How to Enable Local Payment Methods Using WooCommerce Stripe?

Studies show that offering the top three local payment methods relevant to a customer’s region can improve online checkout conversion rates by nearly 30%. For any online store, this isn’t just a minor bump – it’s a meaningful increase in sales potential.

With consumers’ preference for familiar and trusted regional payment options rising, the store’s offering local payment methods has the benefit of influencing purchasing decisions and reducing cart abandonment.

So, what are local payment methods? Local payment methods are payment options that are widely adopted and preferred within specific countries or regions. These include bank transfers, digital wallets, direct debits, or even buy now, pay later methods like Afterpay or Affirm. Local payment methods provide a more convenient and trustworthy checkout experience, especially in areas where global credit cards or digital wallets are not the norm.

For WooCommerce store owners aiming to expand or improve conversions, integrating these payment options has become necessary. Among the best payment gateways for WooCommerce that offer a wide range of local payment methods is the WebToffee Stripe Payment Gateway Plugin. It allows store owners to accept 15+ local payment methods within their WooCommerce store.

Ready to expand your business by integrating local payment methods in WooCommerce?

Local payment methods are region-specific payment solutions customers prefer in particular countries or regions. Compared to global methods such as Visa or MasterCard, these payment options align with regional financial habits. For example, iDEAL is commonly used in the Netherlands, SEPA in European countries, and FPX bank transfers in Malaysia. These payment methods reflect the purchasing behavior and trust patterns of local consumers, which is crucial for cross-border sales.

While credit and debit cards dominate in some markets, many regions opt for other payment methods like bank redirects, digital wallets, or buy-now-pay-later services. Ignoring these WooCommerce customer preferences can lead to abandoned carts and missed opportunities.

Why Accepting Local Payment Methods in WooCommerce Matters?

The success of a WooCommerce store often hinges on how convenient and trustworthy the checkout experience is. While offering standard credit card payments is essential, depending only on global payment methods can alienate a significant portion of your audience, especially where alternative payment solutions dominate.

Enabling local payment methods in WooCommerce allows store owners to bridge this gap between regional expectations and global eCommerce expansion. Here’s how offering integrated local payment methods benefits your WooCommerce store:

• Increased checkout conversion rates: When shoppers see a familiar payment option, they’re more likely to complete the transaction. Studies show that presenting top local methods can increase conversion rates by up to 30%.
• Enhanced customer trust and satisfaction: Customers trust payment solutions they’re accustomed to. By offering options like Klarna, Boleto Bancario, or Alipay, you create a checkout process that feels familiar and secure, which can lead to repeat purchases.
• Broader market reach: Adopting WooCommerce local payment methods helps access to markets where global cards or PayPal usage is low. For example, enabling Boletos in Brazil or GrabPay in Southeast Asia helps you serve millions of regional customers.
• Improved cross-border shopping experiences: Localized payment support removes friction for international buyers. With Stripe global payments, WooCommerce store owners can accept region-specific methods while maintaining a unified backend.
• Competitive advantage: Most eCommerce businesses still default to generic payment setups. Offering Stripe local payment methods in WooCommerce can set your store apart, giving customers one more reason to choose you over competitors.

Before diving into the WooCommerce payment method setup, it’s helpful to understand how local payment methods in WooCommerce function behind the scenes when powered by a payment gateway like Stripe.

Stripe acts as the intermediary between your WooCommerce store and regional financial systems. When a customer selects a local payment method, such as Bancontact, iDEAL, or SEPA, Stripe processes the transaction using the infrastructure specific to that region.

The WebToffee Stripe plugin integrates this feature directly into WooCommerce, enabling a smooth payment experience across borders. Here’s how we do it:

1. The customer selects a local payment option at checkout.
2. Stripe routes the request through the corresponding local payment network (e.g., iDEAL for the Netherlands).
3. Once authorized, Stripe notifies WooCommerce and updates the order status.
4. The funds are settled based on the payment method’s standard cycle, some instantly, others in a few business days.

That’s it! By using Stripe’s infrastructure, store owners can support multiple WooCommerce payment gateways from a single plugin, without dealing with separate contracts, APIs, or compliance issues.

Expanding internationally isn’t just about shipping products overseas; it’s about meeting customers where they are, including offering the payment methods they trust. The WebToffee Stripe Payment Gateway plugin for WooCommerce makes this easy by integrating over 15 Stripe local payment methods.

Here’s a look at the different local payment methods you can activate with this plugin.

Przelewy24

Przelewy24, commonly abbreviated as P24, is one of Poland’s most widely used online banking systems. It allows customers to pay through their preferred Polish bank with real-time bank transfers. By integrating Przelewy24 WooCommerce, you can serve Poland’s large base of bank-dependent eCommerce users.

iDEAL

iDEAL dominates the Dutch payment landscape, facilitating direct bank transfers without credit cards. With iDEAL integrated into WooCommerce, Dutch customers can complete transactions directly via their online banking environment. This not only increases trust but also reduces payment failures, making it essential for any store targeting the Netherlands.

Alipay

As one of the most popular local payment methods in China, Alipay supports fast, QR-based transactions via mobile. Enabling Alipay in WooCommerce is a strategic move for stores looking to tap into the massive Chinese eCommerce market. It’s mobile-friendly, secure, and trusted by millions of users who prefer wallet-based checkouts over card payments.

SEPA

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) enables euro-denominated bank transfers across 36 countries. With WooCommerce SEPA enabled, you can accept direct debits from European bank accounts with minimal processing fees. SEPA includes 27 EU countries and additional non-EU nations such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Norway.

