In the Netherlands, about 70% of e-commerce is paid via iDEAL, credit cards themselves are a secondary method, and there is almost no local issuance base for Discover cards. As a result, the real benefit of accepting Discover comes not from local consumers but from transactions with tourists, business travelers, and expatriates carrying cards issued abroad, such as in the United States. It is also worth noting that, thanks to network partnerships with Diners Club, UnionPay, BC Card, and others, the acceptance scope is broader than the brand printed on the front of the card suggests.

Korean merchants that actually receive payments from cards issued abroad — such as hotel and tour bookings serving visitors to Amsterdam, or global D2C brands with a high share of English-speaking customers — are candidates to consider. If the goal is revenue from local Dutch residents, putting iDEAL and buy-now-pay-later methods in place should take priority over Discover.

When a consumer enters their Discover or Diners card details, the payment is completed through the card network's approval process, and 3DS authentication under PSD2's SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) may apply to transactions within the EU. The approved amount is received by Hecto Financial in euros (EUR), converted, and settled to Korean merchants in the contracted currency among USD, KRW, and JPY.

Korean companies can consider accepting Discover-network cards through Hecto Financial without a local contract in the Netherlands. Since this is a method centered on foreign-issued cards, it is generally discussed as an option layered on top of acceptance of the major card networks (Visa, Mastercard).

• Business registration country

  Confirm whether contracting is possible on the basis of a Korean business entity

• Sales channel

  The integration method and priority differ depending on your online sales channel mix — own storefront, online marketplace, mobile app, etc.

• Product categories handled

  Confirm in advance whether your products fall under a restricted category per the Discover operator's merchant policy

• EU regulatory compliance

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

Euro (EUR) amounts approved via Discover cards are received by Hecto Financial and, after a conversion process, paid to Korean merchants in the currency set at the time of contracting among USD, KRW, and JPY. Because chargeback procedures under international card network rules apply, fraud screening for foreign card transactions should also be operated alongside settlement.

• De Nederlandsche Bank (Dutch central bank)Official information on the Netherlands' payment systems and supervisory regulations. If the content of this page differs from the actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.