iDEAL
iDEAL, operated by Currence iDEAL B.V. and owned by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), is the Netherlands' dominant online bank-to-bank payment scheme, processing over 1.3 billion transactions annually across 300,000+ merchants and 18 issuer banks, now transitioning into the pan-European Wero digital wallet launching from 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSycamore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What iDEAL does
iDEAL, operated by Currence iDEAL B.V. and founded in 2005, is the dominant online payment method in the Netherlands, enabling consumers to make direct, irrevocable bank-to-bank transfers from their existing bank accounts without separate registration. The platform processes over 1.3 billion transactions annually, accounts for approximately 73% of all Dutch online purchases, and handled 56.82 million transactions during Black Friday Week 2024 alone. Its core architecture consists of the iDEAL Hub (central technical infrastructure), the iDEAL Payment Page (bank selection interface), and a set of consumer-facing modules including iDEAL Profile (stored payment preferences), iDEAL Checkout (one-click checkout), and iDEAL QR (physical-environment QR-based payments).
iDEAL monetizes through two streams: per-transaction scheme fees (€0.0070–€0.0075) and routing fees (€0.0030–€0.0053) charged to licensed Acquirers, Issuers, and CPSPs, plus recurring and non-recurring license and certificate fees. Entry fees range from €5,000 (CPSP) to €90,000 (Issuer/Acquirer first registration) and annual fees from €800 to €13,250. Its ecosystem spans 18 licensed issuer banks (including ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, bunq, Revolut), 22+ acquirers (including Adyen, Mollie, Stripe), and 50+ CPSPs, serving over 300,000 merchants and millions of Dutch consumers.
In October 2023, iDEAL was acquired by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), a consortium of 16 major European banks, and is now transitioning into Wero, a pan-European digital wallet launching in phases from Q1 2026 with cross-border rollout to Belgium, Germany, and France, and full migration targeted by end of 2027. The product roadmap extends iDEAL from online Dutch payments into in-store, P2P, and subscription use cases across Europe, with the Wero platform under Dutch Central Bank (DNB) oversight. Go-to-market is API-first and distribution-led: merchants and consumers access iDEAL through bank apps and PSP integrations rather than direct consumer marketing.
iDEAL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- iDEAL
- Legal name
- Currence iDEAL B.V.
- Website
- https://ideal.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- iDEAL, operated by Currence iDEAL B.V. and owned by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), is the Netherlands' dominant online bank-to-bank payment scheme, processing over 1.3 billion transactions annually across 300,000+ merchants and 18 issuer banks, now transitioning into the pan-European Wero digital wallet launching from 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
iDEAL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Payment Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- A2A Checkout & Merchant Acceptance Solutions (FSAMAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- A2A Bill Pay & eInvoicing (Open Banking Enabled) (FSAMAFAL), Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB)
Keywords
Where iDEAL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sycamore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
iDEAL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction-based fees from PSPs: iDEAL charges transaction fees to Acquirers and Issuers for each payment processed. Scheme fees of €0.0070-€0.0075 per transaction plus routing fees of €0.0030-€0.0053. No fees are charged to consumers or merchants directly - fees are borne by PSPs under license/certificate agreements with Currence.
- License and Certificate Fees: Non-recurring entry fees for certification ranging from €5,000 to €90,000 depending on role (Issuer, Acquirer, CPSP) and registration number. Annual fixed fees ranging from €800 to €13,250. Re-certification fees of €2,500 when institutions fail to meet timelines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | Issuer/Acquirer License - First registration |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | CPSP Certificate Holder |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Annual | C2C Provider |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels4 records
iDEAL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
iDEAL operates an online bank-to-bank payment scheme enabling Dutch consumers to pay directly from their bank accounts via mobile banking apps or online banking for online purchases, bills, donations, and payment requests. The company charges transaction fees and licensing fees to Acquirers, Issuers, and CPSPs while providing consumers with a guaranteed irrevocable IBAN-to-IBAN transfer method that processes over 1.3 billion transactions annually. iDEAL also offers add-on products (iDEAL Checkout, iDEAL Profile, iDEAL QR, iDEAL Payment Link) and is transitioning to the Wero European digital wallet.
Product overview
iDEAL is the dominant Dutch online payment platform, operating as a direct bank-transfer system that processes irrevocable IBAN-to-IBAN payments via mobile and online banking. The core iDEAL product is supplemented by several add-on modules: iDEAL Checkout (one-click fast checkout using stored profiles), iDEAL Profile (consumer payment/delivery preference storage via bank apps), iDEAL QR (QR code-based payments for physical environments), and iDEAL Payment Link (payment requests via email, SMS, and WhatsApp). The company is transitioning to Wero, a European digital wallet launching in phases from Q1 2026, backed by ABN AMRO, ING, and Rabobank. During the transition period the co-brand 'iDEAL | Wero' is used. iDEAL | Wero is owned by Currence iDEAL B.V. and is certified under PSDII and GDPR compliance frameworks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 73% of all Dutch online purchases
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use iDEAL
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
iDEAL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
iDEAL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- ABN AMROcoreABN AMRO is one of the three Dutch banks backing Wero transition. Provides issuer services for iDEAL | Wero payments and pilot partner for iDEAL profile functionality.
