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---
title: "EBA Q&A 2019_4681 — Q&A — What is considered as a dedicated interface [Final Q&A]"
shortTitle: "EBA Q&A 2019_4681 — Q&A — What is considered as a dedicated interface [Final Q&A]"
answer_id: EBA_QA_2019_4681
status: "Final Q&A"
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legal_status: in_force
regulation: "PSD2"
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legal_basis: "Article 98(1) PSD2"
date: 9 August 2019
source_link: https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2019_4681
lifecycle: "Final Q&A"
text_version: "EBA Q&A register, 9 August 2019"
source_url: "https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2019_4681"
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    question_submitted_on: "EBA Q&A register entry 2019_4681, field 'Submission date'"
lifecycle_label: "Final Q&A"
---

**Answer by the EBA, published in its Q&A tool · not legislation · published 9 Aug 2019 [Final Q&A]**

*Final Q&A · EBA Q&A register, 9 August 2019 · Checked against the EBA publication on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2019_4681)*

| | |
|---|---|
| **Full title** | EBA Q&A 2019_4681 — Q&A — What is considered as a dedicated interface \[Final Q&A\] |
| **Prepared by** | EBA |
| **Published by** | EBA, in the EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool |
| **Reference** | EBA_QA_2019_4681 |
| **Document type** | Q&A |
| **Legal nature** | Not legislation |
| **Addressees** | Not stated in the document |
| **Dates** | Published 9 August 2019; question submitted 25 April 2019 |
| **Legal basis** | Article 98(1) PSD2 |
| **Related instruments** | None recorded |
| **Text on this page** | Word for word — the full text of the EBA publication |

**What is considered as a dedicated interface**

### Question

Payment Service Users (PSUs) communicate with an account servicing payment service provider (ASPSP) via Web using HTTP while mobile PSUs and Third Party Providers (TPPs) via REST Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) but in all cases the processing is done by the same back-end server using the same credentials, authorisations and business logic. In the case of mobile and TPP channels, the APIs are similar and are exposed from the same ASPSP’s gateway. Any issue in the back-end server will result in downtime for all channels. Clarification is required whether this solution is considered as a dedicated interface or not.

### Background

The question emanated from the need to apply for an exemption from the contingency mechanism under Article 33(6) of Regulation (EU) 2018/389 (RTS on SCA & CSC) in relation with Article 31.

***

### Answer

According to Article 30 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/389, account servicing payment service providers (ASPSPs) that offer to their customers payment accounts accessible online must offer at least one access interface to third party providers (TPPs). Article 31 of the Delegated Regulation provides that ASPSPs “shall establish \[such\] interface(s) by means of a dedicated interface or by allowing the use by \[TPPs\] of the interfaces used for authentication and communication with the \[ASPSP's\] payment services users”.

This means that ASPSPs have a choice in accordance with Article 31 of the Delegated Regulation between (i) offering access to TPPs via a dedicated interface; and (ii) allowing TPPs to use the interface(s) used by its customers for accessing their payment accounts online, which also includes ASPSP’s mobile interface used by its customers for accessing their payment accounts.

In the case where a TPP uses the same interface that a payment service user uses for authentication and communication with an ASPSP, adapted to the extent necessary to enable TPPs to identify themselves towards the ASPSP in line with the requirements of the Delegated Regulation, this interface should not be considered as a dedicated interface.

***

**Source:** [EBA original document](https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2019_4681)

## Related Level 1 articles

- [Article 98 — Regulatory technical standards on authentication and communication](../../../articles/98.md)