Payments
Local payment method
Updated
A local payment method is a way to pay that is popular in a particular country, such as iDEAL in the Netherlands or Pix in Brazil, rather than an international card.
In many countries most online shoppers do not reach for a Visa or Mastercard. They pay by bank redirect, bank debit, real-time transfer, voucher or a national wallet. Offering the method they expect is often the difference between a sale and an abandoned checkout.
Stripe groups these methods by how they work: bank redirects such as iDEAL send the shopper to their bank to approve the payment, bank debits such as SEPA Direct Debit pull money from an account with a mandate, and real-time payments such as Pix settle immediately.
Each has its own rules for refunds, disputes and settlement timing, and many work only in one currency.
Frequently asked questions
- Why offer local payment methods?
- Because in many countries they are how most shoppers pay online, and buyers leave checkouts that do not offer their usual method.
- Are local payment methods cheaper than cards?
- Often, but pricing depends on the provider and method; check your provider's price list for each.
Sources
- Add payment methods — Stripe
- Bank redirects — Stripe
- Bank debits — Stripe
In depth: Payment methods by country