Introduction

The Postfinance Card (proper spelling PostFinance Card, formerly Postcard) is the debit card of Postfinance, which has been issued in combination with Debit Mastercard since April 2022. It was launched in 1991 as the successor to the Postomat Plus card and the blue guaranteed Postcheque. The Postcard is still colloquially referred to as a plastic card (ISO 7810) that allows direct and immediate access to the credit balance or the available credit limit of the bank account. The Postcard is only available in combination with a private or business account from Postfinance in CHF or EUR.

Around 2.7 million Postcards are in circulation. For business customers, there is also Postfinance Card Pay, which exclusively allows deposits to the postal account.

Since 2019, business customers have been charged an annual fee of CHF 30 per Postcard. 

Integrations

POST Request - genericpayment – add_paydata[action] = register_alias

To register a Postfinance alias, there are 3 steps to take:

  1. Initiate Alias Registration
    To start the alias registration you need to send a generic payment request with action “register_alias” to our server api.
  2. Request Alias
    The customer will be redirected to the postfinance alias registration page. After authorization, the customer will be redirected to your shop. When the customer has arrived, you can call the generic payment request with action “get_alias” to receive the registered alias. Save the alias in the customer’s profile, to use it for future authorizations. You will always use the same registered alias for this customer for every future authorization.
  3. Request Payment with Alias
    When the registration is finished, you can send an authorization request to our server api and send the alias in the request. When we receive an alias in the authorization, we will process an alias payment to postfinance. When you don’t send the alias, we will try to process a “normal” authorization to postfinance including a redirect of the customer.
Account Parameters
request
required
Fixed Value: genericpayment
mid
required
your merchant ID, 5-digit numeric
aid
required
your subaccount ID, 5-digit numeric
portalId
required
your Portal ID, 7-digit numeric
key
required
your key value, alpha-numeric
common Parameters
clearingtype
required
Permitted Value sb<
onlinebanktransfertype
required
Permitted Value PFC
PFC = Postfinance Card
mode
required
Fixed Value: test/live
amount
required
Fixed Value: 0

As only the configuration is requested, the amount is set to zero
currency
required
Format LIST
Permitted values ISO 4217 (currencies) 3-letter-codes
Samples

EUR

USD

GBP
bankcountry
required
Format LIST
Permitted Value CH
country
required
Format LIST
Permitted value CH
successurl
required
Format CHAR(2..255)

Scheme <scheme>://<host>/<path>
       <scheme>://<host>/<path>?<query>
       
scheme-pattern: [a-zA-Z]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9]{1,9}

URL for "payment successful"
errorurl
required
Format CHAR(2..255)

Scheme <scheme>://<host>/<path>
       <scheme>://<host>/<path>?<query>
       
scheme-pattern: [a-zA-Z]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9]{1,9}

URL for "faulty payment"
backurl
required
Format CHAR(2..255)

Scheme <scheme>://<host>/<path>
       <scheme>://<host>/<path>?<query>
       
scheme-pattern: [a-zA-Z]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9]{1,9}

URL for "Back" or "Cancel"
add_paydata Parameters
add_paydata[action]
required
AN..255

Set to "register_alias"
Response Parameters
Permitted Values
REDIRECT
ERROR
Response Parameter (REDIRECT)
 redirecturl
Format CHAR(2..2000)

URL to redirect the customer. The customer needs to authenticate the alias_registration at postfinance. 

 

Redirect URL → zMerchant system has to redirect customer to this URL to complete payment
 workorderid
Format CHAR(1..50)

The ID is unique. The returned workorderid is mandatory for the following requests of Postfinance Checkout.

The workorderid is a technical id returned from the PAYONE platform to identify a workorder. A workorder is a part of a payment process (identified by a txid). The workorderid is used for the genericpayment request.
Response parameters (error)
Format NUMERIC(1..6)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error code for your internal usage.
Format CHAR(1..1024)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error message for your internal usage.

