As a merchant, you’re always looking for ways to reduce costs, streamline payments, and improve the customer experience. Traditional payment methods — like credit cards — come with high fees, slow processing times, and security risks. But what if you could eliminate the middlemen and accept payments directly from your customers’ bank accounts to yours? That’s exactly what Account-to-Account (A2A) payments offer. As of January 2024, at least one in seven UK customers have made a payment using open banking, and this is set to grow significantly over the next few years. Everywhere you look, merchants from Ryanair to JustEat are all starting to offer A2A payments.

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What are A2A Payments?

Too many middlemen in todays card process

Current card payment processes include multiple checks and approvals from various banks and card processers. A2A payments moves money directly from your customers bank account to yours — no middlemen, no unnecessary fees, no faff.

Instead of routing payments through card networks (Visa, Mastercard), A2A payments use Open Banking technology to allow real-time, direct bank transfers between accounts.

How does it work?

1. Customer selects "Pay by Bank" at checkout.
2. They authenticate the payment via their bank app (Face ID, fingerprint, etc.).
3. Funds move instantly from their account to yours.
4. No card fees. No chargebacks. Just instant money.

5 reasons UK Merchants are Switching to A2A Payments

‍Lower Transaction Costs

Card payments: Cost you anywhere from 1.5%-5% in transaction fees.‍

A2A payments: Cost as little as 0.5%.

More money in your pocket, less in the hands of card networks.

‍Instant Settlements (Because Cash Flow Matters)

‍Waiting days for card payments to settle? With A2A, payments arrive instantly. That means faster access to your money and better cash flow — perfect for SMEs managing tight margins.

Card Payments: “Your funds will be available in 3-5 working days.”A2A Payments: “Boom, it’s already in your account.”

‍No Chargebacks (Goodbye, Fraudsters!)

‍Card payments come with the nightmare of fraudulent chargebacks — where customers dispute transactions, and you lose revenue. Read more about how chargebacks are crippling merchant revenue here

With A2A payments:

• No chargebacks.
• Less fraud risk.
• More peace of mind.‍

‍ Frictionless Customer Experience

• No card details to enter.
• No CVVs to type in.
• No expired cards.

Just a seamless, one-click payment straight from your customer’s bank.

‍No More Expired or Declined Cards

‍Subscription services and recurring payments can suffer from failed transactions due to expired or cancelled cards. A2A payments eliminate this problem, ensuring uninterrupted service and reducing churn.

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Why Bank-Branded Payments with Quidkey = A Better Customer Experience

‍One of the key reasons merchants are choosing Quidkey’s A2A solution is because of the frictionless, bank-branded payment experience we provide. Here’s why it matters:

Built on Trust

‍When customers pay through Quidkey, they’re using their own trusted bank interface to approve the payment. There’s no need to share sensitive card details with third parties, which gives customers greater peace of mind.

‍Did you know? Studies show that customers are more likely to complete payments when they see a trusted bank brand during checkout, compared to entering credit card details on an unfamiliar page.

No Card Fatigue, No Expired Details

‍Unlike card payments, customers don’t have to worry about:

• Entering long card numbers.
• Typing in CVVs or expiry dates.
• Dealing with outdated or expired cards that cause payment failures.

With Quidkey, customers will authenticate through their bank’s app using biometrics (Face ID, fingerprint) or secure PIN verification. Payments are confirmed in seconds, reducing cart abandonment.

‍Simplicity

Quidkey allows for seamless payments directly from the customer’s bank. Once authenticated, customers can breeze through future checkouts without needing to re-enter any details.

Less hassle = fewer abandoned carts and more completed purchases.

Instant Confirmation = No Worries About Pending Payments

Ever had a customer panic when their payment didn’t seem to go through immediately? With instant bank transfers via Quidkey, both you and your customer get real-time payment confirmations. No awkward “Was my payment accepted?” follow-up emails.

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‍How Can Quidkey Support Your Business?

Quidkey doesn’t just offer A2A payments — we deliver a superior payment experience for your customers while boosting your bottom line.

Here’s how:

‍Simple Integration

Our payment solution integrates easily with e-commerce platforms, point-of-sale systems, and invoicing tools. Whether you’re using Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom-built platform, we’ve got you covered.

‍Save on Fees

With Quidkey’s low-cost model, you can reduce transaction fees by up to 60% compared to card payments.

‍No hidden fees or nasty surprises.

Real-Time Payments, 24/7. Enjoy instant or near-instant settlements any day of the week. No waiting for “banking hours” or 3-5 day processing windows.

‍Built-In Fraud Protection.

We help safeguard your business with bank-level security and fraud prevention measures. Forget chargebacks, thanks to our secure and verified Open Banking infrastructure.

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Why Wait? Make your Checkout Stronger Today

Final Thought: Still paying 2% or more in card fees and watching customers drop off during checkout?

Give your customers a smoother, safer, and faster payment experience. Let’s grow your business together — without the payment headaches.