UK Art · Open banking
Account-to-account payments for art sales.
A structured bank-payment route can complement cards and conventional transfers for invoice-led and higher-value art transactions.
How it works
Bank-funded. Buyer authorised.
An account-to-account payment, also described as open banking, pay by bank, A2A or a bank-to-bank payment, moves funds directly from the buyer's bank account to the seller's, without using a card network. The gallery or dealer issues a payment request for an agreed amount. The buyer follows that request, selects their bank and authorises the payment in their own banking app. The provider then returns a payment status and reference to support fulfilment and reconciliation.
Unlike a card payment, funds move between bank accounts. Unlike a manually initiated transfer, the amount, beneficiary and reference can be prepared within the payment journey, reducing avoidable entry errors.
Commercial fit
Designed around the invoice, not the checkout.
Invoice-led journeys
Create a defined payment request linked to the sale, amount and reference rather than relying on manually entered bank details.
Buyer authorisation
The buyer approves the payment within their own banking environment, subject to their bank's controls and limits.
Clear reconciliation
A structured reference can help the gallery match incoming funds to the correct invoice and client record.
Transaction planning
Confirm the route before the sale.
- 01Confirm that the buyer's bank, country and currency are supported before agreeing the payment route.
- 02Check payment limits and any action the buyer may need to take with their bank for a high-value transaction.
- 03Agree what confirmation is sufficient and whether cleared funds are required before an artwork is released.
- 04Compare the buyer experience, commercial cost and protections with card and conventional bank-transfer routes.
Common questions
Practical answers
- Is account-to-account the same as a bank transfer?
- Both are funded from a bank account. An open-banking payment is initiated through a structured journey with a defined beneficiary, amount and reference, subject to the provider and participating bank.
- Does it replace card acceptance?
- Not necessarily. Cards, account-to-account payments and bank transfers serve different buyer preferences and transaction circumstances. The appropriate mix depends on the sale.
- Can an international collector use it?
- Availability varies by provider, country, bank and currency. It must be confirmed for the specific buyer before the payment route is agreed.