What's New in Payments

Benelux banks raise €20m to turn Payconiq mobile payments app into European rival to Visa and Mastercard

Mobile payments app Payconiq wants to expand in Europe — Ecommerce News Europe — “Our solution is, unlike the well-known payment methods, not dependent on the credit card companies. I don’t see why we couldn’t become the European alternative to Visa or Mastercard. Technically, we are ahead of them.”



What's New in Payments

Apple Pay to go live in Greece, Portugal and Slovakia this week

Apple Pay rolls out to Greece, Portugal, Slovakia on Wednesday — Apple Insider — “Following the expansion of Apple Pay into the Netherlands on 11 June, reports indicate banks in three more countries in Europe are adding support to Apple Pay at the same time in the coming week. Believed to take place on June 26, the launches will occur covering Slovakia with multiple banks, as well as Greece and Portugal.”









What's New in Payments

Dutch retailers sign up for OK mobile payments and rewards app

OK app conquers the Netherlands — OK (translation) — “Major players who will soon offer OK are the Superunie members in food retail like Coop, Deen, Dirk, Spar and DekaMarkt. Food and hospitality services include Febo and Van der Valk, as well as online players such as FonQ and deonlinedrogist.nl. Other partners include GrandVision (Eyewish, Pearle, zonnebrillen.com), Sundays, Verbunt Wines, Jamin, Karwei, Praxis, Vitaminstore and FrieslandCampina.”


What's New in Payments

Uber applies for a European payments license

Uber seeks Dutch payments licence in drive to diversify — Sky News — “Uber Technologies has submitted an application for a European payments processing licence as it seeks to accelerate its diversification into a broad range of consumer-facing services… Sources said the attempt to become classified as an electronic money institution was being handled by a new subsidiary called Uber Payments BV.”


What's New in Payments

Apple closes Dutch bank Bunq’s backdoor to Apple Pay

Apple is blocking Apple Pay from Bunq in the Netherlands — Het Financieele Dagblad (translation) — “Online bank Bunq was too fast on Tuesday by being the first financial institution in the Netherlands to make Apple Pay possible… On Wednesday afternoon, the technology company closed the back door. Only residents of Spain and Italy are welcome on the platform. Bunq customers who have converted their telephone settings for Wednesday afternoon can continue to use the service — for the time being.”


What's New in Payments

Dutch bank Bunq finds a backdoor way to offer Apple Pay in the Netherlands

Bunq launches Apple Pay — De Telegraaf (translation) — “Apple Pay is officially not yet launched in the Netherlands by the American producer of the iPhone. However, Bunq found an opportunity to make Apple Pay available to Dutch users by launching an Italian and Spanish version of the internet bank… Dutch Bunq customers who put the new version of the app on the ‘Italy’ or ‘Spain’ region will then have Apple Pay at their disposal. They can then pay contactlessly in stores with their iPhone.”


What's New in Payments

Dutch banks ING and Rabobank begin QR code payments pilot

ING and Rabobank customers can now try out Payconiq — Payconiq — “Payconiq allows their users to simply pay online and in-stores by scanning a QR code. Thanks to a direct connection with the user’s bank account, transactions can be swiftly processed against low costs for the merchants… Consumers can already pay at over 45,000 merchants in Belgium and Luxembourg and soon in Germany where Payconiq has been released earlier this month.”


What's New in Payments

ABN Amro pulls out of Dutch banks’ mobile payment venture

ABN Amro and Payconiq discontinue collaboration talks — ABN Amro — “ABN Amro and payment service Payconiq have decided to end their talks to explore potential for collaboration… ABN Amro has made strategic choices of its own that impact the way the bank aims to serve its clients’ interests. For example, ABN Amro is further expanding the functionality of its popular payment request app, Tikkie, to retail and business clients.”


What's New in Payments

Rabobank includes value added services in HCE mobile wallet

G+D Mobile Security supports Rabobank in launching a sophisticated and secure mobile payment solution — Giesecke & Devrient — “With the new solution, more Rabobank customers can use the mobile payment service since it no longer requires a special kind of SIM card. Furthermore, mobile payment is only one of the services provided: current value-added services in the Rabo Wallet include parking and customer shop and loyalty card storage solutions.”


What's New in Payments

ABN Amro to test contactless payment rings, watches, bracelets and keyrings

ABN Amro clients invited to test new wearables as payment method — ABN Amro — “ABN Amro is taking the next step in testing new wearables as a payment method with 500 of its clients. After prior successful internal tests in 2017, clients can now experience what it’s like to make contactless payments with a ring, watch, bracelet or keyring. ABN Amro is the first bank to enable worldwide payment with a wearable that’s linked to a current account. As from today, sign-ups are open for clients to participate in a four-month pilot.”


What's New in Payments

Dutch supermarket chain uses NFC shelf edge labels to let customers self-checkout and pay

Albert Heijn testing ‘tap to go’ technology — Ahold Delhaize — “The technology, which is being piloted at the AH To Go store at Ahold Delhaize’s support office in Zaandam, provides customers with a fast, efficient shopping experience by using a card or, in the near future, a smartphone. After registering via an app, customers can select an item, tap an electronic shelf card, and go. Within 10 minutes, the money will be automatically transferred from their bank account.”


What's New in Payments

Apple Pay set to launch in Poland and the Netherlands?

Apple Pay may be coming to Poland and the Netherlands later this year — AppleInsider — “A tip and photos received by AppleInsider on Wednesday indicate that PKO Bank Polski is currently testing Apple Pay, and could offer support by the end of 2017… Several sources for Dutch site One More Thing have meanwhile claimed that ING will soon bring Apple Pay to the Netherlands, followed by a second bank, Bunq… One source suggested that Apple Pay will launch in the country on November 2.”