Open Finance in Europe 2026: One Year Later, Where Do We Really Stand

Open Banking has enabled the emergence of innovative services in Europe, but adoption remains uneven and is hindered by fragmentation in practices, API standards, and levels of trust. 

The new PSR / PSD3 framework changes the game by introducing measurable operational requirements, while FIDA paves the way toward Open Finance. 

This white paper provides a fact-based reading of the market and, above all, a clear execution framework for banking players. 

Table of contents 

Introduction — Open Banking: From Promise to Reality

Part 1 — The State of Open Banking in Europe: Between Acceleration and Under-Adoption 

  • Real adoption: progress, but uneven 
  • Two contrasting models: France vs. Italy 
  • The causes of European fragmentation 

Part 2 — PSD3 & PSR: A New Structuring Framework for Open Banking 
- From fragmentation to harmonisation: the ambition of the PSR The 4 major impacts of the PSR 

  • Permission Dashboard (Articles 43 and 49) 
  • Regulatory APIs (Articles 35–42 & 44) 
  • Strengthening the fight against fraud (Articles 82 to 84) 
  • Customer protection (in particular Articles 51, 56, 59) 

In summary: PSR, a transformation—not a simple adjustment 

Part 3 — FIDA: The Future of Open Finance Is Taking Shape 
- The shift from Open Banking to Open Finance 
Major simplification proposals under review based on the “non papers” 

  • Data scope 
  • Monetisation
  • Sharing schemes (FDSS)
  • Role of gatekeepers 

- What stakeholders must do, starting now 
Conclusion — Seizing the opportunity, now 

 

 

This edition updates our analysis published in 2024 and expands it around three key objectives: 


A realistic view of the market 

  • Where does Open Banking adoption in Europe really stand?
  • Which use cases work and why do others remain underutilised?
  • This white paper draws on market studies and work carried out with European aggregators to establish a clear diagnosis. 

An operational breakdown of the regulatory framework 

  • A focus on PSR, complemented by PSD3, based on the latest version of the texts published in June 2025.
  • Four major transformations are analysed:
    -The Permission Dashboard,
    -Regulatory APIs,
    -Fraud prevention,
    -Customer protection

A projection toward Open Finance 

  • After a year marked by significant uncertainty, FIDA outlines the transition toward Open Finance.
  • This white paper offers a pragmatic reading of the challenges, possible priorities, and the foundations to put in place starting now. 

Two contrasting models: France vs Italy  (H2)                      

In  France, Open Banking adoption has primarily been structured around  account information services (AIS), with uses oriented toward  financial management, wealth consolidation, and connected administrative services.

These dynamics, as well as the  concrete use cases observed in the French market , are detailed in our   report produced with Powens on Open Banking adoption in France

In  Italy, the adoption trajectory differs significantly. As in most European markets,  AIS initially drove usage, primarily in  B2B, through SMEs, ERPs, and accounting tools.  

However, since  2022, a new dynamic has taken hold : payment initiation (PIS) has become the main growth driver. Led by players such as  Fabric k , this acceleration is reflected in a sharp increase in volumes. 

This dynamic is most visible in the  amounts processed, which rose from approximately  €184M in H1 2022 to  nearly  €1 .3bn in H1 2024 , while the  number of transactions decreased slightly. Usage is therefore shifting toward  fewer payments but higher amounts,  signalling a move from experimentation phases to more mature and structuring use cases.  

Beyond these differences, gaps between countries are also driven by factors such as  trust in financial data sharing and perceived security.                      

To explore these dimensions further (attitudes, expectations, digital  behaviours), see our Digital Banking Experience 2025 study.                           

PSR: a transformation, not a simple adjustment                         

PSR marks a shift in the regulator’s stance: it is no longer only about opening access to data, but about guaranteeing reliable, transparent, and non-discriminatory customer journeys, enabling fintechs and third parties to offer a level of performance, availability, and functional scope equivalent to that of banking interfaces used by end customers.                          

  • Permission Dashboard: Built-in transparency of user consents, with real-time revocation that is traceable and enforceable.                      
  • Regulatory APIs: Removal of unjustified obstacles and a requirement for parity between Open Banking APIs and “traditional” customer interfaces. 
  • Fraud prevention: Real-time monitoring strengthened coordination between providers and detection on both the payer and beneficiary sides. 
  • Customer protection: Verification of the beneficiary prior to execution, shorter refund timelines, and shifting the burden of proof to the ASPSP. 

Need  an operational framework before PSR arrives? Take a look  at  Open Finance: from compliance to growth.                      

At Sopra Steria, we support you on this journey, starting now, particularly through our  PSR Readiness Check: a fast, operational, and fact-based assessment.  

FIDA: the shift from Open Banking to Open Finance 

By expanding the scope of shared data beyond payment accounts (savings, investment, credit, insurance, etc.),  FIDA opens up a broader playing field but also a more demanding one.  

For decision-makers, the goal is not to open everything  immediately, but to: 

  • Build  a sustainable  access and governance architecture
  • Prioritise high-value use cases
  • Prepare the contractual and technical foundations for Open Finance. 

Download the white paperto access the use cases and regulatory developments

Note:  The analyses and conclusions presented in this white paper are based on the versions of the texts available at the time of writing. They are expected to be refined as the regulatory framework is finalised, with the final version of the PSR expected in the first half of 2026. 

FAQ

Open Banking allows third parties, with the customer’s consent, to access payment account data via regulated APIs in order to offer account information or payment initiation services.

Open Banking, introduced by PSD2 and reinforced by PSR, is limited to sharing payment account data. 

Open Finance, driven by the proposed FIDA regulation, extends this principle to all financial products (savings, credit, insurance, investments, pensions, etc.), with more structured governance and sector-based sharing schemes. 

PSR mandates major operational transformations: more granular consent management, API performance, fraud prevention, and customer protection—under tight deadlines and with potentially significant sanctions
Anticipating allows you to structure data governance, identify critical workstreams, and build an architecture compatible with future regulatory requirements, rather than undergoing a late and costly compliance effort. 
No. FIDA is still under discussion at the European level. The text remains ambitious and is subject to trade-offs regarding the scope of data, monetisation, and the governance of sharing schemes. Nevertheless, current directions already provide clear signals about the Open Finance trajectory. 

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