In a move set to reshape online checkout experiences, eBay has teamed up with TrueLayer, a European provider of pay-by-bank solutions, to introduce direct bank payments for its UK customers. Announced on 19 February 2026, the collaboration makes pay-by-bank functionality available at eBay’s checkout, allowing millions of UK consumers to complete purchases instantly and securely straight from their bank accounts.
Pay by bank, also known as account-to-account (A2A) payments, enables buyers to authorise transactions directly through their own banking app without entering card details, remembering passwords for third-party sites, or relying on traditional card networks.
The process is seamless: at checkout, shoppers select the option, are redirected briefly to their bank’s secure environment, confirm the payment in seconds, and return to eBay with the transaction complete.
TrueLayer acts as the secure intermediary, using bank-grade authentication technology to connect the buyer’s bank to the merchant without eBay ever seeing or storing sensitive login credentials.
This integration addresses growing consumer demand for faster, more convenient, and fraud-resistant payment methods.
Traditional card payments often involve friction, higher fees, and elevated fraud risks, whereas pay by bank offers near-instant settlement for merchants and eliminates many intermediary costs.
For eBay, the addition diversifies its payment options and modernises the checkout journey, making it safer and more efficient for users who prefer banking apps they already trust.
Francesco Simoneschi, CEO and co-founder of TrueLayer, highlighted the partnership’s potential: it embeds pay-by-bank into the daily shopping routines of millions across the UK, delivering scalable instant payments while giving merchants quicker access to funds and a smoother overall experience.
He described it as a meaningful advance toward a fully real-time payments landscape that matches today’s expectations for speed and simplicity.
Avritti Khandurie Mittal, Vice President of Product for eBay Services, echoed this sentiment, noting that eBay continually refines its checkout to offer greater choice while enhancing safety and seamlessness.
She emphasised that pay by bank represents a key evolution in payment diversity, providing a secure, immediate way for buyers to transfer funds directly from their accounts.
Through TrueLayer, the platform is now delivering this innovation to its vast UK user base as part of a broader push toward efficient, modern payments infrastructure.
The announcement carries extra weight because eBay Ventures has made a strategic investment in TrueLayer.
This financial backing signals strong confidence in the open-banking model and comes amid impressive growth for pay-by-bank adoption across Europe.
Merchants everywhere are shifting toward solutions that reduce costs, minimise fraud, and align with evolving buyer preferences for flexible, instant options.
For UK shoppers on eBay, the new feature is already live, promising a noticeable improvement in checkout speed and security.
By cutting out card networks and manual data entry, the partnership not only boosts conversion rates and lowers operational expenses but also positions eBay at the forefront of the UK’s accelerating shift to real-time banking payments.
As open banking continues to mature, collaborations like this illustrate how major marketplaces are embracing innovative fintech to deliver better experiences. With pay by bank now part of eBay’s UK focused capabilities, millions of transactions could soon flow more cheaply and securely—marking another milestone in the evolution of digital commerce.
