maksemeetodi

Maksemeetod, or payment method in Estonian, refers to the various ways a buyer can transfer money to a seller to complete a transaction. In practice, maksemeetodi encompasses methods that exist across different sales channels, including in-person, online, and over the phone. The choice of method affects speed, cost, convenience, and risk for both parties.

Common categories of maksemeetodi include cash and bank transfers, card payments, online and mobile wallets, direct debits and recurring payments, and newer arrangements such as buy now, pay later (BNPL). Cash remains a physical option for in-person purchases. Bank transfers and online banking enable direct settlement between bank accounts, often via a merchant’s bank details or payment links. Card payments use debit or credit cards and are widely supported in both offline and online environments. Online and mobile wallets provide digitized payment credentials and tokenized transactions for quicker checkouts. Direct debits allow merchants to collect funds on a scheduled basis, while BNPL services let customers defer payment or pay in installments.

Security and regulation play a central role in maksemeetod. Compliance requirements include card industry standards (such as PCI DSS) for card data handling and strong customer authentication (SCA) under the EU’s PSD2 framework for many online payments. Fraud prevention, dispute resolution, and chargeback processes also influence how payment methods are implemented and used.

In Estonia and similar digital economies, online banking and card payments are widely used, often supported by integrated payment solutions that facilitate quick settlement and secure authentication. Selecting appropriate maksemeetodi involves considerations of cost, settlement speed, customer preferences, and risk management.