 
Host: api.pay1.de
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Payload                    

add_paydata[action]=register_alias
aid=12345
mid=23456 
portalid=12345123
key=abcdefghijklmn123456789
clearingtype=sb
currency=CHF
country=CH
bankcountry=CH
mode=test
request=genericpayment
onlinebanktransfertype=PFC
RESPONSE

status=REDIRECT
redirecturl=http://www.aliasregistrationpage.com
workorderid=WORKORDERID12345   
POST Request - genericpayment – add_paydata[action] = get_alias
Account Parameters
request
required
Fixed Value: genericpayment
mid
required
your merchant ID, 5-digit numeric
aid
required
your subaccount ID, 5-digit numeric
portalId
required
your Portal ID, 7-digit numeric
key
required
your key value, alpha-numeric
common Parameters
workorderid
required
Format CHAR(1..50)

With the first genericpayment the workorderid will be generated from the PAYONE platform and will be sent to you in the response. The ID is unique. The returned workorderid is mandatory for the following requests.
clearingtype
required
Permitted Value sb
onlinebanktransfertype
required
Fixed Value PFC

PFC = Postfinance Card
currency
required
Format LIST
Permitted Value CHF
bankcountry
required
Format LIST
Permitted Value CH
country
required
Format LIST
Permitted value CH
add_paydata Parameters
add_paydata[action]
required
AN..255
Set to "get_alias"
Response Parameters
Permitted Values
OK
ERROR
Response Parameter (OK)
workorderid
Format CHAR(1..50)

The ID is unique. The returned workorderid is mandatory for the following requests of Postfinance  Checkout.

The workorderid is a technical id returned from the PAYONE platform to identify a workorder. A workorder is a part of a payment process (identified by a txid). The workorderid is used for the genericpayment request.
add_paydata[alias]

Alias of the buyer
Response parameters (error)
Format NUMERIC(1..6)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error code for your internal usage.
Format CHAR(1..1024)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error message for your internal usage.

 
Host: api.pay1.de
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Payload

add_paydata[action]=get_alias
aid=12345
mid=23456
portalid=12345123 
key=abcdefghijklmn123456789
clearingtype=sb
bankcountry=CH
currency=EUR
mode=test
request=genericpayment
onlinebanktransfertype=PFC
workorderid=WORKORDERID12345 
RESPONSE

status=OK
add_paydata[alias]=yourcustomeralias
workorderid=WORKORDERID12345
POST Request Pre- /Authorization
Account Parameters
request
required
Fixed Value: preauthorisation/authorization
mid
required
your merchant ID, 5-digit numeric
aid
required
your subaccount ID, 5-digit numeric
portalId
required
your Portal ID, 7-digit numeric
key
required
your key value, alpha-numeric
common Parameters
clearingtype
required
Fixed Value: sb
mode
required
Fixed Value: test/live

can be either test environment (test) or live environment (live)
reference
optional
Format CHAR(2..255)

a unique ID that will be displayed in your shop backend and for the customer
amount
required
Format NUMERIC(1..10)
Permitted values max. +/- 19 999 999 99

Specifies the total gross amount of a payment transaction.

Value is given in smallest currency unit, e.g. Cent of Euro.

The amount must be less than or equal to the amount of the corresponding booking.
currency
required
Format LIST
Permitted values ISO 4217 (currencies) 3-letter-codes
Samples

EUR

USD

GBP
bankcountry
required
Fixed Value BE
narrative_text
optional
Format CHAR(1..81)

Dynamic text element on account statements (3 lines with 27 characters each) and credit card statements.
successurl
required
Format CHAR(2..255)

Scheme <scheme>://<host>/<path>
       <scheme>://<host>/<path>?<query>
       
scheme-pattern: [a-zA-Z]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9]{1,9}

URL for "payment successful"
errorurl
required
Format CHAR(2..255)

Scheme <scheme>://<host>/<path>
       <scheme>://<host>/<path>?<query>
       
scheme-pattern: [a-zA-Z]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9]{1,9}

URL for "faulty payment"
backurl
required
Format CHAR(2..255)

Scheme <scheme>://<host>/<path>
       <scheme>://<host>/<path>?<query>
       
scheme-pattern: [a-zA-Z]{1}[a-zA-Z0-9]{1,9}

URL for "Back" or "Cancel"
PERSONAL DATA Parameters
customerid
optional
Format CHAR(1..20)
Permitted Symbols [0-9, a-z, A-Z, .,-,_,/]

Merchant's customer ID, defined by you / merchant to refer to the customer record.

