There is a fact worth confirming first. Mastercard stopped issuing new Maestro cards in Europe as of July 2023, and in Greece too, the transition to Debit Mastercard has continued as cards reach their renewal cycle. Card payments in Greece have grown substantially since the 2015 capital controls, but that growth has been absorbed by Visa and Mastercard debit cards and digital wallets, leaving Maestro as a method in decline.

It is therefore more reasonable to include Maestro in a card payment bundle as a supplementary acceptance method that reduces payment failures for remaining users who still hold unexpired cards, rather than adopting it as a standalone goal. Merchants with a significant share of Greek customers should first establish acceptance of Debit Mastercard and digital wallets, then consider Maestro as a supplementary addition.

This is a typical debit card flow: the consumer enters their card details, and approval follows Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) based on 3DS2. However, since the number of usable cards is decreasing due to the halt in new issuance, checkout pages generally accept Maestro as a sub-brand within card payments rather than presenting it as a separate option. Approved funds are received by Hecto Financial in euros (EUR).

When integrating with Hecto Financial, acceptance of Greek-issued Maestro cards can be reviewed on the basis of a Korean corporate entity, but given the brand's declining trend, it is recommended to consult on it together with alternative methods such as Debit Mastercard. Support conditions (settlement cycle, fees, currency options) vary by industry and transaction volume.

• Business registration country

  Confirm contract eligibility as a Korea-based business

• Sales channels

  The integration approach and priority vary depending on your mix of online sales channels, such as your own store, open marketplaces, and mobile apps

• Product categories

  Advance confirmation is needed as to whether your business falls under Maestro's restricted-industry merchant policies

• EU regulatory compliance

  Confirmation is needed on compliance with EU payment regulations such as PSD2 and SEPA (see official sources below)

After payment approval, Maestro proceeds received in euros (EUR) are converted by Hecto Financial and settled to the Korean merchant in whichever currency—USD, KRW, or JPY—was designated at contract. As a card-based method, a chargeback process exists, and refund and dispute resolution timelines follow both Mastercard's rules and the contract terms.

• Bank of GreeceOfficial information on Greece's payment system and related regulations. If this page's content differs from actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.