An open market for payment services may soon start operating in Ukraine

19/ 02/ 2021

Listen to online Stop   Today the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading the draft Law of Ukraine № 4364 “On Payment Services” as a basis. The European Business Association has repeatedly stressed the expediency of adopting this draft law as soon as possible and introducing an open market for payment services. In this context, European regulation implies opening the market of payment services for new players, namely flexible and technological service companies, whose activities are not burdened by full banking regulation but will remain in the regulatory and supervisory field of the NBU. With the introduction of open market standards, two new categories of regulated institutions will appear in the payment services system: Companies that, with customer consent, initiate payments directly from customer accounts in banks. Companies that have access to bank customer data (with customer consent) and provide information and analytical services on their transactions and accounts, in the so-called single window, for example, mobile application. In short, it will be possible to concentrate the services of all banks in a single product. The Open Market system envisages that banks will provide these companies with access to customer data through open APIs (codes, IP addresses, etc.). Thus, it is expected that competition between banks will be transformed into a direct competition between products, and banks and special providers will fight for the customers attention and the right to provide information and analytical services. The Ukrainian banking system is capable of rapid adaptation. However, it is mandatory to comply with the so-called transition period to ensure a smooth transition to new open standards for all participants in the payment services market. EBA experts took an active part in the development of the Draft Law № 4364 and coordination of respective comments with the authors. The EBA member companies are grateful to the VRU Committee for a detailed discussion of the proposals and support of the main part of the comments of business representatives. We believe that the practice of open dialogue with the business community will be continued during the preparation of the Draft Law for adoption in the second reading. We hope that the open market of payment services will work effectively. For reference: The Verkhovna Rada Committee stated that the adoption of the draft law will enable: 1) to define the general principles of functioning of payment systems in Ukraine, to establish the rules for the provision of payment services and the principles of state regulation of the payment market; 2) to adapt the legislation of Ukraine to the EU legislation and to form a legal basis for the integration of the payment system of Ukraine with the EU payment system; 3) to strengthen the protection of the rights of payment services users, ensuring: - transparency of payment services and completeness of information on the conditions of their provision; - clear division of rights and responsibilities of users and payment service providers; - setting requirements for risk management of payment service providers and user authentication.   Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.   Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.

Today the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading the draft Law of Ukraine № 4364 “On Payment Services” as a basis.

The European Business Association has repeatedly stressed the expediency of adopting this draft law as soon as possible and introducing an open market for payment services.

In this context, European regulation implies opening the market of payment services for new players, namely flexible and technological service companies, whose activities are not burdened by full banking regulation but will remain in the regulatory and supervisory field of the NBU.

With the introduction of open market standards, two new categories of regulated institutions will appear in the payment services system:

1. Companies that, with customer consent, initiate payments directly from customer accounts in banks.
2. Companies that have access to bank customer data (with customer consent) and provide information and analytical services on their transactions and accounts, in the so-called “single window”, for example, mobile application. In short, it will be possible to concentrate the services of all banks in a single product.

The Open Market system envisages that banks will provide these companies with access to customer data through open APIs (codes, IP addresses, etc.).

Thus, it is expected that competition between banks will be transformed into a direct competition between products, and banks and special providers will fight for the customer’s attention and the right to provide information and analytical services.

The Ukrainian banking system is capable of rapid adaptation. However, it is mandatory to comply with the so-called transition period to ensure a smooth transition to new open standards for all participants in the payment services market.

EBA experts took an active part in the development of the Draft Law № 4364 and coordination of respective comments with the authors. The EBA member companies are grateful to the VRU Committee for a detailed discussion of the proposals and support of the main part of the comments of business representatives. We believe that the practice of open dialogue with the business community will be continued during the preparation of the Draft Law for adoption in the second reading.

We hope that the open market of payment services will work effectively.

For reference:

The Verkhovna Rada Committee stated that the adoption of the draft law will enable:

1) to define the general principles of functioning of payment systems in Ukraine, to establish the rules for the provision of payment services and the principles of state regulation of the payment market;

2) to adapt the legislation of Ukraine to the EU legislation and to form a legal basis for the integration of the payment system of Ukraine with the EU payment system;

3) to strengthen the protection of the rights of payment services users, ensuring:

– transparency of payment services and completeness of information on the conditions of their provision;

– clear division of rights and responsibilities of users and payment service providers;

– setting requirements for risk management of payment service providers and user authentication.

Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.

Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.