Biggest A2A payment brands in Europe in 2023, based on monthly transaction count
Monthly transactions performed with Poland's BLIK and iDEAL in the Netherlands were roughly on par with each other, despite the differences in population size. The two payment methods are regarded as Europe's main examples of A2A payments. Such payments are transactions made directly from one party (account) to another while bypassing traditional card rails. Some sources include traditional bank transfers, checks, or direct debits as examples of A2A, but most outlets associate A2A transactions with digital payment methods developed and moderated by local banks. Poland's central bank, for example, is the owner of BLIK whereas iDEAL was a collaborative project from the Netherlands' top banks.