If you're running a business in Europe, you're probably losing 2-3% on every single transaction to payment processing fees. For a business doing €100,000 in annual revenue, that's €2,000-€3,000 going straight to Stripe, PayPal, or your card processor. In this guide, we'll show you how to eliminate these fees entirely using bank transfers.
The Hidden Cost of Card Payments
Credit card processing fees typically range from 1.4% to 2.9% plus a fixed fee per transaction. For a €100 payment, you might pay €2.90 in fees. That adds up fast.
Here's what most businesses don't realize: these fees are negotiable, but there's an even better option — accepting bank transfers with zero processing fees.
SEPA: Europe's Fee-Killing Alternative
The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) covers 36 European countries and enables bank transfers at a fraction of the cost of card payments. While cards charge 2-3%, SEPA transfers typically cost just €0.20 per transaction — or with the right provider, nothing at all.
Key benefits of SEPA transfers:
• No percentage-based fees — pay flat rates or nothing
• Full amount credited — no deductions from payments
• Same-day processing — SEPA Instant available since January 2025
• Perfect for B2B — high-value transactions without high fees
2026 Regulatory Changes
The EU's Instant Payments Regulation now requires all banks to offer instant transfers. As of January 2026, both incoming and outgoing instant transfers must be available at the same price as regular transfers.
This means faster payments without premium fees — a game-changer for businesses waiting on cash flow.
How PayRequest Enables Zero-Fee Payments
PayRequest integrates with Ponto to offer bank transfer acceptance with 0% transaction fees. Here's how it works:
1. Connect your bank account via Ponto integration
2. Share payment links or invoices with customers
3. Customers pay via bank transfer (iDEAL, SEPA, Bancontact)
4. Payments are automatically matched to invoices
5. You keep 100% of what you charge
When to Use Bank Transfers vs Cards
Bank transfers work best for:
• B2B invoices and recurring payments
• High-value transactions (€500+)
• European customers familiar with iDEAL/SEPA
• Subscriptions and retainers
Cards still make sense for:
• Small consumer purchases
• International customers outside SEPA
• Impulse purchases where friction matters
Calculate Your Savings
Here's a quick calculation: If you process €50,000/year and switch just half to bank transfers, you'd save approximately €750-€1,500 annually in processing fees.
For businesses processing €200,000+, the savings become substantial — often €3,000-€6,000 per year that goes back into your business instead of to payment processors.
Getting Started
Ready to reduce your payment processing fees? PayRequest makes it easy to accept bank transfers alongside cards, giving your customers choice while you keep more of your revenue.
Start your free trial today and see how much you could save with zero-fee bank payments.