It is safe to say that Europe is one of the most mature regions in the e-commerce market. The euro is used as the national currency in 19 of the 28 EU member states, and SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) has become the pan-European method for transferring funds.
While debit and credit cards are the preferred payment method in most European countries, the EU market continues to be very diverse in terms of local, alternative payment methods (payment systems): ELV, Sofort and GiroPay in Germany, iDEAL in the Benelux and etc. Payment methods in various parts of the region constitute a complex set of payment methods that are worth exploring before a business actively enters a new region.
