Introduction
European Payment Institutions Federation (EPIF) is a European trade association representing non-bank payment institutions and payment providers. Founded in 2011 and based in Brussels, it advocates for the payment institution sector in EU-level regulatory, policy, and industry discussions. EPIF represents a broad range of payment business models, including payment institutions, e-money providers, acquirers, gateways, money transfer operators, open banking providers, and national associations.
What is EPIF and who does it represent
The European Payment Institutions Federation (EPIF) is an international non-profit association representing non-bank payment institutions and payment providers in Europe. It was founded after the creation of the payment institution category under the Payment Services Directive, which opened the European payments market to more competition beyond traditional banks.
EPIF members include companies and national associations active in the European payments sector. Its membership covers a range of business models under the Payment Services Directive, including e-money providers, acquirers, payment gateways, money transfer operators, digital wallet providers, and other non-bank payment service providers. EPIF’s official materials describe its membership as representing a broad range of payment institution business models across Europe.
Mission and advocacy focus
EPIF represents the interests of European payment institutions in discussions with EU policymakers, regulators, standard-setting bodies, and payments stakeholders. Its advocacy focuses on ensuring that EU payment regulation supports competition, innovation, consumer choice, cross-border payment services, and proportionate compliance obligations for non-bank payment providers.
The federation also works to ensure that payment institutions have representation alongside banks, card schemes, merchants, infrastructure providers, and regulators in European policy and standard-setting discussions. EPIF regularly engages with other stakeholders in the EU payments standard-setting process and reflects the diversity of its members in those discussions.
Policy domains
- Payment services regulation and PSD framework — Engagement on PSD2, PSD3, the Payment Services Regulation, payment institution authorisation, safeguarding, and operational compliance.
- Open banking and account access — Advocacy related to API access, payment initiation, account information services, data access, and open finance development.
- Fraud prevention and consumer protection — Input on fraud controls, liability, strong customer authentication, transaction monitoring, and user protection.
- AML and financial crime compliance — Engagement on anti-money laundering obligations, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and risk-based compliance requirements.
- European payments infrastructure and standard-setting — Representation in discussions on SEPA, instant payments, euro retail payments, interoperability, and payments market integration.
Geographic scope and cross-border reach
EPIF operates at European level, with a primary focus on EU policy and regulation affecting payment institutions and non-bank payment providers. Its members operate across different European jurisdictions and business models, making the federation relevant for companies serving customers across the EU and wider European payments market.
EPIF does not provide payment institution authorisation, licensing, passporting, or scheme access directly. Its relevance is policy-based: it helps represent payment institutions in the regulatory and standard-setting discussions that shape how firms operate across the European payments market.
Why EPIF matters for payments operators
For PSPs, e-money institutions, acquirers, gateways, money transfer operators, and open banking providers, EPIF is one of the most directly relevant EU-level advocacy bodies. It focuses specifically on the non-bank payment sector rather than representing the whole financial industry or only banks.
EPIF’s policy work matters because many operational obligations affecting European PSPs originate at EU level before being implemented through national supervision, regulatory technical standards, scheme rules, or infrastructure requirements. Areas such as PSD3, the Payment Services Regulation, safeguarding, fraud prevention, AML compliance, open banking access, and instant payments can directly affect onboarding, risk controls, product design, compliance operations, and market expansion.
The functions most likely to follow EPIF outputs are legal, compliance, policy, government affairs, risk, product, and senior market strategy teams. EPIF’s influence is generally exercised through consultation responses, working groups, stakeholder meetings, regulatory engagement, and representation in European payments forums rather than through direct operational scheme management.
Who runs EPIF and who are the members
EPIF operates as a Brussels-based international non-profit association with a governance structure, active working committees, and a secretariat. Its organisation is built around member representation, industry advocacy, and participation in EU-level policy and payments discussions. EPIF’s official organisation page describes it as having a clear governance structure, broad membership, active working committees, and recognition among peer associations.
The federation is not a regulator, scheme operator, or licensing authority. It is an industry association representing the interests of payment institutions and related non-bank payment providers in Europe.
Members and participant categories
EPIF membership includes companies and national associations from across Europe. Its member base covers a broad range of payment institution business models, including card schemes, e-money providers, payment gateways, money transfer operators, acquirers, digital wallet providers, and other payment service providers.
| Category | Typical members and participants |
|---|---|
| Payment institutions | Licensed non-bank payment providers operating in Europe |
| E-money providers | Electronic money institutions and wallet providers |
| Acquirers and merchant payment providers | Companies supporting card acceptance, merchant services, and payment processing |
| Payment gateways and processors | Technology providers supporting online and digital payment flows |
| Money transfer operators | Firms providing remittance and money movement services |
| National associations | Payment and fintech associations representing payment institutions in European markets |
| Open banking and digital payment providers | AISPs, PISPs, account-to-account payment providers, and digital payment firms |
Working groups and committees
EPIF coordinates policy work through active committees and member engagement structures. Its working areas typically cover payment services regulation, open banking, AML and financial crime, fraud prevention, consumer protection, digital payments, and European standard-setting.
