Payments newsletter: Betaaljournaal 30

The year is flying by and we can end it, among other things, with a couple of informative cost reports: on the cost to counter operators of various payment methods, on the cost of an expected cash acceptance obligation and on the cost of lost sales for webshops that are not sufficiently accessible.

There are also new developments regarding the accessibility of digital banking and payments. The lessons for mobile banking of the DigiHandig practice app have been completed, we have published the results of the second pilot with banking information points in libraries and we have released a report on the optimal payment page for accessible web shops.

Last but not least, in early November we held our annual conference for members and stakeholders. In this newsletter, you can read how the topic, speakers and organisation made it another resounding success.

I wish everyone happy holidays and a vibrant New Year. See you all next year!

Gijs Boudewijn, managing director

• Price tag of €800 million for introduction of mandatory cash acceptance
• Well-received Annual Conference on European payments
• Results of second pilot with Bank Information Points
• Growing cost difference between debit card and cash at the counter
• Practising with your bank app in DigiHandig even better
• Paying without obstacles: focus on optimal payment page
• You do better business with an accessible web shop
• Euroforum congress on the future of payments with member discount
• Payments Association now also active on Bluesky
• About payments
• Also interesting
• Association news
• Agenda

Price tag of €800 million for introduction of mandatory cash acceptance

Legislation is being drafted in both the EU and the Netherlands requiring point-of-sale establishments to accept cash from customers and citizens who want to pay with it. Point-of-sale establishments that currently accept limited or no cash do so mainly for security reasons.

The social costs of introducing a statutory mandatory acceptance of cash at the counter amount to €800 million or more in the first year. After that, the annual additional costs amount to at least €60 million. The highest estimated costs for the (re)introduction of cash payments, come at frequently used public facilities: public transport, refuelling, charging, parking.

Well-received Annual Conference on European Payments

On 7 November, the annual conference of Payments Association Netherlands took place. Leading speakers from public and private sectors shared their views on the future of European payments. Short panel discussions and interviews alternated inspiring talks by Eric Ducoulombier (European Commission), Martina Weimert (EPI Company), Giorgio Andreoli (EPC) and Inge van Dijk (De Nederlandsche Bank), among others. The performance by Mrs Einstein, Holland’s hope at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997, the reflections by Atze Faas (Eurocommerce) and Olof King (Consumers’ Association) and the spontaneous closing by chairman Gottfried Leibbrandt made the congress a memorable event.

Outcomes of second pilot with Bank Information Points

The second pilot with Bank Information Points in libraries provided valuable insights. Although the number of visitors fell short of expectations, visitors greatly appreciated the help and information. The pilot will end at the end of the year but the cooperation between libraries and banks will continue. The banking sector will continue to support libraries to answer visitors’ questions about digital banking. You can read more about the outcomes and future plans at toegankelijkbankieren.nl.

Rising cost difference between debit card and cash at the counter

Between 2017 and 2023, the costs retailers incur for cash payments at the counter more than doubled, while costs for debit card payments remained unchanged low. Find more details and insights from our latest cost research in our press release.

Practice with your banking app even more in DigiHandig

For those who want to master mobile banking, DigiHandig now offers trial apps for ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank and SNS in addition to practice lessons. In this safe and anonymous environment, you can learn step by step and experiment freely with the trial app of your own bank. Read more about these new features at toegankelijkbankieren.nl.

Payment without obstacles: focus on optimal payment page

In the rapidly changing landscape of online shopping, a smooth ordering process is indispensable to turn viewers into buyers. Yet the payment page is often overlooked by online shops. Its importance increases as payment options become more complex. Both providers and consumers – digitally more and less skilled – demand clarity on what a well-designed payment page entails.

The Payments Association has conducted extensive research into this over the past year. The main findings have been brought together in an insightful report, with the full results of the consumer surveys as appendices.

You do better business with an accessible webshop

Shopping Tomorrow’s Digital Accessibility expert group presented the bluepaper ‘Why every webshop should be digitally accessible’. It contains concrete steps to improve the user experience and comply with the European Accessibility Act, applicable from June 2025. Many web shops are not yet ready for this, while good accessibility for customers with disabilities also ensures more and more loyal customers without disabilities.

Euroforum congress on the future of payments with member discount

The“Future of Payments” congress is an annual meeting place for all Payment Professionals in the Netherlands, with again this year an inspiring and interactive programme. Join 200 Payment Professionals on Thursday 27 March to discuss current topics and developments for the future, with themes such as:

• Innovation & technology
• Digital transformation
• Instant payments
• Fraud & payments
• Legislation such as PSD3, FIDA, NIS2

Members of Betaalvereniging Nederland receive a special member discount of 20%, on top of the early bird rate. The cost is therefore not € 950, but € 680 excluding VAT per person: Click here to register now.

Payments Association now also active on Bluesky

The Payments Association now has two accounts on messaging platform Bluesky, a widely used alternative to Twitter (also known as ‘X’):

For the Payments Association, our account name is @Payments Association
(https://bsky.app/profile/betaalvereniging.bsky.social)

For our vlogs and blogs on Geldland.nl, the account name is @Geldland
(https://bsky.app/profile/geldland.bsky.social)

Our accounts on Twitter will remain active for now.

About payments

Also interesting

Peanut pressure during the holidays: are shop cash registers prepared?

Vlog by Mientje | This is how I do my banking

Safe online shopping during shopping days

Why are banks switching to Google Pay?

Association news

We warmly welcome Pay.cetera as a new member of the Payments Association. At the same time, Travelex is bidding farewell to our association as of 31 December after many years of membership.

At the General Members’ Meeting on 7 November, Joyce van der Est (Volksbank) was enthusiastically reappointed as a board member for a second term. We look forward to her continued commitment to our association.

Agenda

• 12 December – Board meeting
• 21 January – Advisory Council
• 23 January – Payment Institutions Advisory Council
• 12 February – Board meeting
• 27 March – Future of payments, NH Amsterdam Barbizon Palace
• 15 May – Congress to mark the retirement of Gijs Boudewijn

Member Bulletin

In addition to this Payment Journal, the Payments Association also publishes Member Bulletins. In these, we inform members about practical matters of interest. The bulletins usually appear a few times a month and cover a specific topic. Are you a member but not yet receiving these bulletins? You can get yourself placed on the mailing list at secretariaat@betaalvereniging.nl.

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Also curious about the latest developments in payments? Stay informed via Betaaljournaal. You can register here.