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E-commerce Glossary

What are PSD2 (Revised Payment Services Directive)?

Understanding PSD2 (Revised Payment Services Directive) in E-commerce

Quick Definition

PSD2 (Revised Payment Services Directive) is a European Union regulatory framework designed to enhance payment security, increase consumer protection, and promote financial innovation by mandating stronger authentication methods and open banking standards for financial service providers.

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Understanding PSD2: Transforming Digital Payments

Key PSD2 Objectives

  • Enhanced Security: Mandate multi-factor authentication for online transactions
  • Consumer Protection: Reduce fraud risks and improve transparency in financial services
  • Open Banking: Enable third-party access to customer banking data with consent
  • Innovation: Encourage competitive financial technology development

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) Requirements

SCA mandates authentication using two independent verification elements:

Knowledge

Something only the user knows (password, PIN)

Possession

Something only the user possesses (mobile device, token)

Inherence

Something inherent to the user (biometrics, fingerprint)

E-commerce Impact

For online merchants, PSD2 introduces significant changes in transaction processing:

  • Mandatory two-factor authentication for transactions over €30
  • Reduced liability for merchants in case of unauthorized transactions
  • Potential increase in cart abandonment due to additional verification steps

Adapting to PSD2

Successful e-commerce platforms must implement seamless authentication experiences. Tools like Growth Suite can help merchants maintain conversion rates by providing intelligent, user-friendly verification methods that comply with PSD2 requirements while minimizing friction in the purchasing process.

The key is balancing robust security with a smooth customer experience, ensuring that additional authentication steps don't deter potential buyers.

Put PSD2 (Revised Payment Services Directive) into Practice

Ready to apply these concepts to your store? Growth Suite provides the tools you need to implement effective psd2 (revised payment services directive) strategies.