Mastercard's AN 4569 Revised Standards for the Display of Enhanced Merchant Data, introduced in early 2021, underscores the importance of enriching the user interface (UI) design for card issuers in the European region. In this article, we explore the best practices in visual data presentation, emphasizing how adherence to UX principles can elevate the overall user experience.
Data required by AN 4569:
Always prioritize displaying the correct brand name in they payment overview. If the brand name is unavailable or unclear, use the merchant description as a fallback identifier. The original descriptions may contain vital information like verification codes or specific transaction details.
Absence of original merchant description can potentially pose issues
Showcase logos in a square 512x512 format, optimized for a white background and without frames. If the logo is unavailable, consider using category placeholders.
Also, consider incorporating additional bank logos for transfers, particularly in regions like the UK.
Tapix offers a set of category placeholders, or custom placeholders can be created.
Enhance the presentation of business address by incorporating the location on a map, providing users with a better visual context. Additionally, include the actual address as text alongside the map to offer a comprehensive understanding of the transaction details. To ensure accuracy, make sure the map displays the precise location point directly, facilitating a more informative and user-friendly experience.
Banks often just omit the map display for e-shops. This can lead to ambiguity regarding the location's nature (the location might as well be unrecognized). Overcome ambiguity by explicitly indicating "e-shop," "Shopping Online," or "Online“.
You can also incorporate further location interactions such as enabling users to click on the map within transaction details, triggering automatic prompts to choose a map-related app for location viewing, etc.
Thanks to Google Place ID it is possible to show the required information directly in the banking app (contact details, location photos, ratings and reviews). Also utilizing Google Place ID enables users to access the location directly through Google Maps or other navigation apps.
Google Place ID is not available to all transactions
UX design establishes overall design consistency, enhancing the look and feel of the UI. Consistency and data quality of visual elements is paramount. This ensures not only a visually cohesive design but also adherence to the standards set by Mastercard, contributing to an intuitive and user-friendly UI that aligns with the AN4569 guidelines.
UX design becomes a key driver for ensuring accessibility features are seamlessly integrated into the UI. Specifically, attention to detail. By aligning the UI with accessibility considerations outlined in the Mastercard mandate, issuers can provide an inclusive payment experience for all cardholders.
Mastercard AN4569 greatly values the clarity and simplicity of transaction information. In this context, UX design addresses cognitive load by streamlining the presentation of enriched payment data. This strategic approach not only meets the usability expectations of cardholders but also ensures that users can effortlessly navigate the interface, contributing to overall compliance and adherence to the user-centric principles.
Implementing these best practises is instrumental in creating a seamless and superior user experience. By aligning with UX design principles, card issuers can not only meet the mandated standards but also elevate their UI to provide cardholders with an engaging, consistent, and user-friendly digital payment experience.
Sourced from AN4569 Revised Standards for Mastercard Rules (published 4 April 2023)
Enhanced Merchant Data. Effective 14 October 2023, an Issuer in Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man,
Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom or Vatican City must provide to a Cardholder enhanced Merchant data, when available, to help the Cardholder recognize a Transaction when it is queried by the Cardholder. Such enhanced Merchant data includes, when available, without limitation, the Merchant’s public facing or ‘doing business as’ name, location, contact details and logo. The Issuer must provide the enhanced Merchant data via the Issuer’s banking application, mobile wallet, Internet banking interface, or other digital means that provides at least equivalent ease and accessibility for the Cardholder.
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Ondřej Slivka
Senior insider