Open banking payments are a genuinely good deal for merchants. Lower transaction fees than cards, near-instant access to settled funds, no card chargeback headaches. But in many markets, it's still a relatively new checkout option, and even where the infrastructure is mature (think the UK, the Netherlands or Germany), plenty of shoppers still default to what they know – cards, PayPal or other methods. In Central and Eastern Europe, awareness is growing fast, but it's still an education curve.
So how do you nudge your users to pick it? There are two ways to get there.
Some solutions, like Noda’s
But if Pay by Bank is a visible option in your checkout, how it’s presented makes all the difference. We asked Lucy Oganisian, Product Designer at Noda, to share a few practical UX tweaks that can help merchants improve Pay by Bank conversion – whether you're running a WooCommerce store on a plugin that allows basic customisation or engineering a fully custom checkout from scratch.
Here's what actually works, tested and approved by our team.
1. Get the Button Name Right
Tests show that vague labels quietly kill conversion. Button names like "Bank transfer" or "Open Banking" leave users uncertain about what they're actually doing – and uncertain users don't convert.
“Pay by Bank” is becoming a recognizable standard in the same way "Pay by Card" is. Moreover, when "Pay by Card" and "Pay by Bank" sit next to each other, the choice feels obvious and balanced, not like one is the main event and the other is a footnote.
The same applies to localised checkouts: clear and direct translations tend to perform better than more creative alternatives.
2. Show Bank Logos
When a payment method is unfamiliar, users look for anchors they already trust. Bank logos are one of the most powerful trust signals you can add, and they cost nothing to display.
A small row of recognisable bank marks near your Pay by Bank option signals two things: this is real, and my bank is probably here. That second part matters a lot. Users want to know their specific institution is supported before they proceed further.
Some providers like Trustly or Klarna push their own branding at this touchpoint, but that tells users very little if they've never heard of them. Familiar bank marks work like trust badges but more credible – because they're institutions users already rely on.
3. Think About Placement
Hiding the Pay by Bank option below the fold is a pain point that hits hardest on mobile. If users need to scroll to discover it, it becomes the "backup plan" option, not a first choice. And that's exactly how it'll convert.
A couple of things to avoid: placing it out of the visible area on load, and creating multiple equally prominent buttons on one screen. When users face two "main" actions, they hesitate.
As for where exactly to put it: in markets where Pay by Bank is already a well-known checkout option, don't hesitate to place it first. In markets where awareness is still building, second position works nicely – visible and clearly labelled but not demanding attention before the user is ready.
4. Don't Overwhelm With Options
Placing individual bank buttons directly into your checkout can be a great way to minimize further screens and potential drop-offs – especially for e-commerce flows.
But there's a ceiling. In many European markets, the top 3–5 banks cover roughly 70–90% of users, so a short preview serves the majority without cluttering the experience. Showing, for example, 5 banks tends to outperform showing 9: decisions feel easier, the flow stays pleasant, and conversion follows. The rest can live behind a "show more" option – accessible, but out of the way.
5. Colors & Text – Keep Them Consistent
It’'s best to pick button colours that are consistent with your website. If the Pay by Bank button style clashes with your site's design – users notice, even if they can't articulate why.
The same goes for typography: text that fails to meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) requirements can easily become unreadable, often due to low contrast or font size. It excludes some users and signals a lack of polish to the rest.
If you're using a plugin and your provider offers customisation features, spend a few minutes on the appearance settings after setup. It's among the quickest, highest-return things you can do.
Final Thoughts
None of this requires significant technical investment. But these details do shape how Pay by Bank is perceived at checkout. Pay by Bank is often viewed as an attractive option for merchants. A few thoughtful tweaks can make it the more obvious choice for their customers too. What often determines uptake is how naturally the option appears in the user journey. When Pay by Bank feels visible, trustworthy and well-integrated, customers are far more likely to choose it.
