Maestro is Mastercard's debit brand, but it is a phasing-out method whose new issuance in Europe stopped in July 2023. This guide covers the facts you need when considering it as a complementary method for customers in Belgium who still hold valid existing cards.
There is a fact you should know before deciding on adoption. Mastercard stopped issuing new Maestro cards in Europe starting July 2023, and existing cards are being replaced with Debit Mastercard as they expire. In Belgium, Bancontact debit cards have long been issued as co-badged cards with Maestro to complement overseas and online payments, so it remains a market where Maestro-badged cards with remaining validity are still in circulation.
Accordingly, it is reasonable to consider Maestro not as the core of a new payment strategy but only as a complementary method to avoid losing customers who still use existing cards. Since the mainstay of payments in Belgium is Bancontact card and its app-based path, Maestro acceptance is typically added as a secondary option alongside a card payment contract.
Maestro uses an account-balance-based debit approval method and goes through 3DS2-based SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) for online payments. However, since it is a phasing-out method with new issuance stopped, actual traffic only comes from existing cards with remaining validity. Hecto Financial receives the euro proceeds of approved transactions, and when designing new integrations, it is reasonable to configure this alongside the Debit Mastercard and Bancontact processing paths.
Integrating through Hecto Financial lets a Korean corporation consider accepting existing Maestro cards without a separate local contract in Belgium. However, since it is a phasing-out method, it is typically configured as a secondary option to a card payment contract rather than as a standalone contract, and actual coverage and terms should be confirmed through consultation.
※ This section describes general support procedures and does not guarantee actual integration eligibility for any specific merchant. Please confirm exact coverage and fees through consultation.
Confirm whether a contract is possible on the basis of a Korean business entity
The integration method and priority differ depending on your online sales channel mix, such as your own mall, open marketplaces, or mobile apps
Advance confirmation is needed as to whether your category falls under restricted industries per the Maestro operator's merchant policy
Confirm compliance with EU payment regulations such as PSD2 and SEPA (see official sources below)
The euro (EUR) proceeds of approved Maestro transactions are received by Hecto Financial and, after conversion, settled to the Korean merchant in USD, KRW, or JPY as specified in the contract (cycle per contract terms). Refunds are processed as original-transaction cancellations or refund transactions, and card network chargeback rules apply. Since refunds under EU consumer protection rules, such as the 14-day withdrawal right, can create processing issues for customers whose card validity is close to expiring, it is advisable to also establish an alternative refund method policy.
Hecto Financial's team will work with you to review a payment method mix suited to the Belgian market.
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