How to avoid hidden costs in CNP payments in Europe

Breaking Down the Card Payment Flow & Fee Structure 💳 Every card transaction passes through multiple key players — from the cardholder and merchant to issuers, acquirers, gateways, and card networks. Understanding how these entities interact gives real clarity on how payments move and why fees exist. 🔑 Key Participants: Issuer → The bank or fintech that issues cards to customers. Acquirer → The bank or payment processor that handles transactions for merchants. Card Network → The system connecting issuers and acquirers (e.g., #Verve, #Visa, #Mastercard). Payment Gateway → The technology layer that securely routes a merchant’s transaction to the acquirer. 💡 Payment Journey: 1️⃣ The customer initiates payment with their card. 2️⃣ The merchant sends the request through the gateway to the acquirer. 3️⃣ The acquirer routes it to the card network. 4️⃣ The card network checks with the issuer for authorization. 5️⃣ Once approved, the transaction is completed — authorization confirmed. 💰 Fee Breakdown Example (for a $200 transaction): Issuer charges interchange → $2 Card network deducts scheme fee → $1 Acquirer takes processing markup (Acquirer fee) → $0.60 ✅ Merchant finally receives $196.40, while $3.60 covers all network participants. Card payments may seem simple at checkout, but behind the scenes lies a sophisticated chain ensuring security, speed, and reliability. #DigitalPayments #CardBusiness #Fintech #Payments #CardOperations #PaymentProcessing

The future of payments is flexible, secure, and borderless. Old gateways are holding businesses back-are you ready to move forward? I have watched businesses lose sales at checkout because their payment system could not keep up. Some get stuck with chargebacks or blocked by geofencing. The cost is not just lost money-it is lost trust and growth. That is why Signature Payments’ partnership with InovioPay means so much to me. With this integration, you can: → Accept payments in almost any currency (no more turning away global buyers) → Process payments with strong protections: 3-D Secure, PCI, P2PE → Choose a simple hosted checkout or a white-label option to match your brand → Cut risk with smart fraud tools, blacklists, and better authorization I have seen merchants try to grow beyond borders, only to find their old gateway slowing them down. The world moves fast-your payment stack should not be the thing that holds you back. With Signature + InovioPay, you get: - More uptime (your shop is always open) - More approvals (fewer failed payments) - Fewer surprises at settlement (no hidden pain) This works for retail, SaaS, high-risk, and cross-border businesses. I believe payment should never be a bottleneck to your next market. Curious what this could unlock for you? → Explore our integration here: https://lnkd.in/ePhqtzcv #SignaturePayments #InovioPay #Gateway #GlobalPayments #Security #Ecommerce #RiskManagement

💳 Payment Gateways: The Invisible Engine Behind Every Online Transaction Every time you buy something online — a product, a service, or even a subscription — there’s an unsung hero working behind the scenes: the Payment Gateway. It’s the bridge that connects your business to the world, ensuring every payment is: ✅ Fast – real-time authorization & instant settlement ✅ Secure – PCI-DSS, 3DS2, and fraud protection ready ✅ Global – supports multiple currencies & payment modes ✅ Smart – AI-powered risk monitoring for safer transactions In today’s digital-first economy, a reliable payment gateway isn’t just a tool — it’s the foundation of business growth. Whether you run an eCommerce store, a gaming platform, or a high-risk business, your gateway defines how seamless and trustworthy your customer experience is. 💡 Choose innovation. Choose speed. Choose security. Because in the world of digital commerce, your payment gateway is your global handshake. 🌍 #PaymentGateway #DigitalPayments #Fintech #Ecommerce #BusinessGrowth #HighRiskMerchant #BoxCharge #Innovation #GlobalBusiness

💳 Merchants are caught in a payments “innovation divide.” A new 2025 survey from The Payments Association shows what many retailers already feel: fraud controls and complex payment rules are cutting into revenue — not just by stopping bad actors, but by blocking good customers too. The result? Rising costs, lower approval rates, and frustrated shoppers walking away at checkout. This is exactly where OpenPath helps. We recover failed transactions, reduce false declines, and turn those “lost” sales back into revenue — without adding friction for your customers. https://lnkd.in/gMQAuAs9 #ecommerce #payments #fintech #checkoutconversion #fraudprevention #revenuegrowth #digitalcommerce