EPIF also represents payment institutions in broader European payments discussions. Its own FAQ materials state that EPIF represents payment institutions in the European Payments Council and the Euro Retail Payments Board, both of which are relevant to SEPA and euro retail payments integration.
What does EPIF publish and who does it influence
Policy and regulatory engagement
EPIF engages with EU institutions, regulators, standard-setting bodies, and industry stakeholders on legislation and policy affecting payment institutions. Its work includes consultation responses, policy positions, regulatory briefings, stakeholder meetings, and participation in industry forums.
The federation seeks to influence European payment services legislation, implementation guidance, regulatory interpretation, and standard-setting discussions affecting non-bank payment providers. Its role is especially relevant in areas such as PSD reforms, open banking, fraud prevention, AML, safeguarding, instant payments, and payment institution authorisation.
Events and convenings
EPIF participates in European and international payments forums, stakeholder meetings, regulatory discussions, industry seminars, and member-focused briefings. Its membership materials describe opportunities for members to participate in events, gain visibility, join working groups, and be represented in expert groups formed by regulatory bodies.
EPIF does not function primarily as a large public conference organiser. Its convening value is mainly in member coordination, policy engagement, regulatory access, and representation in European payments discussions.
How to join EPIF
EPIF membership is relevant for payment institutions, non-bank PSPs, e-money institutions, payment providers, and national associations active in the European payments market. Official EPIF materials state that membership is open to licensed payment providers in the European Union, those seeking authorisation, and their national associations.
Who can join
Eligible participants generally include authorised payment institutions, e-money institutions, companies seeking payment services authorisation, and national associations representing payment providers. Fit depends on the organisation’s business model, regulatory status, European market activity, and relevance to the payment institution sector.
EPIF is more directly relevant to payment institutions and non-bank PSPs than to merchants, general technology vendors, or broader fintech companies without a payment services focus.
EPIF membership tiers and fees
EPIF does not appear to publish a simple public fee table for all membership categories. Pricing, eligibility, benefits, and participation routes may vary by organisation type, representation model, and membership category. Companies should confirm current membership costs directly with EPIF before treating it as a budgeted option.
What members commit to
Members typically participate in policy coordination, working committees, consultation responses, regulatory discussions, and industry representation activities. EPIF membership is designed for organisations that want to contribute to collective advocacy for the European payment institution sector.
Members may also contribute sector expertise, share operational perspectives, participate in briefings, and help shape common positions on EU policy files affecting payment institutions and non-bank payment providers.
FAQ
Is EPIF a regulator?
No. EPIF is a private-sector trade association, not a regulator. It does not supervise payment institutions, issue licences, or create binding regulation. Its role is to represent payment institutions and non-bank payment providers in policy discussions with EU institutions, regulators, standard-setting bodies, and other payments stakeholders.
Who can join EPIF?
EPIF membership is relevant for licensed payment providers in the European Union, companies seeking authorisation, and national associations representing payment institutions. It is best suited to payment institutions, e-money providers, acquirers, gateways, money transfer operators, open banking providers, and other firms with a clear payment services focus.
How much does EPIF membership cost?
EPIF does not appear to publish a simple public membership fee table. Pricing, eligibility, benefits, and participation routes may vary by organisation type, membership category, and representation model. Companies should confirm current costs directly with EPIF before treating membership as a budgeted option.
What does EPIF do for its members?
EPIF provides EU-level regulatory advocacy, policy coordination, working committees, consultation engagement, industry representation, and member briefings. Its work helps members follow and influence European policy discussions on payment services, open banking, fraud, AML, safeguarding, instant payments, consumer protection, and non-bank PSP regulation.
Why does EPIF matter for PSPs?
EPIF matters for PSPs because EU payment legislation can directly affect licensing, safeguarding, AML obligations, fraud controls, open banking access, instant payments, and cross-border operations. PSPs may use EPIF to follow regulatory change, coordinate industry positions, and engage in policy discussions affecting non-bank payment providers.
Does EPIF operate outside Europe?
EPIF is primarily focused on the European payments market, especially EU-level regulation and policy affecting payment institutions. Its work may be relevant to international PSPs operating in Europe, but its advocacy is centred on European institutions, European regulators, and the operating environment for payment providers in Europe.
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