Which payment service providers are PCI DSS and PSD2 compliant?

Every time a customer taps pay online or completes a credit card payment through a mobile app, a complex web of financial transactions springs into action.

Behind the scenes, sensitive customer data is being transmitted across networks, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Data breaches can damage customer trust, trigger heavy fines, and tarnish your brand's reputation overnight.

This is where PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2) come in. PCI DSS is an industry security standard set by the major credit card schemes to protect cardholder data, whilst PSD2 is a European regulation that legally governs payment services and requires measures such as Strong Customer Authentication.

For businesses, knowing which payment service providers are PCI DSS and PSD2 compliant is a strategic imperative. Choosing the right payment providers means safeguarding customer data, preventing fraud, and delivering a seamless, trustworthy payment process.

With compliance and security at the heart of your operations, you don't just follow the rules - you build customer confidence and future-proof your business.

Understanding PCI DSS compliance

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is the globally recognized benchmark for securing cardholder data and safeguarding financial transactions. Established by major financial institutions and card networks, PCI DSS ensures that payment service providers implement the right controls to protect sensitive customer data and maintain data security across all electronic payments.

PCI DSS compliance is a card-scheme requirement, contractually enforced by acquirers and card brands (not law).

The standard outlines key requirements, including:

• Secure Network Architecture: Protecting systems that store, process, or transmit payment card data.
• Strong Access Control Measures: Limiting access to sensitive information only to authorized personnel.
• Encryption & Tokenization: Encryption (mandatory in transit/at rest) & Tokenization (optional scope-reduction): Ensuring credit card information is unreadable if intercepted.
• Regular Monitoring & Testing: Keeping communication channels secure and spotting vulnerabilities before they become breaches.
• Comprehensive Policies: Enforcing security and compliance protocols across your organization.

Meeting PCI DSS requirements not only helps prevent fraud and reduce risk but also enhances customer retention, as shoppers are more likely to trust a merchant who prioritizes payment security.

Partnering with PCI DSS-compliant payment service providers is essential for any business that wants full visibility and control over financial data and transactions.

PCI DSS v3.2.1 retired on 31 March 2024; version 4.0/4.0.1 is now active, with additional future-dated requirements that became mandatory from March 2025.

Understanding PSD2 compliance

The Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) is a European regulation designed to enhance digital payments and strengthen customer protection. Its primary goal is to make financial transactions more secure while fostering innovation and competition among payment service providers.

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) applies to payer-initiated electronic payments in the EEA (and UK under FCA rules), with exemptions (e.g. low-value, TRA, secure corporate) and out-of-scope cases (e.g. MOTO, properly-framed MITs).

By enforcing strong access control measures, PSD2 significantly reduces the risk of fraud, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive customer data.

PSD2 also empowers consumers by giving them greater visibility and control over their payment card data and financial transactions. For businesses, complying with PSD2 means not only adhering to regulatory compliance but also enhancing customer trust and improving the overall customer experience.

By understanding and implementing PSD2, companies can ensure that their electronic payments are secure, their payment process is transparent, and their financial data is protected.

Criteria for payment service providers to be PCI DSS & PSD2 compliant

Not all payment service providers are created equally when it comes to payment security. To ensure compliance with PCI DSS and PSD2, providers must meet certain requirements and maintain robust data security measures. Key criteria include:

PCI DSS certification

Providers must undergo formal audits and obtain PCI DSS validation (Attestation of Compliance, AOC), demonstrating their ability to protect cardholder data and secure financial transactions.

This includes secure network infrastructure, encryption of payment card data, and regular vulnerability testing.

PSD2 compliance & strong customer authentication (SCA)

Compliance with PSD2 ensures that providers implement multi-factor authentication, secure access controls, and measures to prevent fraud in electronic payments.

Customer authentication safeguards sensitive customer data and reinforces customer trust.