CHANGE IN PAYMENTS IS ONLY GETTING STARTED With increasing payments options for consumers, the winner will be the option that gives minimum friction, maximum fraud protection and as close to universal acceptance as possible. The global payment landscape is evolving faster than ever but we’re still just scratching the surface. Digital payments have now become the default. From daily transactions to e-commerce, real-time payment systems are setting a new industry benchmark for speed, security, and convenience. Yet, cash and cards haven’t disappeared. They remain deeply rooted in customer behavior, especially in offline transactions. The transition toward fully digital ecosystems is uneven across markets, shaped by local infrastructure and user habits. At the same time, digital wallets are reshaping how consumers interact with money though the ecosystem remains fragmented. Each wallet operates differently, from credit card top-ups to direct bank linking, preventing full interoperability. Cross-border payments remain one of the biggest challenges. Despite advances in technology, a lack of standardized systems and global connectivity continues to slow down seamless international transfers. As payment networks move faster, real-time fraud detection becomes a non-negotiable. Security must now evolve at the same speed as innovation. Ultimately, transformation in payments isn’t just about technology it’s about people. Consumers expect frictionless, secure, and personalized experiences. Businesses that adapt to these expectations will define the next chapter of digital commerce. The change has only just begun and the most exciting part is still ahead. #Fintech #DigitalPayments #Innovation #Tingee #FinancialTechnology

Australians made $160 billion in mobile wallet payments last year - over 4 billion transactions (ABA, 2024). That’s 11x more than ATM withdrawals. But this isn’t just a trend - it’s a shift in how in-store commerce works. Here’s what’s really driving it: 1️⃣ Speed = Customer satisfaction A tap takes less than a second. Compare that with entering a PIN or handling cash. For busy retailers, those seconds per customer add up to shorter queues and higher throughput. 2️⃣ Security = Trust Mobile wallets use tokenisation - replacing your real card number with a unique digital token. Even if intercepted, it’s useless to fraudsters. For merchants, this reduces fraud risk and chargebacks. 3️⃣ Cashless environments = New expectations From stadiums to festivals, many venues are going completely cashless. Customers are adapting - and increasingly expect a “tap and go” experience everywhere. Contactless isn’t just a payment method. It’s becoming the foundation of in-store customer experience - shaping how merchants design checkout flows, manage queues, and even decide whether to accept cash.

Issuer vs. Acquirer – What’s the Difference? Every time you swipe, tap, or shop online with your Mastercard, two important players are working behind the scenes: ✅ Issuer – The bank that provides your card (like Siinqee Bank). It manages your account, approves transactions, and protects your funds. ✅ Acquirer – The bank that enables merchants to accept card payments. It provides POS machines, payment gateways, and ensures funds move safely from your account to the merchant. Together, issuers and acquirers make seamless and secure digital payments possible 🌍✨ #DigitalPayments #FinancialInclusion #Fintech #SiinqeeBank #Innovation

Checkout.com has just had its application accepted for a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank (MALPB) charter by Georgia regulators.  They’re now aiming to become the third payments firm 👇 (after Fiserv and Stripe) with this “payments-bank” capability. 👉 𝘈 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬 (𝘔𝘈𝘓𝘗𝘉) 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (https://dbf.georgia.gov/) 𝘪𝘯 2012. 𝘐𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵: 𝘢 𝘔𝘈𝘓𝘗𝘉 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴-𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 — 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬 (𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘴). 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: A MALPB charter lets Checkout.com bypass intermediary banks, directly underwrite merchants, and plug into Visa/Mastercard networks.  It gives them tighter control on risk, pricing, and integration which also accelerates product innovation. U.S. is already their fastest-growing region, and this move signals strong commitment. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁.𝗰𝗼𝗺 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀)  • Cost competitiveness: fewer middlemen, more margin flexibility  • Speed & agility: less dependency on partner bank integrations  • Stronger product control: ability to innovate in authorization and settlement flows directly  • They won’t exit partner bank relationships — they’ll still need them during and after charter build-out.   • Their goal is to have chartered services fully live in 2026. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺: Georgia is solidifying its role as a fintech hub for payments infrastructure. The state already hosts Fiserv’s and Stripe’s charters. For other payments firms watching, this isn’t just competition — it’s a playbook pivot. At the end of the day, this is a high-stakes bet: if it works, Checkout.com will have a fundamentally stronger footing in the U.S. payments value chain. Official announcement: https://lnkd.in/en7tcRAQ #Fintech #Payments #Banking #Regulation #Innovation

PayOS completes the first agentic payment transaction using Mastercard Agentic Token, enabling secure AI-driven commerce. "PayOS has been working closely with ecosystem players to get agentic commerce off the ground in the most meaningful and trusted way," said Johnathan M., Co-Founder and CEO of PayOS. Read the full news: https://lnkd.in/dbY58H3Y #PayOS #MastercardAgentPay #AgenticPayments #Tokenization #AIPayments #FinTech #TechIntelPro