Barclays ePDQ Ending March 2026 – Best Alternatives & Next Steps

Posted on | by Karl Weatherall

Barclays ePDQ Is Shutting Down in March 2026 – What Businesses Should Do

Barclays has announced that ePDQ will close on 31 March 2026. If your business currently uses ePDQ for online payments, MOTO transactions, or payment links, now is the time to start planning a replacement. Acting early will prevent disruptions and ensure a smooth transition to a new payment system.

At Agile Payment Solutions, we help businesses manage payment operations, automate reconciliation, and improve back-office processes. While we do not provide a payment gateway ourselves, we can support you during and after the switch.

What the Barclays ePDQ Shutdown Means

The ePDQ closure affects all payment services, including:

  • Online card payments and website checkout

  • API and DirectLink integrations

  • Hosted payment pages

  • Virtual terminal (MOTO) functionality

  • Card storage and recurring payments

  • Merchant reporting and transaction management

As a result, businesses that rely on these services must find a replacement to avoid losing revenue or disrupting customer payments.

Why You Should Act Now

Waiting until the last minute can create serious risks:

  • Loss of the ability to accept payments

  • Downtime during migration

  • Increased manual work for finance teams

  • Reconciliation and reporting errors

By acting early, you can test new systems, ensure continuity, and take advantage of more modern payment features.

Steps to Replace Your ePDQ Gateway

1. Review Your Current Payment Setup

First, document how you use ePDQ. This includes:

  • Website checkout and MOTO transactions

  • Payment links

  • Stored card information

  • Reporting and reconciliation workflows

2. Choose a New Payment Gateway

Look for a provider that offers:

  • Online card payments and digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal)

  • Open Banking and recurring payments

  • Hosted pages or API integration

  • Fraud protection and 3D Secure

  • Clear pricing and reliable settlement

  • Easy-to-use reporting and reconciliation tools

3. Prepare Your Migration

Next, ensure the technical setup is correct:

  • Integrate APIs or hosted pages

  • Update invoice templates and payment links

  • Configure fraud rules and reporting

  • Test transactions before going live

4. Export ePDQ Data

Before the shutdown, export all historic transactions and reports. This will prevent loss of data and make reconciliation easier.

5. Go Live and Monitor

Finally, switch to the new gateway and monitor:

  • Approval rates

  • Settlement times

  • Transaction reporting

  • Customer payment experience

As a result, your business can continue to operate smoothly without disruption.

Features to Look for in a Replacement Gateway

When selecting a new provider, consider:

  • Flexibility: API-first and hosted checkout options

  • Payment coverage: Cards, wallets, Open Banking, recurring payments

  • Security: PCI DSS compliance, tokenisation, 3D Secure 2

  • Operational support: Dashboard, reporting, reconciliation tools

  • Customer support: Developer documentation, live help, migration assistance

How Agile Payment Solutions Can Help

While we are not a payment gateway, Agile Payment Solutions helps businesses make payments operations easier, faster, and more accurate.

Automated Payment Allocation

  • Match payments to invoices automatically

  • Reduce manual work and errors

  • Support any new gateway setup

Customer Document Management

  • Generate invoices, receipts, and statements automatically

  • Respond to queries faster

  • Keep accurate records for audits

Query and Dispute Management

  • Track customer queries

  • Resolve disputes efficiently

  • Maintain complete audit trails

Migration Support

  • Plan and map your current ePDQ workflows

  • Ensure continuity with your new payment gateway

  • Help finance and operations teams during the transition

With these services, businesses can save time, reduce errors, and improve cash flow visibility.

Next Steps…

The closure of Barclays ePDQ in March 2026 is a clear signal to review your payment processes. By planning early, you can migrate smoothly to a modern gateway and improve operational efficiency.

If you need support evaluating options or planning your migration, contact Agile Payment Solutions, we can help you every step of the way.