Amsterdam, 28 January 2008. Use of iDEAL is increasing explosively. Almost 15 million online purchases were paid for using iDEAL in 2007: an increase of 238% compared with 2006 (4.4 million). This growth is reinforcing iDEAL's leading position compared with other online payment products. Total sales value paid for using iDEAL was about € 1.1 billion last year.

iDEAL is now the most commonly used online payment method. Its use has taken off compared with credit cards: a survey which asked how the most recent purchase was settled showed that iDEAL's share in recent months has grown by 39%, while that of credit cards remained the same.

December was a top month for iDEAL with 1.7 million payments. Online sales are very high in December and this brought many new iDEAL users: 16% of iDEAL users made their first iDEAL payment in this period. Research shows that when someone has made one payment with iDEAL, it will lead to further payments with iDEAL and so its prospects are good.

Popularity grows through trust
At 32%, iDEAL is the most preferred way of paying for internet purchases. The main reason that online buyers give is that it is easy and user-friendly. When customers pay by iDEAL, the payment details for the purchase are already there and they pay direct by Internet banking with their own bank. This gives a feeling of security and confidence.

Currence expects that the use of iDEAL will continue to grow in 2008. "Over a third of all online buyers do not yet know iDEAL well, and so there is still a lot of potential", said Bob Goulooze of Currence. In addition, web stores are very positive about iDEAL and more of them will be offering iDEAL at their Internet checkouts in 2008.