Nikita Veremeev
26.07.2025 | 6 min read
Updated: 26.07.2025
Did you know that according to the European Banking Association, the volume of online payments in Europe exceeded 1.5 trillion euros in 2024, and the share of international acquiring for e-commerce grew by 17% over the year? Such growth is not just numbers. It’s a challenge for any online business striving to scale, work with customers worldwide, and meet strict security and compliance standards.
Why is connecting European acquiring becoming a strategic issue for companies from Europe, Asia, and the CIS? The answer is simple: without reliable internet acquiring in Europe, it’s impossible to ensure fast, secure, and transparent online payments for businesses, which means losing competitiveness in the global market.
But what lies behind this “acquiring” in practice? What risks, requirements, and nuances await entrepreneurs at every stage? I am Nikita Veremeev, founder of COREDO, and together with my team, we have helped dozens of clients navigate the journey from company registration to obtaining a license and connecting acquiring in the EU, UK, Singapore, and Dubai. In this article, I share practical strategies that truly work. Read to the end to get not only a clear guide but also an understanding of how to avoid key mistakes and choose the best solution for your business.
Basic Concepts and Participants of Acquiring in Europe
European acquiring is a complex online payments system involving:
- Acquiring bank: a financial institution that opens a merchant account for your business and provides transaction processing.
- Payment gateway: a technological platform integrated with a website or e-commerce platform, ensuring the transmission of payment data between the buyer, acquiring bank, and payment systems.
- Fintech providers and payment aggregators: modern alternatives to classic banks, offering flexible solutions for internet acquiring in Europe, including white label acquiring, escrow services, and multi-currency settlements.
For foreign companies and non-EU residents, choosing an acquiring bank and complying with PSD2, PCI DSS, and integrating modern customer authentication tools (3D Secure, two-factor authentication) are crucial.
How Internet Acquiring Works in Europe
The process of accepting online payments in Europe involves several technological and legal stages:
- The client makes a payment on the site, data is transmitted through the payment gateway where customer authentication occurs.
- The acquiring bank checks the transaction using anti-fraud systems, risk scoring, and PSD2 mechanisms.
- Once approved, the funds are credited to the merchant account, and then to the company’s settlement account in the EU.
Acquiring integration with the site is usually implemented via the provider’s API documentation, allowing for quick connection of recurring payments, automated reconciliation, and multi-currency operations. COREDO’s practice shows that SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and B2B services critically need providers with custom payment page options and SEPA payment support.
Requirements for Connecting Acquiring in Europe for Online Business
Documentation and Legal Requirements for Acquiring
Connecting acquiring in Europe requires preparing a package of documents, which may vary depending on jurisdiction and business type:
- Company registration in Europe: most acquiring banks require a local or European entity with a confirmed legal address.
- KYC/AML procedures: foundational documents, information about beneficiaries, business model description, source of funds confirmation (customer due diligence) are necessary.
- Merchant onboarding: banks and fintech providers conduct a thorough check of compliance officer, MCC (merchant category code), as well as evaluate risks according to the business model.
COREDO’s experience shows that for companies from the CIS and Asia aiming for e-commerce acquiring in the EU, it is crucial to prepare all documents in advance according to PSD2 and GDPR requirements to minimize rejection chances.
AML/KYC and Compliance: How to Adhere to EU Standards
Adhering to AML/KYC standards is a key factor for successfully connecting acquiring. European banks and fintech companies implement multi-level risk scoring, KYC automation, and require the implementation of a proprietary AML policy for online business.
- Compliance officer must be appointed for transaction monitoring, reporting, and interaction with regulators.
- Fraud prevention and anti-fraud systems: mandatory for all companies working with high-risk merchant accounts and cross-border payments.
- GDPR and personal data protection: integration with payment systems must comply with European standards for data storage and processing.
At COREDO, we develop individual AML policies and support clients at all merchant onboarding stages, which accelerates the process and reduces rejection risks from the acquiring bank.
How to Choose and Connect European Acquiring: Step-by-Step Guide
Criteria for Choosing an Acquiring Provider for Online Business
Choosing an acquiring provider is a strategic decision influencing conversion, security, and profitability of online business. Key considerations:
- Geography and support for foreign companies: not all banks provide acquiring for non-residents, especially startups and SaaS platforms.
- Multi-currency settlements and SEPA payments: crucial for international acquiring and cross-border payments.
- Commission fees and rolling reserve conditions: consider transaction fees, hidden charges, settlement delay, and minimum turnover requirements.
- High-risk merchant account: if the business is in a high-risk category, support for anti-fraud systems and extended risk scoring is necessary.
- White label solutions and custom payment pages: relevant for marketplaces, B2B, and B2C platforms.
# Comparison of European Acquiring Services
| Provider | Countries of Operation | Commission | Minimum Turnover | High-Risk Support | Multi-Currency | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank A | EU | 1.2% | €10,000 | Yes | Yes | Fast onboarding |
| Fintech B | EU, Asia | 1.5% | €0 | No | Yes | White label |
| Aggregator C | EU, CIS | 1.8% | €5,000 | Yes | No | Escrow |
The solution developed at COREDO allows selecting the optimal provider based on industry specifics, turnover, and client geography.
Step-by-Step Process for Connecting Acquiring
- Analyze business model and acquiring requirements: determine MCC, volumes, payment geography.