"customerid" can be used to identify a customer record. 
If "customerid" is used then stored customer data are loaded automatically.
userid
optional
Format NUMERIC(6..12)

PAYONE User ID, defined by PAYONE
businessrelation
optional
Format LIST
Value Comment
b2c

Indicates business to private customer
b2b

indicates business to business customer (company)

currently not available for PDD

Value specifies business relation between merchant and customer
salutation
optional
Format CHAR(1..10)

The customer's salutation
title
optional
Format CHAR(1..20)
Samples

Dr

Prof.

Dr.-Ing.

Title of the customer
firstname
optional
Format CHAR(1..50)

First name of customer; optional if company is used, i.e.: you may use "company" or "lastname" or "firstname" plus "lastname"
lastname
required
Format CHAR(2..50)

Last name of customer; optional if company is used, i.e.: you may use "company" or "lastname" or "firstname" plus "lastname"
company
optional
Format CHAR(2..50)

Comany name of customer; optional if company is used, i.e.: you may use "company" or "lastname" or "firstname" plus "lastname"
street
optional
Format CHAR(1..50)

Street number and name (required: at least one character)
addressaddition
optional
Format CHAR(1..50)
Samples 7th floor
c/o Maier

Specifies an additional address line for the invoice address of the customer.
zip
optional
Format CHAR(2..50)
Permitted Symbols [0-9][A-Z][a-z][_.-/ ]

Postcode
city
optional
Format CHAR(2..50)

City of customer
country
required
Fixed Value DE
email
optional
Format CHAR(5..254)

Mandatory if "add_paydata[shopping_cart_type]=DIGITAL"

Permitted Symbols RFC 5322

Special Remark email validation:

Max. length for email is 254 characters. Validation is set up in the following way:

Username = Max. 63 characters

Domain Name = Max. 63 characters
Domain Suffixes = Max. 4 suffixes with max. 124 characters
Example: username[63]@domain_name[63].suffix[60].suffix[60].suffix[4]

"@" and "." is counted as a character as well; in case of a total of three suffixes, this would allow a total of 254 characters.

email-address of customer
telephonenumber
optional
Format CHAR(1..30)

Phone number of customer
birthday
optional
Format DATE(8), YYYYMMDD

Samples 20190101 /  19991231

Date of birth of customer
language
optional
Format LIST
Permitted values ISO 639-1 (Language)2-letter-codes

Language indicator (ISO 639) to specify the language that should be presented to the customer (e.g. for error messages, frontend display).

If the language is not transferred, the browser language will be used. For a non-supported language English will be used.
vatid
optional
Format CHAR(1..50)

VAT identification number. Used for b2b transactions to indicate VAT number of customer.
gender
optional
Format LIST
Permitted values f/ m/  d

Gender of customer (female / male / diverse* )

* currently not in use
personalid
optional
Format CHAR(1..32)

Permitted Symbols [0-9][A-Z][a-z][+-./()]

Person specific numbers or characters, e.g. number of passport / ID card
ip
optional
Format CHAR(1..39)

Customer's IP-V4-address (123.123.123.123) or IP-V6-address
bankaccountholder
required
Format CHAR(1..39)

Account holder
iban
required
Format CHAR(10..34)
Permitted Symbols [0-9][A-Z]

IBAN to be used for payment or to be checked
Delivery data Parameters
shipping_firstname
required
Format CHAR(1..50)

First name of delivery address
shipping_lastname
required
Format CHAR(1..50)

Surname of delivery address
shipping_company
optional
Format CHAR(2..50)

Company name of delivery address
shipping_street
optional
Format CHAR(2..50)

Street number and name of delivery address
shipping_zip
required
Format CHAR(2..50)

Postcode of delivery address
shipping_addressaddition
optional
Format CHAR(1..50)

Specifies an additional address line for the delivery address of the customer, e.g. "7th floor", "c/o Maier".
shipping_country
optional
Format LIST
Permitted values ISO 3166 2-letter-codes
Samples

DE

GB

US

Specifies country of address for the customer.

