Discover is a card network with virtually no local issuance in Finland. This guide covers the criteria for introduction from the perspective of a complementary tool for not missing payments from visitors and expatriates using internationally issued cards, such as those from the US.
Finnish consumers' cards are mainly Visa/Mastercard-affiliated debit and credit cards, and Discover (including the Diners Club network) has almost no local issuance in Europe. The benefit of accepting this network therefore comes not from Finns but from tourists, business travelers, and expatriates holding internationally issued cards from places like the US. For merchants that see a concentration of payments from international visitors, such as during Lapland's tourist season or international events, this can serve as a safeguard that reduces declined transactions.
This is suitable for travel and lodging businesses, services aimed at international users, and online stores with a high share of English-speaking customers to consider as a complementary tool, and it is not suitable as a primary method targeting local Finnish customers. For local customers, it makes sense to build out a combination of bank-link payments, cards, and mobile wallets first.
When the consumer enters their card details, the transaction goes through the Discover network's approval process, and since it is an online card transaction processed within the EU, 3DS authentication under PSD2's SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) may apply. The approved amount is collected by Hecto Financial in euros (EUR), converted, and settled to the Korean merchant in USD, KRW, or JPY as contracted.
By integrating through Hecto Financial, a Korean corporation can consider accepting card payments on this network generated in Finland without a separate acquiring contract with Discover. Support conditions vary depending on business category and transaction volume, so confirmation with the sales team is needed before contracting.
※ This section describes general support procedures and does not guarantee actual integration availability for any specific merchant. Please consult with us to confirm the exact scope of support and fees.
Confirm contract eligibility for Korea-based merchants
The integration method and priority vary depending on your online sales channel mix, such as owned storefronts, marketplaces, or mobile apps
Advance confirmation is needed as to whether your products fall under restricted categories per Discover's merchant policies
Confirmation is needed as to whether EU payment regulations such as PSD2 and SEPA are followed (see official sources below)
Amounts paid with a Discover card are collected by Hecto Financial in euros (EUR), converted, and settled to the Korean merchant in whichever of USD, KRW, or JPY was selected in the contract. Given the nature of card transactions, chargebacks can occur, and refund requests may also be filed under the 14-day withdrawal right for EU consumer transactions, so it is advisable to set up cancellation and refund processes in advance.
Hecto Financial's team will work with you to review the right combination of payment methods for the Finland market.
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