Strong customer authentication

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is a requirement of the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which aims to add extra layers of security to certain digital transactions to protect customers when using their cards online. This includes transactions made via your Internet Banking and online card payments.

You'll have already noticed these changes to your Internet Banking transactions and some online card payments which were introduced in 2019.

What's changing?

To comply with new PSD2 requirements, the banking industry will be introducing more frequent authentication checks when you use your card online. All companies that accept online card payments will be updating their websites so they can facilitate these checks.

This means you may be asked to enter a One Time Passcode (OTP) when you buy goods online. You'll need to ensure your phone number is up to date and you have your mobile phone to hand. You can update your phone number by logging into Internet Banking.

If your card payment is declined, the retailer may not have updated their functionality to allow this authentication to take place, which means you may need to check if they offer an alternative payment method.