Accepting Payments from Your Customers with SCA (PSD2)

Take a look below to find the answers to our most frequently asked questions on the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) requirements for Strong Customer Authentication (SCA).

What is the PSD2?

The PSD2 is the European Commission's framework for electronic payments within the EU. The directive includes requirements for payment services in order to make electronic payments more secure than ever.

How does the PSD2 affect my business?

The requirements may affect any online entity processing payments where both the seller and the buyer's bank are located in the European Economic Area (EEA). According to the directive, online transactions must go through your customer's bank in order to fight fraud and reduce the amount of chargebacks you get as a merchant. 

This means that your customers might need to go through a quick verification process before they can complete their payment. 

You should be aware of this extra step as customers may ask you about it. Since the PSD2 applies to all payment services, they will become familiar with the verification process over time and feel more secure to purchase products/services from your site.

How does it look like to my customers?

The authentication process varies from one bank to another, and might involve different requirements depending on the specific bank. It is up to each bank to decide whether extra authentication is needed and what method to use. 

Generally, your customers should see an authentication page (created by their bank) after filling in their payment details. They must go through the process in order to complete the payment.

Do I need to do anything to comply with these regulations?

No, you don't. Wix did all the necessary work to ensure our users are in compliance.

What should I do if my customers are experiencing issues?

Advise them to contact their bank directly. The Strong Customer Authentication process is solely managed by the banks processing the transactions, which means they should be able to resolve any issue your customers might have. 

If you need more information on how SCA is implemented in your country, we recommend checking with your local regulator. Given the complexity of the requirements, and according to the opinion of the European Banking Authority (EBA), some EEA countries are allowed more time to implement Strong Customer Authentication.