Some countries require additional information in parameter "state"
shipping_state
optional
Format LIST
Permitted values ISO 3166-2 States (regions)  2-letter-codes
Samples US Samples CA
AK AB
AL BC
Article Parameters
it[n]
optional
it[n] Comments
goods Goods
shipment Shipping Charges
handling Handling fee
voucher Voucher / discount
id[n]
optional
Format CHAR(1..32)
Array elements [n] starting with [1]; serially numbered; max [400]
Permitted Symbols [0-9][a-z][A-Z], .,-,_,/

International Article Number (EAN bzw. GTIN)

Product number, SKU, etc. of this item
pr[n]
optional
Format NUMERIC(10) max. 19 999 999 99
Array elements [n] starting with [1]; serially numbered; max [400]

Unit gross price of the item in smallest unit! e.g. cent
no[n]
optional
Format NUMERIC(6)
Array elements [n] starting with [1]; serially numbered; max [400]

Quantity of this item
de[n]
optional
Format CHAR(1..255)
Array elements [n] starting with [1]; serially numbered; max [400]

Description of this item. Will be printed on documents to customer.
va[n]
optional
Format NUMERIC(4)

VAT rate (% or bp)

Array elements [n] starting with [1]; serially numbered; max [400]
Paydata Parameters
add_paydata[alias]
optional
FORMAT: CHAR(255)"

Alias for postfinance alias payment
Response Parameters
Permitted Values
APPROVED
ERROR
Response Parameter (approved)
txid
Format NUMERIC(9..12)

The txid specifies the payment process within the PAYONE platform
Format NUMERIC(6..12)

PAYONE User ID, defined by PAYONE
ReSponse Parameter (Error)
Format NUMERIC(1..6)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error code for your internal usage.
Format CHAR(1..1024)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error message for your internal usage.

 
Host: api.pay1.de
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded  
Payload

aid=12345
mid=23456
portalid=12345123
key=abcdefghijklmn123456789
clearingtype=sb
amount=6413
onlinebanktransfertype=PFC
currency=CHF
lastname=Master
reference=youranyreference
mode=test
request=authorization
country=CH
bankcountry=CH
add_paydata[alias]=youralias123456
RESPONSE

status=APPROVED
txid=12345678
userid=789654
POST Request - Capture
Account Parameters
request
required
Fixed Value: capture
mid
required
your merchant ID, 5-digit numeric
aid
required
your subaccount ID, 5-digit numeric
portalId
required
your Portal ID, 7-digit numeric
key
required
your key value, alpha-numeric
common Parameters
txid
required
Format NUMERIC(9..12)

The txid specifies the payment process within the PAYONE platform
capturemode
required
Format LIST
Value Comment
completed

Set with last capture; i.e.: Delivery completed.
No further capture is allowed.
notcompleted

Set with partial deliveries (last delivery with "completed")
Another capture is expected to complete the transaction.

Specifies whether this capture is the last one or whether there will be another one in future.
sequencenumber
optional
Format NUMERIC(1..3)

Permitted values 0..127

Sequence number for this transaction within the payment process (1..n), e.g. PreAuthorization: 0, 1. Capture: 1, 2. Capture: 2

Required for multi partial capture (starting with the 2nd capture)
amount
required
Format NUMERIC(1..10)

Permitted values max. +/- 19 999 999 99

Specifies the total gross amount of a payment transaction.

Value is given in smallest currency unit, e.g. Cent of Euro; Pence of Pound sterling; Öre of Swedish krona.

The amount must be less than or equal to the amount of the corresponding booking.
currency
required
Fixed Value EUR
narrative_text
optional
Format CHAR(1..81)

Dynamic text element on account statements (3 lines with 27 characters each) and credit card statements.
Response Parameters
Permitted Values
APPROVED
ERROR
Response Parameter (approved)
Format NUMERIC(9..12)

The txid specifies the payment process within the PAYONE platform
Format LIST
Value Comment
yes Settlement of outstanding balances has been carried out.
no Settlement of outstanding balances has not been carried out.

Provides information about whether a settlement of balances has been carried out.
Response parameters (error)
Format NUMERIC(1..6)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error code for your internal usage.
Format CHAR(1..1024)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error message for your internal usage.

