (CPSPs), are gaining an increasingly important position in the iDEAL market. In addition to choosing from six acquiring banks to process their iDEAL payments, businesses can have a payment institution handle them. This year, banks and payment institutions reported international iDEAL payments to Currence for the first time. The figures showed that payment institutions play an important role in foreign markets and have contributed strongly to increased competition. The number of countries where Dutch consumers can pay for online purchases with iDEAL is also growing steadily: iDEAL is accepted at various webshops in 51 countries. Its growing availability at foreign webshops generated considerable interest from international parties again in 2012. iDEAL is now ready for SEPA, making it easier for foreign providers to use the payment method.

Acceptgiro popularity continues to decline

The decline in Acceptgiro use continues. Paper Acceptgiro use in particular has fallen sharply in recent years. More efficient products such as direct debit, iDEAL and FiNBOX are replacing the paper Acceptgiro. Consumers’ growing preference for electronic payments is also reflected in the proportion of Acceptgiros paid through online banking. Banks now process only 20% of Acceptgiros on paper. A total of 134 million Acceptgiros were processed last year, 4% fewer than in 2011.

Final steps towards European payments

The migration of the Dutch direct debit and Acceptgiro products to European variants is well under way and must be completed by 1 February 2014 under European law. After the transition, there will no longer be any difference between a domestic payment and a euro payment to or from another European country. For direct debits, most users will switch to European variants during 2013. The current non-refundable recurring direct debit mandate used by lotteries will disappear. Under SEPA rules, this direct debit variant can no longer continue without the standard eight-week refund right.
Acceptgiro is also being adapted to European credit transfer requirements. The IBAN Acceptgiro will be available from 1 July 2013. After 1 February 2014, the current euro Acceptgiro form can no longer be processed.

* CPSPs provide services including integrating all payment methods used by a business into its website and administering the funds received. CPSPs are also payment institutions within the meaning of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act and require a DNB licence or exemption for their activities.