Ongoing audits & monitoring

Regular audits and monitoring of communication channels are essential for maintaining compliance and identifying risks before they escalate into data breaches.

Transparent policies & documentation

Service providers must have clear, comprehensive policies on data security, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance, giving businesses full visibility into their payment processes.

Cross-border capabilities

For global businesses, compliant providers should support cross-border payments while adhering to both local and international industry data security standards.

By choosing PCI DSS and PSD2-compliant payment providers, businesses can simplify compliance, protect sensitive information, and deliver a seamless, secure payment process that enhances customer retention and consumer trust.

Merchants should always request the provider’s current Attestation of Compliance (AOC).

Overview of payment service providers compliant with PCI DSS & PSD2

Several players have established themselves as PCI DSS and PSD2 compliant, setting the standard for secure electronic payments and customer trust. Some of the well-known compliant providers include:

• Stripe: Known for robust data security, strong customer authentication, and seamless integration with global digital payments. (PCI DSS Level 1 validated; authorized EMI in Ireland).
• Adyen: Offers comprehensive PCI DSS compliance, supports cross-border payments, and prioritizes fraud prevention. (PCI DSS Level 1 validated; licensed as a bank in the Netherlands).
• PayPal: Maintains secure networks, regular audits, and extensive customer data protection measures. (PCI DSS compliant; PayPal Europe S.à r.l. is a Luxembourg bank).
• Nuvei: With rigorous compliance processes, advanced fraud prevention tools, and support for multi-factor authentication, Nuvei ensures secure payment processes across all channels, including mobile apps and credit card payments. (PCI DSS Level 1 compliant; authorized EMI in Cyprus).

Choosing providers like these means businesses can simplify compliance, protect cardholder data, and deliver a future-proof payment experience to their customers.

How Nuvei ensures PCI DSS & PSD2 compliance

Nuvei has built its reputation as a trusted payment service provider by placing payment security and regulatory compliance at the core of our operations. For businesses that transmit cardholder data or process credit card payments, partnering with Nuvei means working with a provider that is validated as PCI DSS compliant and implements SCA in line with PSD2 requirements.

Key ways Nuvei ensures compliance include:

• Robust Security Infrastructure: Our systems are designed to safeguard sensitive customer data through secure networks, encryption, and tokenization, protecting financial transactions from breaches and unauthorized access.
• Regular Audits & Certifications: Nuvei undergoes frequent PCI DSS audits and maintains certifications that validate its ability to protect payment card data and adhere to industry data security standards.
• Strong Customer Authentication (SCA): In line with PSD2, Nuvei implements multi-factor authentication and strong access control measures, ensuring every electronic payment is verified and secure.
• Cross-Channel Protection: Whether customers pay via mobile apps, online platforms, or cross-border payments, we ensure secure, regulated, and efficient processing that maintains customer trust at every step.

Benefits of choosing Nuvei as a compliant payment service provider

Partnering with a compliant provider like Nuvei delivers tangible business advantages that impact customer trust, operational efficiency, and long-term growth.

Enhanced payment security

Nuvei safeguards sensitive customer data with secure networks, encryption, and strong access control measures, reducing the risk of fraud, data breaches, and non-compliance penalties.

Strong customer trust & retention

By implementing Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) and following industry standards, Nuvei gives customers confidence that their payment card information and financial transactions are protected - boosting customer retention and loyalty.

Regulatory compliance made simple

Nuvei's compliance processes and full visibility into payment processes help businesses simplify compliance with both PCI DSS and PSD2, minimizing the burden of audits and regulatory oversight.

Seamless, future-proof payments

Nuvei supports cross-border payments, mobile apps, and multiple payment channels, enabling businesses to scale globally while maintaining secure and efficient processing.

Ensuring your business works with PCI DSS and PSD2-compliant payment service providers is essential. Compliance helps safeguard sensitive customer data, protect financial transactions, and maintain long-term trust.

Find out more about important payment security measures for your business and build trust with your customers.