The verdict in three sentences
At EUR 60,000 of monthly card volume, a negotiated bank merchant acquiring contract costs about 35% less than a PSP such as Stripe or Mollie, saving EUR 4,000 to 6,000 a year. In return, bank acquiring needs a separate payment gateway, a 3 to 6 week application and heavier integration. Below EUR 25,000 a month or if you need to launch fast, stay with a PSP; above EUR 50,000 a month, put your bank in competition.
How fees are built in each model
With a bank acquiring contract (card-not-present), your bank is the acquirer: it charges a per-transaction rate (0.8 to 1.2% depending on volume and card type), often a fixed EUR 0.05 to 0.15, and a monthly fee. On top comes a payment gateway (Monetico, Payline, SystemPay, PayZen, Worldline Sips) hosting the payment page and handling 3-D Secure, billed EUR 20 to 60 a month plus sometimes a few cents per transaction.
A PSP (Stripe, Mollie, Adyen for large volumes) bundles acquiring, gateway and tooling in one price, with no subscription and activation within 24 to 72 hours.
| Item | Bank acquiring + gateway | Stripe | Mollie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard European cards | 0.8 to 1.2% | 1.5% + EUR 0.25 | 1.8% + EUR 0.25 |
| Business and premium cards | 1.6 to 2.2% | 1.9% + EUR 0.25 | 2.8% + EUR 0.25 (card dependent) |
| Non-European cards | 2 to 2.8% | 3.25% + EUR 0.25 | 3.25% + EUR 0.25 |
| Monthly fee | EUR 20 to 50 (bank) + EUR 20 to 60 (gateway) | EUR 0 | EUR 0 |
| Payout delay | D+1 to D+2 | D+3 (standard), then D+2 possible | D+1 to D+2 |
| Activation | 3 to 6 weeks | 1 to 3 days | 1 to 3 days |
| Chargeback fee | EUR 10 to 20 | EUR 20 | EUR 15 |
The PSP rates shown are the public 2026 price lists for France; above EUR 1M a year, Stripe and Mollie will negotiate ("interchange plus"), which narrows the gap with banks considerably.
The calculation for EUR 60,000 a month
Assumption: EUR 120 average basket, i.e. 500 transactions a month; 75% standard European cards, 20% business cards, 5% non-European cards. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Monthly cost | Negotiated bank acquiring | Stripe | Mollie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard card fees (EUR 45,000) | EUR 405 | EUR 675 | EUR 810 |
| Business card fees (EUR 12,000) | EUR 216 | EUR 228 | EUR 336 |
| Non-European fees (EUR 3,000) | EUR 72 | EUR 98 | EUR 98 |
| Per-transaction fixed fees | EUR 50 | EUR 125 | EUR 125 |
| Bank and gateway subscriptions | EUR 75 | EUR 0 | EUR 0 |
| Monthly total | EUR 818 | EUR 1,126 | EUR 1,369 |
| Annual total | EUR 9,816 | EUR 13,512 | EUR 16,428 |
| Average effective rate | 1.36% | 1.88% | 2.28% |
The annual gap between bank acquiring and Stripe is about EUR 3,700, and EUR 6,600 against Mollie. It must be weighed against the higher integration cost of the bank gateway.
Integration cost and contract constraints
| Item | Bank acquiring + gateway | PSP (Stripe, Mollie) |
|---|---|---|
| Website or B2B portal integration | EUR 3,000 to 6,000 | EUR 1,500 to 3,500 |
| Instalments, subscriptions | Custom development or paid option | Native (Stripe Billing, Mollie Subscriptions) |
| SEPA transfer, direct debit | Separate contract | Included (EUR 0.35 to 0.80 per operation) |
| Commitment | 12 to 36 months common | None |
| Guarantee or deposit | Sometimes, depending on sector | Reserve possible if high risk |
| Accounting reconciliation | Bank + gateway statements | Single dashboard, exports |
Watch out: read the termination clause and the gateway exit fees. Some bank acquiring contracts are tied to opening an account or renting a physical terminal.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Claire, managing director of a laboratory supplies SME in Nantes, takes EUR 60,000 a month on her website, 20% of it on business cards. She has used Mollie for 3 years: EUR 16,400 in fees a year.
Her bank offers acquiring at 0.9% on standard cards, 1.8% on business cards, a EUR 30 monthly fee, plus a gateway at EUR 45 a month. Estimated annual fees: EUR 9,800. Savings: EUR 6,600 a year. Gateway integration costs EUR 4,500. Payback: 4,500 / EUR 550 monthly savings = about 8 months. Alternative tested: moving to Stripe for EUR 2,000 of integration and EUR 2,900 of annual savings, also about 8 months, but with no commitment. Claire ends up negotiating the bank contract down to a 12-month commitment.
FAQ
From what volume does bank acquiring make sense?
As a rule, above EUR 30,000 to 50,000 of monthly card volume. Below that, fixed fees (EUR 50 to 110 a month) and integration absorb the rate difference.
Why are business cards more expensive?
The EU interchange cap (0.2% debit, 0.3% credit) does not apply to commercial cards. Their interchange often exceeds 1.5%, hence fees of 1.6 to 2.8% depending on the provider.
Can bank acquiring and a PSP be combined?
Yes, many SMEs keep Stripe or Mollie for alternative payment methods (Apple Pay, SEPA, buy now pay later) and route cards through the bank. Allow EUR 1,000 to 2,500 of development for routing.
Do PSPs negotiate their rates?
Yes, usually from EUR 80,000 to 100,000 a month. Stripe then offers interchange-plus pricing that brings the effective rate to around 1.1 to 1.4%.
What is the real payout delay to the bank account?
D+1 to D+2 business days with bank acquiring. At Stripe, the standard delay is a few business days at the start and can be shortened later; at Mollie, D+1 to D+2 is common once the account is verified.
Let's scope your project. We audit your current payment fees and integrate the most cost-effective setup (bank acquiring or PSP, EUR 1,500 to 6,000, live in 1 to 6 weeks). Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
