Introduction
Accepting local payment methods is essential for e commerce success. Customers are more likely to complete a purchase when they see familiar payment options at checkout, and merchants enjoy higher conversion rates and fewer abandoned carts. CODARAB Pay is a versatile WooCommerce payment gateway that allows businesses of any size to accept card payments without requiring a registered business. By integrating Bancontact – the most popular electronic payment method in Belgium – merchants can connect to millions of Belgian shoppers who prefer to pay via their bank card or mobile app. This article explains why Bancontact
crucial, how CODARAB Pay supports it and provides step‑by‑step guidance for adding Bancontact to your WooCommerce store.
Understanding Bancontact
Bancontact is the market leader in electronic payments in Belgium.According to Adyen, there are around 17.4 million Bancontact cards in circulation, which means there are more Bancontact cards than people living in Belgium. The payment scheme connects 20 Belgian banks and its popularity continues to grow. Consumers can pay online or in person using a Bancontact card or via the Payconiq app by scanning a QR code. Bancontact processes more than one million online transactions every day and is designed for omnichannel experiences. For merchants, one of the biggest advantages is that Bancontact is a guaranteed payment method: once a payment is confirmed it cannot be reversed. Payments are initiated in the customer’s trusted internet banking environment, and the status is confirmed instantly.
The dominance of Bancontact is also highlighted by other sources. An e‑commerce report notes that the payment system has over 15 million cardholders and more than 80 % of Belgian webshops accept Bancontact. Customers transfer funds from their bank account through the Bancontact platform, resulting in payments that cannot be reversed. Retailers receive real‑time confirmation and can process orders immediately. With such widespread adoption and the backing of major banks – including ABK Bank, BNP Paribas Fortis, Belfius, KBC and more – Bancontact has become synonymous with secure electronic payments in Belgium.
Why Accept Bancontact with CODARAB Pay
CODARAB Pay is a powerful payment gateway plugin built on the official PayPal API. It enables WooCommerce merchants to accept Visa and MasterCard payments directly on their store and offers instant payouts to sellers. The plugin integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce and uses advanced encryption to ensure that card data is transmitted securely during checkout. For high‑risk merchants, CODARAB Pay hides sensitive details (such as the product name and website URL) on PayPal receipts and disables the PayPal button to reduce disputes. These features make it an ideal solution for entrepreneurs, startups and high‑risk sellers who need a reliable way to process card payments.RAB Pay
Advantages for Merchants
- Increase conversions by offering a familiar Belgian payment method that customers trust.
- Reach 17.4 million Bancontact cardholders and Payconiq users across 20 connected banks.
- Guaranteed payments: funds are debited instantly and cannot be reversed.
- Competitive fees with no setup costs through WooPayments (1.4% + €0.25).
- Receive instant payouts via CODARAB Pay and protect against chargebacks with hidden product details.
- Accept Visa, MasterCard and Bancontact in one WooCommerce plugin without requiring a registered business.
- Strengthen checkout security with advanced encryption and real‑time confirmation.
Benefits For Customers
- Pay using Bancontact cards or the Payconiq by Bancontact app for quick online or in‑person payments.
- Enjoy a familiar local payment method used by over 15 million cardholders and accepted by more than 80 % of Belgian webshops.
- Receive real‑time confirmation so your order is processed instantly.
- No need to create a separate account—pay directly from your trusted bank environment.
- SEPA Direct Debit refund rights let customers claim a refund for unauthorized transactions within 13 months.
- Choose between card or mobile payment for flexibility and convenience.
Setting Up CODARAB Pay & Bancontact in WooCommerce
Integrating CODARAB Pay and Bancontact into your WooCommerce store is straightforward. First, install the CODARAB Pay plugin from your WordPress dashboard and connect it to your PayPal account to accept Visa and MasterCard payments. Then enable Bancontact through a compatible gateway such as WooPayments, which processes Bancontact transactions and deposits funds into your account. Follow these steps to complete the setup:
- Install CODARAB Pay plugin – In your WordPress dashboard go to Plugins > Add New, search for “CODARAB Pay” and click Install and Activate.
- Create and connect your CODARAB Pay account – Sign up for CODARAB Pay and link your PayPal account using the plugin settings to enable Visa/MasterCard payments.
- Enable Visa and MasterCard – In the CODARAB Pay settings, enable Visa and MasterCard to accept card payments and choose your payout preferences.
- Enable Bancontact via WooPayments – Install and activate WooPayments (official WooCommerce plugin). In WooPayments settings, enable Bancontact and follow the instructions to verify your identity; transaction fees are around 1.4 % + €0.25 with no monthly fee.
- Add Bancontact to CODARAB Pay checkout – In the CODARAB Pay plugin, add Bancontact as a supported local payment method by selecting “Bancontact” in the list of alternative payment methods.
- Test the integration – Use WooCommerce’s sandbox or a low‑value order to verify that Visa/MasterCard and Bancontact transactions process successfully and that orders are marked paid.
Payment Methods Comparison
| Payment Method | Market & Use | Key Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| CODARAB Pay (Visa/MasterCard) | Global e-commerce; widely used card payments | Accepts Visa & MasterCard via CODARAB Pay; instant payouts; advanced encryption; hides sensitive details on receipts |
| Bancontact | Belgium; 17.4 million cards issued by 20+ banks; accepted by over 80% of Belgian webshops | Customers can pay by card or Payconiq app; guaranteed, non-reversible transactions; more than 1 million online transactions daily; low fees |
| WooPayments / PayPal | Global; widely used for online payments | Instant payment confirmation; integrated with WooCommerce; supports multiple payment methods; simple setup; transaction fees apply |
Optimizing Your Payment Experience
After integrating CODARAB Pay and Bancontact into WooCommerce, merchants can further enhance the checkout experience by focusing on usability, security and analysis. Here are some practical tips:
- Offer multiple payment methods: Provide a mix of global card payments (Visa and MasterCard), regional methods like Bancontact, and alternative options such as PayPal/WooPayments so customers can choose their preferred option.
- Keep the checkout simple and mobile‑friendly: Simplify form fields, use responsive design and make sure the payment pages load quickly on smartphones and tablets.
- Use analytics and reporting: Monitor conversion rates, abandonment rates and transaction data in your CODARAB Pay and WooCommerce dashboards to identify areas for improvement.
- Communicate clearly: Display prices in the shopper’s currency, show accepted payment logos and provide a transparent refund policy. Payers using SEPA Direct Debit benefit from refund rights within 13 months.
- Ensure security and compliance: Enable SSL certificates, follow PCI DSS guidelines and keep your CODARAB Pay plugin up to date to protect customer data.
Conclusion
Adopting the CODARAB Pay plugin with WooCommerce and Bancontact helps merchants reach a wider audience — from Belgian shoppers who trust Bancontact to global customers paying with Visa and MasterCard. By combining secure card processing, guaranteed Bancontact payments and fast payouts, your store can build trust and increase conversions. Learn more about configuring the plugin on the CODARAB Pay plugin page and explore additional insights about Bancontact from Adyen’s Bancontact guide.