NexEuro vs bank card
Direct account-to-account payment against the card model.
The bank card runs over the Visa and Mastercard networks: authorisation is immediate for the cardholder, but the merchant is settled on a deferred basis and bears an interchange fee. NexEuro works differently: the payment is an instant account-to-account transfer, with no card acceptance network or terminal.
| Criterion | NexEuro | Bank card |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Settlement in under 10 s, account to account | Immediate authorisation, merchant settlement on D+1 / D+2 |
| Availability | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Details required | Phone number | 16-digit number, expiry date, security code |
| Confirmation | Explicit biometric confirmation before sending | 3-D Secure depending on the merchant |
| Usage area | SEPA zone (36 countries) | Worldwide (Visa / Mastercard networks) |
| Use cases | Account to account, between friends, collection without a terminal | In-store purchases, e-commerce, international |
| Cost | Free between individuals, no interchange | Interchange + acquirer fee on the merchant side |
Comparison based on standard documented conditions (SEPA Instant, card schemes, EU regulation 2024/886 on instant credit transfers). Exact pricing depends on the bank, the country and the plan: refer to the official pricing pages.
Key takeaways
No interchange
The payment goes directly from account to account: the merchant has no card-network commission to bear.
No terminal
A QR code is enough to take payment — no card terminal to rent, no card-processing contract.
The card stays global
Outside the SEPA zone, the card keeps the advantage of universal acceptance.
Verdict
In Europe and for account-to-account, NexEuro removes the friction and cost of the card model. The bank card remains essential for international use and universal acceptance.