Introduction
EPSM is a European trade association representing payment service providers for merchants active in the SEPA region. Founded in 2005, it provides an interest-representation and information platform for organisations involved in merchant payment services, acquiring, payment networks, processing, terminals, and related payment infrastructure. EPSM represents more than 65 organisations headquartered in more than 15 countries.
What is EPSM and who does it represent
EPSM, the European Association of Payment Service Providers for Merchants, is a non-profit trade association for companies that provide payment services to merchants in Europe. Its members include payment network operators, acquirers, internet and mobile payment providers, processors, payment schemes, terminal manufacturers, and other merchant-facing payment service providers.
EPSM’s main role is to represent member interests and provide a platform for exchanging news, information, and views on the European payments market. It is not a regulator, scheme operator, or merchant association; it is an industry body focused on service providers that support merchant payments.
Mission and advocacy focus
EPSM’s mission is to represent European payment service providers for merchants and support the exchange of market, regulatory, and technical knowledge across the SEPA payments ecosystem. The association helps members follow developments in European payments regulation, business trends, payment technology, and merchant-facing payment services.
Its advocacy focuses on the practical operating environment for merchant payment providers. This includes regulation affecting acquiring, payment acceptance, card and non-card payments, security, payment infrastructure, processing, and European retail payments policy.
Policy domains
- Merchant payment services — Representation of providers serving merchants through acquiring, payment acceptance, payment processing, and related infrastructure.
- European payments regulation — Monitoring and advocacy on EU and SEPA-level rules affecting payment service providers for merchants.
- Acquiring and payment acceptance — Discussion of merchant acquiring, acceptance infrastructure, terminal services, ecommerce payments, and mobile payment acceptance.
- Security and operational resilience — Exchange of views on secure payment services, risk management, fraud prevention, and operational requirements.
- SEPA and cross-border payments — Engagement on payment developments affecting providers operating across the SEPA region.
Geographic scope and cross-border reach
EPSM operates across the SEPA region and represents organisations headquartered in multiple European countries. Its members are active in merchant-facing payment services, which often involve cross-border acquiring, processing, ecommerce payments, payment acceptance, and infrastructure connectivity.
EPSM does not provide payment licences, passporting services, acquiring sponsorship, or market-entry support directly. Its relevance is as an advocacy, networking, and information platform for organisations that provide commercially relevant payment services to merchants in Europe.
Why EPSM matters for payments operators
EPSM matters for PSPs, acquirers, processors, payment networks, terminal providers, and merchant payment technology companies because it focuses specifically on the merchant-facing side of the European payments market. For payment operators serving merchants, EPSM can provide a useful forum for regulatory updates, industry exchange, policy discussion, and practical insight into payment acceptance trends.
For acquirers and PSPs, EPSM’s work is relevant where regulation, payment security, processing rules, terminal infrastructure, ecommerce acceptance, and SEPA market developments affect merchant services. The association’s members can exchange views on business and regulatory issues that affect payment providers working directly or indirectly with merchants.
The teams most likely to follow EPSM outputs include policy, legal, compliance, acquiring, merchant services, product, operations, business development, and government affairs teams. EPSM’s value is less about direct regulatory power and more about sector representation, member meetings, market intelligence, and participation in European payment-policy discussions.
Who runs EPSM and who are the members
EPSM operates as a non-profit association with a board, advisory council, member meetings, and a secretariat. Its governance is member-based and focused on representing European payment service providers for merchants.
The association is not a broad fintech club or a general banking association. Its membership is centred on organisations with a direct or indirect business interest in providing commercially successful payment services to merchants in Europe.
Members and participant categories
EPSM represents more than 65 organisations headquartered in more than 15 countries. Its members include network operators, acquirers, internet and mobile payment providers, manufacturers, processing providers, and payment schemes.
| Category | Typical participants |
|---|---|
| Payment network operators | Organisations operating payment networks or merchant-facing payment infrastructure |
| Acquirers | Acquiring banks, merchant acquirers, and acquiring service providers |
| Internet and mobile payment providers | PSPs and payment firms supporting online, mobile, and digital merchant payments |
| Processing providers | Companies supporting transaction processing, authorisation, routing, clearing, or settlement services |
| Terminal and hardware providers | Manufacturers and technology providers supporting physical payment acceptance |
| Payment schemes | Card or payment schemes active in the European merchant payments ecosystem |
| Payment security and technology providers | Providers supporting fraud prevention, encryption, compliance, and payment security technology |
Working groups and meetings
EPSM provides members with regular opportunities to exchange information and coordinate on European payment-market developments. Its activities include physical and online member meetings, regulatory updates, newsletters, position papers, and participation in external policy discussions.
