France is an EU market subject to PSD2, so every bank provides open banking APIs, and the spread of SEPA Instant Credit Transfer is also speeding up settlement for A2A payments. Unlike markets such as the Netherlands, where A2A methods like iDEAL are the default, CB cards still dominate in France, so Pay by Bank remains a complement for now. Still, France participates in the Wero wallet from EPI, the European banking initiative, so the A2A trend itself is expanding.

A realistic use case is deploying it as an alternative route for high-value transactions where card fees are significant (electronics, travel, tickets), for digital services looking to reduce chargeback risk, or for payments that run into card limits. Given that it has not yet reached the stage of replacing cards for small everyday purchases, we recommend exposing it as an optional method rather than a default.

When a consumer selects their bank at checkout, they are redirected to their bank's app or online banking, complete SCA (Strong Customer Authentication), and approve the transfer; the merchant is notified of payment completion immediately upon approval. Because this is an account-to-account transfer that bypasses card networks, the fee structure and dispute process differ from cards, and variation in each bank's authentication screens can affect conversion rates.

Through Hecto Financial, merchants can look into open banking payment integration that includes coverage of French banks. Because its role differs from a standard bank transfer page based on manual transfers, it is efficient to work out which one fits based on transaction amount range and product category through consultation.

• Business registration country

  Confirm contract eligibility for merchants registered in Korea

• Sales channels

  The integration method and priority differ depending on your online sales channel mix, such as your own site, open marketplaces, and mobile apps

• Product categories

  Check in advance whether your business falls under a restricted category under Pay by Bank (Europe)'s merchant policy

• EU regulatory compliance

  Confirm compliance with EU payment regulations such as PSD2 and SEPA (see official sources below)

Funds transferred via A2A are received by Hecto Financial in euros (EUR), converted, and then settled to Korean merchants in whichever currency—USD, KRW, or JPY—was chosen in the contract. The settlement cycle follows the contract terms. Because refunds for transfer-based payments are processed as a reverse transfer, it is advisable to define the refund process and turnaround time in advance to prepare for French consumers' 14-day withdrawal right.

• Banque de France (French central bank)Official information on France's payment systems and related regulations. If this page's content differs from actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.
• Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR)The authority that licenses and supervises payment service providers. Useful for confirming payment service regulations in France.