Klarna

Klarna is a leading buy now, pay later service available in regions like Germany, Sweden, the UK, and the U.S. It allows customers to split payments into installments or delay payments altogether. Offering Klarna in WooCommerce helps increase average order value and improve conversion rates, especially for high-value items.

Afterpay

Afterpay is another BNPL solution, primarily used in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. It breaks purchases into four interest-free payments over time. Adding Afterpay to WooCommerce gives budget-conscious shoppers more flexibility, which can encourage high-value orders and reduce cart abandonment rates.

Bancontact Payment

Bancontact is a popular payment system in Belgium. By integrating Bancontact, WooCommerce stores can accept fast and secure payments through the Payconiq by Bancontact app. It’s a must-have for any store targeting Belgian consumers who prefer bank-based transactions over credit cards or global digital wallets.

EPS Pay

Used extensively in Austria, EPS (Electronic Payment Standard) enables instant transfers from Austrian bank accounts. Integrating EPS into WooCommerce provides a familiar and reliable payment method for Austrian shoppers, helping build trust and streamline the checkout process.

Bacs Direct Debit

Bacs Direct Debit is a well-established UK payment method that enables customers to authorize recurring payments from their bank accounts. It’s commonly used for employees’ salaries, customer refunds, etc. Enabling Bacs payment in WooCommerce adds a cost-effective option for domestic transactions in the UK.

BECS Direct Debit

BECS (Bulk Electronic Clearing System) is Australia’s version of direct debit payments. It supports automated recurring transfers and is ideal for WooCommerce stores offering subscriptions or memberships in the Australian market.

FPX Bank Transfers

FPX (Financial Process Exchange) supports instant online bank transfers in Malaysia. It’s backed by major Malaysian banks and allows customers to pay directly from their accounts without cards. Adding FPX to WooCommerce improves adoption in Southeast Asia, where bank transfers are highly popular.

Boleto Payments

Boleto Bancário is a popular Brazilian payment method that lets customers generate a payment slip (Boletos) to pay offline at banks, ATMs, or retail stores. This method serves a significant portion of Brazilian consumers who don’t use credit cards.

OXXO

OXXO is a voucher-based payment system used throughout Mexico. Customers can generate a voucher online and pay it in cash at over 20000 OXXO stores. Accepting OXXO in WooCommerce makes your store accessible to customers in Mexico who prefer cash-based transactions over digital options.

GrabPay

GrabPay is Southeast Asia’s leading mobile wallet, widely used in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It combines payment functionality with loyalty rewards. Offering GrabPay in WooCommerce attracts mobile-first consumers who value speed, convenience, and rewards integration.

Affirm Payments

Affirm is a US-based financing solution that enables shoppers to pay over time with clear, upfront terms. Unlike traditional credit, Affirm doesn’t charge hidden fees or compound interest. Enabling Affirm in WooCommerce helps boost sales by giving customers the confidence to buy now and pay later.

Each of these local payment methods can be added to your store using the WebToffee Stripe payments plugin easily. These Stripe integrations enable you to accept local payment methods in WooCommerce from a global audience, maximizing conversion and reach.

Enabling local payment methods in WooCommerce is simple with the help of the WebToffee Stripe Payment Gateway plugin. This plugin connects your WooCommerce store to Stripe’s powerful infrastructure, allowing you to offer region-specific payment methods.

Here’s how you can set it up:

Step 1: Install and Activate the WebToffee Stripe Plugin

Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add Plugin, and search for “Stripe Payment Plugin for WooCommerce”. Install and activate the plugin developed by WebToffee.

Step 2: Connect Your Store to Stripe

Once activated, go to WebToffee Stripe in the WordPress dashboard, and click on Connect to Stripe. Follow the on-screen steps to link your WooCommerce store to your Stripe account.

If you don’t have a Stripe account yet, you can register one during this process.

Once connected, you’ll see a screen (like the one shown below), indicating that your store is successfully linked. Keep in mind, you’re in test mode. You can click Switch to live mode at any time from the top right.

Step 3: Enable Stripe Local Payment Methods in WooCommerce

Next, in the WebToffee Stripe dashboard, go to Local Gateways and enable the local payment methods you wish to support. You’ll find EPS, Klarna, FPX, Bancontact, and other payment methods, all pre-integrated through Stripe. You will need to enable each payment method to display it in the checkout. Once enabled, click Save changes to update settings.

Step 4: Test the Payment Flow

This is an optional, but recommended step when setting up different payment methods in WooCommerce. Before going live, switch your Stripe account to “Test Mode” and simulate a transaction. This ensures everything works smoothly before accepting real payments.

Step 5: Go Live and Accept Payments via Local Payment Methods

Once you’ve confirmed everything is working, switch back to “Live Mode” and you’re ready to start accepting via local payment methods in WooCommerce. Customers will now see the option at checkout and be redirected to complete the payment.

You have successfully set up local payment methods in WooCommerce. This setup requires no code and keeps your store aligned with WooCommerce multiple payment gateways best practices.

Expanding into new markets doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when your WooCommerce store supports the payment methods customers already trust. By offering local payment methods in WooCommerce, you’re not just adding convenience; you’re opening doors to higher conversion rates, broader audience reach, and improved buyer confidence.

The WebToffee Stripe Payment Gateway plugin simplifies this process by allowing you to activate Stripe local payment methods, from iDEAL in the Netherlands to FPX in Malaysia, without adding multiple payment integrations.

That’s it, folks! We’ve reached the end of this guide on enabling local payment methods in WooCommerce using the Stripe plugin. Thanks for following along; we hope you found it helpful! If you’ve already integrated local payments or plan to soon, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.