 
Host: api.pay1.de
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

Payload

mid=23456
portalid=12345123
key=abcdefghijklmn123456789
mode=test
request=capture
txid=345678901
amount=300
currency=CHF
RESPONSE

status=APPROVED
txid=345678901
settleaccount=no  
POST Request - Debit
Account Parameters
request
required
Fixed Value: capture
mid
required
your merchant ID, 5-digit numeric
aid
required
your subaccount ID, 5-digit numeric
portalId
required
your Portal ID, 7-digit numeric
key
required
your key value, alpha-numeric
common Parameters
txid
required
Format NUMERIC(9..12)

The txid specifies the payment process within the PAYONE platform
settleaccount
Format LIST
Value Comment
yes

Settlement of outstanding balances is carried out.
no

Do not carry out settlement of outstanding balances, book request only.
auto

The system decides - depending on type of payment and balance - if a settlement of balances can be carried out or not. (default)

Carry out settlement of outstanding balances. The request is booked and the resulting balance is settled by means of a collection, e.g. a refund.
sequencenumber
optional
Format NUMERIC(1..3)

Permitted values 0..127

Sequence number for this transaction within the payment process (1..n), e.g. PreAuthorization: 0, 1. Capture: 1, 2. Capture: 2

Required for multi partial capture (starting with the 2nd capture)
amount
required
Format NUMERIC(1..10)

Permitted values max. +/- 19 999 999 99

Specifies the total gross amount of a payment transaction.

Value is given in smallest currency unit, e.g. Cent of Euro; Pence of Pound sterling; Öre of Swedish krona.

The amount must be less than or equal to the amount of the corresponding booking.
currency
required
Fixed Value EUR
narrative_text
optional
Format CHAR(1..81)

Dynamic text element on account statements (3 lines with 27 characters each) and credit card statements.
transaction_param
optional
Format CHAR(1..50)
Permitted Symbols [0-9][A-Z][a-z][.-_/]

Optional parameter for merchant information (per payment request)
Response Parameters
status
Permitted Values
APPROVED
ERROR
Response Parameter (approved)
txid
Format NUMERIC(9..12)

The txid specifies the payment process within the PAYONE platform
Format LIST
Value Comment
yes

Settlement of outstanding balances has been carried out.
no

Settlement of outstanding balances has not been carried out.

Provides information about whether a settlement of balances has been carried out.
Response Parameter (error)
errorcode
Format NUMERIC(1..6)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error code for your internal usage.
errormessage
Format CHAR(1..1024)

In case of error the PAYONE Platform returns an error message for your internal usage.
customermessage
Format CHAR(1..1024)

The customermessage is returned to your system in order to be displayed to the customer.

(Language selection is based on the end customer's language, parameter "language")

 
Host: api.pay1.de
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded   
Payload

mid=23456
portalid=12345123
key=abcdefghijklmn123456789
api_version=3.10
mode=test
request=debit
txid=345678901
sequencenumber=2
amount=1000
currency=CHF         
RESPONSE

status=APPROVED
txid=345678901
settleaccount=no

Sequence Diagrams

Sequence Diagram of a Sale including Alias Registration

Special Case: WebView Handling in Android

If you want to show PostFinance as a payment method in your Android app, it's important to make sure to correctly configure the webview client to launch the PostFinance app when redirected to a Postfinance universal link.

Here's a code example shared by Postfinance:

private fun setUpWebViewClient() {
        binding.webView.webViewClient = object : WebViewClient() {
            override fun shouldOverrideUrlLoading(view: WebView?, url: String?): Boolean {
                Log.d(this@WebViewActivity::class.java.simpleName, "shouldOverrideUrlLoading: $url")
                if(url?.contains("universal.postfinance.ch/") == true) {
                    startActivity(Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(url)))
                    return true
                }
                return false
            }

            override fun onPageFinished(view: WebView?, url: String?) = onLoadingFinished()

            override fun onReceivedError(
                view: WebView?,
                request: WebResourceRequest?,
                error: WebResourceError?
            ) = onLoadingFinished()
        }
    }