Maestro is a Mastercard-affiliated debit brand that has long been carried on Austrian bank debit cards (Bankomatkarte), but new issuance across Europe stopped in July 2023 and the market is transitioning to Debit Mastercard. This page covers the adoption decision from the complementary angle of supporting existing cardholders.
Before making an adoption decision, it's important to understand that Maestro is a brand in decline. Mastercard stopped issuing new Maestro cards in Europe after July 2023, and Austrian banks are replacing them with Debit Mastercard upon reissuance or renewal. Bank debit cards remain central to everyday payments in Austria, so Maestro cards with remaining validity are still in circulation, but that share shrinks every year.
It therefore makes more sense to treat Maestro not as a standalone target but as a complementary method that prevents payment failures for existing Maestro holders, while building out standard card acceptance for Debit Mastercard, Visa Debit, and similar brands. Keep in mind that once the transition period ends, the need for separate support may disappear entirely, and factor that into your investment decision.
Maestro online payments are authorized after entering card details, just like standard cards, and because these are EEA-issued cards, 3-D Secure authentication (such as bank app confirmation) is typically required under PSD2's Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) rules. Hecto Financial receives and converts the approved euro (EUR) proceeds, then settles them to the merchant in Korea in the contracted currency — USD, KRW, or JPY.
Because Maestro is a brand in decline, availability and terms can vary depending on when you integrate. We recommend requesting a quote from Hecto Financial that covers your full card acceptance setup, including successor brands such as Debit Mastercard.
※ This section describes the general support process and does not guarantee that integration will be available for a specific merchant. Please confirm the exact scope of support and fees through consultation.
Confirm contract eligibility for merchants based in Korea
Integration method and priority vary depending on your mix of online sales channels — owned storefront, marketplaces, mobile apps, etc.
Check in advance whether your category falls under Maestro's restricted merchant categories
Confirm compliance with EU payment regulations such as PSD2 and SEPA (see official sources below)
As a card scheme, Maestro follows standard refund procedures such as authorization voids and partial refunds, and chargeback rules apply in the event of disputes. Proceeds are received in EUR, converted, and settled in Korea in the selected currency — USD, KRW, or JPY. Make sure your operating policy accounts for card refund processing deadlines to handle returns from Austrian consumers, including the EU's 14-day withdrawal right.
Hecto Financial's team will work with you to review the right combination of payment methods for the Austrian market.
Contact us