EPCS is authorized to issue e-money products and provide payment services in the European Economic Area, which includes European Union member countries plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. With the target to make cross-border payments easy, efficient and secure, the European payment services regulations seek to improve competition by opening payment markets to new entrants, thus fostering greater efficiency and cost-reduction. This authorization to provide payment services will allow Euronet to provide acquiring services in 29 European countries, including Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; UK.
Since gaining membership with the major card schemes, Euronet has initiated certification projects in five European countries, which will make Euronet one of the few non-financial institutions with the ability to directly acquire transactions on independently deployed ATMs. In the future, EPCS will extend the membership with the major card schemes to other European Union countries and build direct connections with other large card schemes.
âThe significance of this development is monumental as it reflects a paradigm shift in our business. Previously, anytime we deployed ATMs in new markets we had to engage in lengthy negotiations to secure a sponsor bank. Now, with an acquiring license and direct card scheme membership, an acquiring sponsor bank is no longer required, allowing Euronet to directly acquire transactions on our independently deployed ATM networks and settle directly with the card schemes,â stated Nikos Fountas, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Euronetâs Europe EFT Division. âMoreover, this license enables us to expedite time-to-market entry, increases our flexibility in product development and creates the opportunity to expand cross-selling synergies between our different segments,â added Mr. Fountas.
Under the newly granted license, Euronet, a leading European payment processing and services provider and the largest Independent ATM Deployer (IAD) in Central and Eastern Europe, is able to expand its presence through the offering of ATM and POS merchant acquiring throughout Europe. This will allow Euronet to operate in new and existing European markets without further constraints from additional licensing or sponsor bank requirements.