Maestro and VPAY debit cards will disappear in the coming years

From mid-2023, Maestro and VPAY debit cards will no longer be issued. Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit will replace them. The reason for this decision is that consumers can make purchases worldwide (including online) with Mastercard and Visa debit cards, while Maestro and VPAY are limited to Europe. That is why it is important for merchants to offer Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard as payment options in their checkout in good time.

Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit meet the needs of international, online consumers. This led to the decision to replace Maestro and VPAY debit cards over the coming years. According to the Dutch Payments Association (Betaalvereniging), Mastercard will stop issuing Maestro cards on July 1, 2023. Visa will follow after that. Individual banks may decide to replace the cards sooner. All Maestro and VPAY cards issued up to summer 2023 remain valid until the expiry date on the card (2027 at the latest). Cards that need to be replaced or renewed in the meantime will already be replaced by a Mastercard or Visa debit card.

Consumers automatically receive a new debit card from their bank. With it, they can do everything they are already used to, plus new payment options (worldwide and online). Just like Maestro and VPAY payments, the money is deducted from the account immediately at the time of purchase. In addition, Visa’s purchase protection means consumers are not held responsible for unauthorized charges made with Visa Debit. The terms and conditions of the card-issuing bank apply.

It is important for companies and business owners to update their payment page for this change in good time. This may also be a good moment to review your current selection of payment methods. Have you already aligned your payment process with the future payment behavior of your customers? And are debit cards and credit cards already part of your checkout? Ask our payment specialists for advice.