Payments & fintech
Part of the Banking, Finance & Insurance sector
Payments and fintech covers the infrastructure and licensed services that move money for businesses — card acceptance, online checkout, transfers and related technology. This hub explains the main service types and what to check when choosing a provider on Digibition.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Overview
Payments services let businesses accept and send money. They include card acquiring and point-of-sale terminals, online payment gateways and checkout, bank transfers and direct debits, e-money and digital wallets, and cross-border or multi-currency payments. Fintech refers more broadly to technology-led financial services, often delivered through APIs that connect to a business or a platform.
These services involve regulated activity. Depending on the country, providers may be licensed as payment institutions, e-money institutions or banks, and card processing is governed by scheme rules and the PCI DSS security standard for handling cardholder data. Who holds a licence, and who merely provides technology on top of a licensed partner, varies between providers.
On Digibition, payment providers, acquirers, gateways and fintech companies can publish verified profiles so business users can discover and compare them by specialization and country.
What to check when sourcing
When you choose a payments or fintech provider, start with its regulatory status: understand whether the provider is itself licensed (for example as a payment or e-money institution) or operates on top of a licensed partner, and under which authority. A verified directory profile helps you find providers; the licensing and settlement arrangements are what protect your money.
From there, compare the services and payment methods you need, the full pricing (transaction fees, fixed costs and any chargeback or settlement fees), settlement times, and the security and compliance posture — PCI DSS scope, fraud controls, data protection and reliability. For developer-led integrations, weigh API quality, documentation and support as well.
Use the directory to shortlist providers by specialization and country, then request written terms and compare pricing, settlement and security before deciding.
What to check when choosing a payments or fintech provider
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Regulatory status | Whether the provider is licensed itself or uses a licensed partner, and under which authority |
| Services & methods | The payment methods, currencies and channels your business needs |
| Pricing | Transaction fees, fixed costs and any chargeback or settlement charges, stated clearly |
| Settlement | How quickly funds are settled and how they are held in the meantime |
| Security & compliance | PCI DSS scope, fraud controls, data protection and uptime |
| Integration & support | API quality, documentation and the support available |
Frequently asked questions
- What are payment services?
- Payment services let businesses accept and send money — through card acquiring and terminals, online gateways and checkout, bank transfers and direct debits, e-money and wallets, and cross-border payments. Fintech more broadly means technology-led financial services, often delivered through APIs.
- Are payment providers regulated?
- Often yes. Depending on the country, providers may be licensed as payment institutions, e-money institutions or banks and supervised by a financial authority. Card processing is also governed by scheme rules and the PCI DSS standard. Some fintechs operate on top of a licensed partner rather than holding a licence themselves.
- What is PCI DSS?
- PCI DSS is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a set of requirements for securely handling, storing and transmitting cardholder data. Businesses that accept cards and the providers that process them are expected to meet the parts of the standard that apply to them.
- How do I find providers on Digibition?
- Use the directory to filter by this specialization and by country, then open each company profile to review its services and specializations. You can message providers directly or add several to a quote list and request terms from all of them at once. The directory does not rank or endorse providers.
- What should I check before integrating a provider?
- Confirm the regulatory and settlement arrangements, compare pricing and payment methods, and review the security and compliance posture, including PCI DSS scope. For integrations, assess API quality, documentation and support. This is general information, not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Important notice
This page is general industry information published by Digibition for educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, customs, regulatory, or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Standards, certifications, duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements differ between countries and markets and change over time; nothing here is guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. Verify any requirement independently with a qualified adviser and the relevant competent authority before you act. Digibition is an online company directory and digital-fair platform; it is not a party to any transaction between users and does not endorse, guarantee, or accept responsibility for any third-party company, product, claim, or certification. A company being reviewed or approved for listing refers only to Digibition's internal listing review and is not a warranty of that company's quality, legality, solvency, or performance. Any mention of specific standards or certifications is illustrative and is not an endorsement or a statement of compliance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Digibition accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this page; any reliance is at your own risk.