- Register a company and settlement account in the EU: COREDO’s practice confirms that having a European entity speeds up merchant onboarding.
- Collect and submit documents for KYC/AML: founding documents, address confirmation, AML process descriptions.
- Merchant onboarding journey: pass risk scoring, agree on limits, rolling reserve, and compliance officer configuration.
- Integrate acquiring API: connect to the website, ERP/CRM, set up recurring payments, and customize payment pages.
- Testing and launch: check anti-fraud systems, customer authentication, monitor initial transactions.
COREDO’s experience has shown that KYC automation and integration with payment aggregators reduce acquiring connection time for SaaS and e-commerce to 2-3 weeks.
Acquiring Integration with Website and E-Commerce Platform
Integrating acquiring with CMS and ERP/CRM requires not just technical expertise but also consideration of security requirements:
- Use provider’s API documentation for seamless integration.
- Implement 3D Secure, PCI DSS compliance, regularly update anti-fraud systems.
- Customize payment pages to fit the company’s brand, support recurring billing, and automate reconciliation.
The COREDO team has implemented acquiring integration projects with B2B platforms and marketplaces, where key requirements included support for escrow solutions, multi-currency settlements, and instant SEPA payments.
Fees, Risks, and Security of Internet Acquiring in Europe
Commission Structure and Hidden Fees
Acquiring fees in the EU consist of:
- Transaction fees (usually 1.2–2.5% depending on turnover and business type)
- Rolling reserve (reserving a portion of turnover for 3–6 months)
- Settlement delay (payout delay – 1–5 days)
- Hidden fees for chargebacks, multi-currency operations, API integration
How to reduce fees: COREDO’s practice – negotiations with providers, choosing fintech aggregators with a transparent fee structure, optimizing business processes to reduce chargebacks.
Risk Management, Chargeback, and Anti-Fraud
Chargeback risks are one of the main issues of international acquiring. Effective management includes:
- Implementing a chargeback management system and fraud prevention services
- Using 3D Secure, two-factor authentication, automatic risk scoring
- Training personnel on working with returns and payment disputes
Projects implemented by COREDO have shown that for high-risk merchant accounts, it’s critical to integrate automated transaction monitoring systems and regularly update the AML policy.
Security and Data Protection of Clients
Security of internet acquiring in Europe is built on:
- PCI DSS compliance, a mandatory standard for all payment process participants
- GDPR: strict requirements for processing and storing personal data of EU clients
- Customer authentication: implementing modern authentication methods and monitoring suspicious operations
COREDO’s recommendation: regularly audit the IT infrastructure, update security policies, and use certified payment gateways.
Specific Features of Acquiring for Different Business Models in the EU
Acquiring for B2B, B2C, SaaS, and Marketplaces
B2B and SaaS platforms have specific acquiring requirements:
- Support for recurring payments and billing automation
- Integration with ERP/CRM systems for reconciliation
- Escrow solutions for marketplaces, customization of payment scenarios
Marketplaces require multi-currency settlements, instant payouts, and escrow services to protect sellers and buyers.
Real COREDO cases: successful integration of white label acquiring for SaaS platforms with support for regular payments and automated risk scoring.
White Label Acquiring and Alternative Solutions
White label acquiring is a tool for companies wishing to control the payment infrastructure and create their fintech products. Alternatives to bank acquiring include:
- Payment aggregators with flexible integration
- Fintech providers working on a revenue-sharing model
- Solutions for high-risk merchant accounts with extended compliance support
COREDO’s practice: white label acquiring allows marketplaces and B2B services to quickly scale business, minimize settlement delay, and customize payment processes to their tasks.
Common Difficulties and Solutions When Connecting European Acquiring
Rejections in Opening Merchant Accounts: Reasons and Solutions
Common reasons for rejections:
- Non-compliance with KYC/AML requirements
- High chargeback level or negative transaction history
- Document errors or absence of a compliance officer
What to do: the solution developed at COREDO – preliminary document audit, preparation of an individual AML policy, selection of a provider tailored to MCC and business model specifics.
How to Accelerate Merchant Onboarding and Minimize Risks
The merchant onboarding journey can be accelerated by:
- Automating KYC/AML procedures
- Using customer due diligence services
- Preparing a complete set of documents before application submission
COREDO’s experience: implementing digital onboarding and integrating with fintech providers reduces the time to connect acquiring for online businesses to 7–10 days.
Key Takeaways and Practical Recommendations for Online Business
European acquiring is not just a tool for accepting online payments but a strategic asset for scaling business in the international market. Key recommendations:
- Select your provider carefully, considering fees, rolling reserve conditions, support for high-risk merchant accounts, and customization options.
- Prepare documents and AML policy in advance, considering PSD2, GDPR, and EU regulators’ requirements.
- Invest in security: PCI DSS compliance, modern anti-fraud systems, and customer authentication.
- Use white label solutions and fintech platforms for flexibility and scaling.
- Evaluate acquiring efficiency by KPIs: conversion, payout speed, chargeback level, transaction cost.
The COREDO team is ready to be your reliable partner at every stage, from company registration and licensing to acquiring connection and comprehensive business support in the EU, UK, Singapore, and Dubai.
If you’re looking not just for a provider but a strategic partner who understands the specifics of international acquiring and can offer tailored solutions: your next step is clear.