- INGcoreING is one of the three Dutch banks backing Wero transition. First bank to offer iDEAL profile creation to customers (from April 17, 2024).
- RabobankcoreRabobank is one of the three Dutch banks backing Wero transition. Pilot partner for iDEAL profile launch with Rabo-Labs community.
- European Payments Initiative (EPI)flagshipEPI successfully completed acquisition of iDEAL and Payconiq International in October 2023. iDEAL serves as the foundation for Wero, the new European digital wallet. EPI aims to create a unified payment solution across all European countries.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
iDEAL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trustly: Trustly is a European account-to-account (A2A) open banking payment network operating across multiple countries, enabling direct bank-to-bank transfers for online merchants. It is the closest direct competitor to iDEAL in the A2A / open banking checkout space, though operating across multiple European markets rather than concentrated in a single country.
- SOFORT (Klarna): SOFORT, now owned by Klarna, was a direct A2A bank-transfer payment method widely used in Germany, Austria, and other European markets. It competes head-to-head with iDEAL as an alternative A2A payment rail for European e-commerce.
- Bancontact Payconiq Company: Bancontact is the dominant Belgian debit-based online and in-store payment scheme, comparable in structural role to iDEAL in the Netherlands — a national payment standard with deep bank integration. Payconiq was acquired alongside iDEAL by EPI, making them sister schemes within the same pan-European initiative.
- Mollie: Mollie is a Dutch payment service provider offering iDEAL alongside other payment methods to European merchants. As a CPSP and acquirer for iDEAL, it is both a partner and a competitor at the merchant-services layer, with strong overlap in target customer base (Dutch and European SMBs).
Regional players
- TWINT: TWINT is the dominant mobile payment app and scheme in Switzerland, enabling direct bank-account payments for consumers — structurally analogous to iDEAL but operating in a different national market. It is a relevant comparable for iDEAL | Wero's mobile-first payment ambitions.
- Vipps: Vipps is Norway's leading mobile payment app, deeply integrated with Norwegian banks and used for both online and in-person payments. It serves as a regional comparable to iDEAL | Wero's model of a national, bank-anchored payment scheme and is part of the broader Nordic mobile-payment ecosystem.
- MobilePay: MobilePay is a leading mobile payment app across Denmark, Finland, and Norway, enabling bank-account-based payments between consumers and merchants. It is comparable to iDEAL in being a national/regional payment scheme with strong bank distribution, and a potential model for Wero's pan-European wallet ambition.
Broad incumbents
- Adyen: Adyen is a Dutch-headquartered global payment processor that operates as an acquirer integrating iDEAL alongside many other payment methods. It is a broader incumbent in the Dutch and European payments ecosystem — both a partner and indirect competitor to iDEAL's scheme at the merchant acceptance layer.
- PayPal: PayPal is a global digital wallet and online payment network that competes with iDEAL | Wero for online checkout share in Europe, including in the Netherlands where it operates as a CPSP for iDEAL. Its global wallet footprint and brand recognition make it the primary competitive benchmark for Wero's pan-European ambitions.
Emerging players
- Klarna: Klarna is a leading European BNPL and payments provider that absorbed SOFORT and competes directly with the now-discontinued iDEAL in3 product. It is highly relevant as a competitor in the European installment-financing category that Wero has chosen not to support in its initial phase.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
iDEAL social profiles
Digital presenceiDEAL compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
iDEAL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
iDEAL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
iDEAL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
iDEAL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about iDEAL
What does iDEAL do?
iDEAL operates an online bank-to-bank payment scheme enabling Dutch consumers to pay directly from their bank accounts via mobile banking apps or online banking for online purchases, bills, donations, and payment requests. The company charges transaction fees and licensing fees to Acquirers, Issuers, and CPSPs while providing consumers with a guaranteed irrevocable IBAN-to-IBAN transfer method that processes over 1.3 billion transactions annually. iDEAL also offers add-on products (iDEAL Checkout, iDEAL Profile, iDEAL QR, iDEAL Payment Link) and is transitioning to the Wero European digital wallet.
Is iDEAL a public or private company?
iDEAL is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was iDEAL founded?
iDEAL was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is iDEAL based?
iDEAL is headquartered in Sycamore, United States, in the North America region.
How does iDEAL make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Transaction-based fees from PSPs are the primary driver. The others are license and Certificate Fees.
Who are iDEAL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trustly, SOFORT (Klarna), Bancontact Payconiq Company and Mollie. Regional players are TWINT, Vipps and MobilePay. Broad incumbents are Adyen and PayPal. Klarna is listed as an emerging player.
Does iDEAL have an API?
Yes. iDEAL offers API Specifications to Licensees for a non-recurring fee of €1,000 for the first calendar year (exclusive of VAT). The source indicates this is a partner-facing specification made available under license. Additionally, a login API endpoint is referenced at https://profile.ideal.nl/public/api/v1/auth/management. No public developer portal, REST/GraphQL specification, or SDK details are described in the available sources.
What industry is iDEAL in?
iDEAL's product category is Online Payment Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAFAF, A2A Checkout & Merchant Acceptance Solutions, with a secondary code of FSAMAFAL, A2A Bill Pay & eInvoicing (Open Banking Enabled). Its NAICS code is 522320.