As online payments continue to evolve, platforms are increasingly operating at the intersection of technology, regulation and user experience. For payment service providers, this means navigating growing complexity, while still delivering simplicity and reliability to merchants and end users.
In this interview, Maurice Jongmans, CEO of Online Payment Platform (OPP), shares his perspectives on the shifting payment landscape, the rise of Pay by Bank as a European alternative, and the role of strategic partnerships in enabling scalable and compliant innovation. He also reflects on OPP’s long-standing collaboration with IBANXS, and how connectivity and compliance form the foundation for futureproof payment solutions.
1. How does Online Payment Platform fit within the payment landscape?
At Online Payment Platform (OPP), we enable simple, inclusive and reliable payment solutions for complex platform models. Think of marketplaces, franchise organizations and software vendors that want to offer their users – sub-merchants – an integrated payment experience. We operate in a highly regulated environment, where innovation is only sustainable if it goes hand in hand with compliance. This requires us – and me in particular, as CEO – to act as a clear link between the market, technology and regulation.
For me, diversity and inclusion are not marketing terms but fundamental principles. Financial services should be accessible to – and work for – everyone, regardless of scale, background or business model.
2. Which developments in online payments currently have the greatest impact on merchants?
The biggest shift we are seeing right now is the transition from iDEAL to new European payment initiatives. iDEAL as a product is being phased out, and its successor, Wero, is structured in a fundamentally different way. This requires adaptability from merchants, while what they are really looking for is stability and simplicity.
In addition, platform-specific complexity is increasing rapidly. Merchants are increasingly operating within ecosystems involving multiple parties, money flows and responsibilities. This calls for payment solutions that absorb that complexity without negatively impacting conversion, costs or compliance. As a result, Pay by Bank is becoming increasingly relevant as an alternative.
3. You work closely with IBANXS. How did this collaboration come about, and what does IBANXS add to your platform?
We have been working with IBANXS for a long time and were one of their first clients, because I believed in Pay by Bank as a European payment concept from the very beginning. OPP was also the first party in the Netherlands to obtain a Pay by Bank license (Payment Initiation Services under PSD2), and we facilitated the very first Pay by Bank transaction in the country.
We explicitly position IBANXS as a strategic partner for connectivity. Providing the technical connection to virtually all European banks, they form a crucial infrastructure layer within our platform.
4. How does your partnership with IBANXS help you innovate faster while remaining compliant?
In Europe, regulation is not a side issue; compliance is a fundamental prerequisite. Because IBANXS absorbs the complexity of bank connectivity, we can focus on innovation on the platform side without making compromises on compliance. In other words, this partnership enables us to roll out new payment functionality in a controlled and responsible manner.
5. What is the impact of this collaboration on the customer experience of day-to-day payment processes?
For most customers, the transition from iDEAL to Wero will not feel simple or natural. In contrast, Pay by Bank via OPP means that merchants and platforms do not have to deal with individual bank connections or national differences.
Thanks to this collaboration, we offer a familiar user experience and low costs combined with broad European coverage.
6. Looking ahead, what role do you see for online payment platforms and partners such as IBANXS in the coming years?
I see a clear European movement towards autonomy and collaboration. Online payment platforms will become the backbone of the platform economy. They connect regulation, technology and user experience into one integrated whole.
We explicitly position OPP as a solution for platforms, marketplaces, franchise organizations and software vendors that want to offer their users a seamless payment experience. Partners such as IBANXS are essential in making that possible.
Curious how IBANXS helps platforms scale Pay by Bank across Europe — while staying compliant by design?
Get in touch with us and discover how our connectivity layer enables payment providers to simplify complexity and build future-proof Pay by Bank solutions