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European Payments Initiative (EPI) overview graphic

Payment System Institutions

What is EPI (European Payments Initiative)?

The European Payments Initiative (EPI), formerly known as PEPSI, is an ECB-backed payment integration initiative aiming to build a pan-European payment system and interbank network to rival Mastercard and Visa. Its founding members include BBVA, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, Commerzbank and others.

Diagram illustrating the NextGenPSD2 framework for open banking APIs

Open Banking

What Is NextGenPSD2?

NextGenPSD2 is the set of API standards launched by the Berlin Group in 2017, now involving more than 1,700 banks from 20 countries. This post explains what the framework offers to banks, fintechs and third-party providers under PSD2.

Illustration showing how an Application Identifier (AID) is used in a chip card transaction

EMV

What is an Application Identifier (AID)?

The AID tells the terminal which applications are present on a chip during a POS or ATM transaction. What does the AID do? It lets the terminal determine whether it supports an application on the chip. In Tag 9F06, it is 5-16 digits long.

Diagram illustrating the Store and Forward (SAF) offline transaction process

Payment Systems

What is Store and Forward (SAF)?

Store and Forward (SAF) describes offline transaction processing. It was originally developed when modems were introduced and connections were not always stable, letting terminals store transactions and forward them once connectivity is restored.

Contactless card payment at a POS terminal, illustrating the increased PIN-free transaction limit of 2,500 TL

Payment Systems

PIN-Free Contactless Payment Limit Rises to 2,500 TL

An official BRSA letter to banks announced an update to the PIN-free contactless payment limit. From January 15, 2026, contactless payments of up to 2,500 TL can be made without entering a PIN, up from the current 1,500 TL.

Fintech companies combining finance and technology

Payment Systems

What is Fintech?

Fintech, short for financial technologies, is a term for companies that bring together finance and technology to provide easy and fast financial services, growing rapidly worldwide.

Illustration representing open banking and banking as a service with digital banking and API connection icons

Open Banking

What are the differences between Banking as a Service and Open Banking?

First, it is useful to briefly recall the concepts of Banking as a Service and Open Banking. Banking as a Service (BaaS) lets interface developers connect directly to service banks' systems via APIs and open banking services to run banking transactions for customers...