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You mean there aren't already a "few killer and heavily promoted ‘apps’ ... that will excite consumers and show them the potential benefits of the platform/ecosystem..."? Then what exactly is going to happen on 13 January?

A year ago, I'd felt that, compared to the valuation given to PayTM by Ant Financial, the MoneyGram deal is a steal. Looks like the US regulator also thinks it's a "steal", just of another type!

@JamesPiggot: Good point. By "up to date", are you saying that your individual finserv websites ask you to change your password every N days or so? (In India, by RBI mandate, N = 90 days). If so, I see the same friction hitting all the PSD2-triggered PFMs as well. Going by my experience with using aggregator platforms like HootSuite, I can bet that these PFMs will also use the same creds as your online banking creds even if it's only to access APIs. Another set of creds for API access is too much friction and will be a non-starter.

On Open Banking: Consent is Key, I'd raised the subject of MINT-like PFMs who have been merrily using login credentials for 10+ years. In response, an anonymous Finextra Member had pointed out that it's illegal for a TPP to perform screen scraping under PSD2. In that case, why should NatWest amend its T&Cs to warn customers that they're liable for fraud losses if they share their login details with TPPs? Shouldn't such TPPs be illegal under PSD2 in the first place??

At the end of Innovative Fintechs Don’t Need No PSD2 Regulation,  I'd wondered how fintechs would react if Open Banking requires them to share their customers' info with banks.   

The way Barclays is openly encouraging its customers to view their accounts with other providers via Barclays Mobile Banking app, it looks like my idle conjecture has now become a clear and present danger.

I've seen complaints on LinkedIn that Zebpay, India's largest Bitcoin exchange, is dilly dallying with customers' requests to "cash out" i.e. convert BTC to INR (India's fiat currency).

Dear @Citi: Feel free to use my feedback at A Killer Feature For PFM On The Eve Of PSD2.

Whatever we may say about UI or UX or CX of banking apps, banking is a chore. By letting you do banking activities in the background, "Alexa Banking" is the only channel that recognizes this fundamental fact. Ergo, I think it has the potential to be disruptive. http://lnr.li/9p0nd

@JamesPiggot:

I'm not doubting the overwhelming success of iDEAL in NL. In fact, based on the popularity of iDEAL and a couple of other similar MOPs in USA and India even back in 2011, I'd predicted that EBA Clearing's myBank Will Be A Hit. However, despite being very similar to iDEAL et al, myBank seems to have fizzled out.

Surely, a lot of things are possible given the right conditions. But, then, right conditions don't seem to be happening in too many places. Therein lies the rub.

And, now that I understand from @Jan-Olof Brunila's comment that PSD2 bans surcharge for credit card payments, the prospects for card alternatives don't look any brighter.

@FrankNolden: It's a well-documented fact that credit card drives overspending. By discouraging credit card payments, retailers are losing out on revenue upsides. If they still opt to do so in certain markets and shoot themselves in the foot in the process, it's probably a reflection of saturation level and limited growth potential available in those markets for reasons regardless of payment methods.