EPSM members can share views and contribute to position papers submitted to policymakers. The association also maintains partnerships and participates in selected external activities connected to European payments policy and merchant payment services.
What does EPSM publish and who does it influence
Policy and regulatory engagement
EPSM engages with European payment-market stakeholders and policymakers on issues affecting payment service providers for merchants. Its work includes position papers, regulatory input, member discussions, newsletters, and participation in external activities related to European payments.
EPSM’s influence is most relevant for organisations involved in merchant acquiring, payment acceptance, processing, payment networks, terminal infrastructure, ecommerce payments, and merchant-facing payment services. It is useful for tracking practical payment-market developments rather than for direct scheme participation or regulatory licensing.
Events and convenings
EPSM holds regular member meetings, including physical and online meetings, where members discuss payment-market developments, regulatory updates, business trends, and technical topics. Recent public EPSM updates refer to physical and online EPSM meetings rather than a single large public flagship conference.
Its convening value is mainly member-focused: networking, knowledge sharing, regulatory awareness, and coordination among merchant-facing payment service providers.
How to join EPSM
EPSM membership is intended for organisations with a direct or indirect business interest in providing payment services to merchants in Europe. Potential members are assessed against admission guidelines, and membership is subject to approval.
Who can join
Eligible organisations generally include payment service providers for merchants, payment network operators, acquirers, internet and mobile payment providers, processors, payment schemes, terminal providers, manufacturers, and related payment technology providers.
Membership is not simply open to every bank, fintech, merchant, or technology vendor. The strongest fit is for organisations that serve merchants through payment acceptance, acquiring, processing, payment infrastructure, or related merchant-payment services in Europe.
EPSM membership tiers and fees
EPSM publishes an annual membership fee of €1,600 per calendar year. For new members, the fee is calculated pro rata at €133.33 per month for each started month of membership. Membership is continuous and remains valid until cancelled according to EPSM’s rules.
What members commit to
Members are expected to participate in the association’s information exchange, meetings, policy discussions, and member activities. EPSM membership is designed for organisations that want to contribute to the collective voice of European payment service providers for merchants.
Applications may need endorsement and confirmation under EPSM’s admission process. Organisations should verify the current application rules, fee rules, and membership conditions directly through EPSM before applying.
FAQ
Is EPSM a regulator?
No. EPSM is a private-sector trade association, not a regulator. It does not supervise payment companies, issue licences, or create binding payment rules. Its role is to represent European payment service providers for merchants and provide a platform for market information, regulatory discussion, and member exchange.
Who can join EPSM?
EPSM membership is intended for organisations with a direct or indirect business interest in providing payment services to merchants in Europe. This can include acquirers, payment network operators, PSPs, internet and mobile payment providers, processors, terminal providers, payment schemes, manufacturers, and related merchant-payment technology providers.
How much does EPSM membership cost?
EPSM publishes an annual membership fee of €1,600 per calendar year. For new members, the fee is calculated pro rata at €133.33 per month for each started month of membership. Organisations should still confirm the current fee rules and application conditions directly with EPSM before applying.
How many members does EPSM have?
EPSM represents more than 65 organisations headquartered in more than 15 countries. Its members include payment network operators, acquirers, internet and mobile payment providers, manufacturers, processing providers, payment schemes, and other organisations involved in providing payment services to merchants in Europe.
Why does EPSM matter for PSPs and acquirers?
EPSM matters for PSPs and acquirers because it focuses on the merchant-facing side of European payments. Its meetings, policy input, newsletters, and member exchange can help payment operators track regulatory developments, payment acceptance trends, acquiring issues, processing topics, security requirements, and SEPA market developments.
Does EPSM operate outside Europe?
EPSM is focused on the SEPA region and the European payments market. Its members may include companies with international operations, but the association’s advocacy, information exchange, and policy engagement are centred on European merchant payment services and SEPA-related payment-market developments.
Comments